Followers of Hinduism celebrated Hartalika Teej on September 9, 2021 in different countries across South Asia and other parts of the world.

On this auspicious occasion, married Hindu women worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati as part of their vrat, also known as fasting, for a blissful married life and progeny.

Hartalika is derived from two words – Harat, which means “abduction”, and Aalika, which translates to “female friend.”

Per mythological scriptures, Goddess Parvati’s friends hid her deep inside a forest to avoid her father forcefully marrying her to Lord Vishnu.

The festival is also known as Gowri Habba in regions surrounding and including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The women seek Goddess Gowri’s blessing while observing Swarna Gowri Vratha on this day.

Hindu women across Nepal and India, dressed in gorgeous sarees and suits, are sharing their pictures online while celebrating Teej.

This year, people are sharing messages of positivity and well-being on Hartalika Teej 2021, which falls on September 9, 2021.