Karmandir करमंदिरहिंदीGet the app

Hal Shashthi (Harchhath)

Krishna ji

  • Puja vidhi
  • 6 Wishes to send
ShareTelegramXFacebook
Hal Shashthi (Harchhath)

Why it is celebrated

Bhadrapad Krishna Shashthi is believed to be the birthday of Balram ji, Shri Krishna's elder brother. His weapon is the plough (hal), so he is called Haldhar, and the festival is known as Hal Shashthi, Harchhath or Lalahi Chhath. Mothers keep this vrat for their children's long life and good health.

The story

A milkmaid lived in a village. She was about to have a baby, yet she set out to sell milk and curd. On the way her labour began. She gave birth to a son in the shelter of a jharberi (wild jujube) bush, laid him to sleep there, and went on to the village to sell her milk.

That day was Hal Shashthi. Women keeping the vrat do not take cow's milk on this day, only buffalo milk. The milkmaid's milk was a mix of both, but she lied and said it was only buffalo milk.

Meanwhile, in a nearby field, a farmer was ploughing. His bullocks suddenly bolted, and the tip of the plough hurt the baby sleeping near the bush.

When the milkmaid came back and saw this, she burst into tears and at once remembered her lie. She ran back to the village, told all the women the truth, and begged their forgiveness with folded hands. The women forgave her and blessed her. When she returned, her baby was safe and smiling. From that day she vowed never to lie again.

Puja vidhi

  1. Bathe in the morning and take a sankalp for your children's well-being; many mothers clean their teeth with a mahua twig.
  2. Plaster a spot in the courtyard with cow dung, make a small pond shape, and plant twigs of jharberi and palash in it.
  3. Place a picture of Harchhath Mata or Balram ji and worship; offer seven roasted grains, mahua, puffed rice and children's toys.
  4. Listen to the Hal Shashthi katha and do the aarti.
  5. On this day, no grain from ploughed land and no cow's milk or curd is eaten.
  6. In the evening, break the fast with pasahi rice, mahua and curd made from buffalo milk, and bless the children.

Food

Pasahi (tinni) rice, mahua flowers and curd made from buffalo milk; no grain grown with a plough and no cow's milk.

Wishes to send

  • Warm wishes on Hal Shashthi! May Baldau ji keep your children always healthy and happy.

  • Greetings on the birthday of Haldhar Balram ji! Jai Baldau, Jai Shri Krishna.

  • On Harchhath, pranam to every mother's love. May your home always ring with children's laughter.

  • A mother's vrat and a mother's blessing are a child's greatest support. Best wishes on Hal Shashthi.

  • On this festival that honours the earth, the plough and the farmer, may your home be filled with happiness and peace.

  • Best wishes on Lalahi Chhath, a day that teaches truth and a mother's love. Jai Baldau ji!

For your status

  • Jai Baldau.

  • Harchhath: a vrat of a mother's love.

  • Haldhar's birthday, a mother's vrat.

Festivals