 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 kajal to signify their sowbhagya(marital bliss). 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 made from coconut milk and rice and mixed vegetables cooked with
spices and coconut milk. Tender coconut water is the treat of this day. |
