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.