Hartālikā is Pārvatī's vow, kept on Bhādrapada Śukla Tṛtīyā, the day before Gaṇeśa Caturthī. Married women fast through the day for the goddess and listen to the Hartālikā kathā. The day belongs to Gaurī, and the clay Gaṇeśa arrives in the home only the next morning. In Marathi households it is the quiet, devout eve of the Gaṇapati festival. How the day is fixed: Hartālikā is the civil day on which Bhādrapada Śukla Tṛtīyā prevails at local sunrise. Gaṇeśa Caturthī follows on the next tithi. Keep in mind: Because the day follows local sunrise, the tithi can end early in one city and hold in another. In such years the fast may shift by a day depending on where you are. This year: The 2026 date shown here is worked out from sunrise at the place you chose, so in another city the same day can fall a day earlier or later. The fast: Married women keep a fast of fruit and water through the day for Pārvatī. Many keep a night vigil as well. Kathā and stotra: At the pūjā the Hartālikā kathā is heard and Gaurī's stotra is recited. Families prefer to hear the story from the elders of the house. Worth remembering: Hartālikā and Gaṇeśa Caturthī fall on consecutive tithis but are two separate observances. The first is Pārvatī's fast, and the second is the day the clay Gaṇeśa is installed. Each family keeps Hartālikā in its own way. Some women take only water, others fruit, and the length of the night vigil differs from house to house. The one fixed point is that Gaurī is honoured first and Gaṇeśa is welcomed the next morning. Beyond that, follow the practice the elders of your own house have kept.
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