Hartalika Teej 2026 in Sydney falls on Monday, September 14, 2026. Sunrise is 5:56 AM GMT+10.
The most austere of the Teej vrats: "Harat-Aalika" recalls Parvati’s friend spiriting her away so she could win Shiva through penance rather than marry Vishnu at her father’s wish. Women keep a nirjala (waterless) fast and worship handmade clay images of Shiva-Parvati.
Observed intensely in UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, and as Gowri Habba in Karnataka — falling the day before Ganesh Chaturthi, when Gauri is welcomed as Ganesha’s mother.
The puja is traditionally performed in pratahkala (early morning); the fast runs sunrise to next sunrise without water for the most devout. Newly married women often keep their first Hartalika at their parental home.