
August Fairs Festivals : Hartalika
HARITALIKA
: The Harvest Festival
As Bhadrapad, the last of the monsoon months begins, it brings the joyful festival
of Ganesh Chaturthi. Celebrated on a mammoth scale in Maharashtra, the arrival
of Ganesha on the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapad is preceded by the
celebration of Haritalika, the day of Harita Gauri or the green and golden goddess
of harvests and prosperity. A lavishly decorated form of Parvati, Gauri is venerated
as the mother of Ganesha. Women fast on the day till the worship rituals are
over and wear green bangles, green clothes, golden bindis and kajalto signify
their sowbhagya. They distribute beautifully painted coconuts to their female
relations and friends and offer fresh fruits and green vegetables to the goddess
in a gesture of thanksgiving. When the rituals are over, they eat a feast of
jaggery and rice patolis steamed in banana or turmeric leaves, kheer ade from
coconut milk and rice and mixed vegetables cooked with spices and coconut milk.
Tender coconut water is the treat of this day.
|