Patna: Hartalika Teej is celebrated with great devotion across Bihar, and along with fasting and prayers, traditional sweets play a very important role in the festival. Women worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on this day and observe a Nirjala fast, where even water is not taken. The thali for puja is considered incomplete without sweets like Thekua and Pedakiya.
Thekua is the most famous sweet of Bihar and is made especially during Teej and Chhath Puja. It is prepared from wheat flour, jaggery or sugar and ghee. Once fried in ghee, it stays crisp and edible for many days. Devotees offer it as prasad during the puja and later distribute it among family and neighbours.
Pedakiya is another much-loved sweet made during the festival. It is stuffed with coconut, jaggery and dry fruits, wrapped in dough and fried in ghee. Its crispy texture and rich taste make it a favourite. Offering Pedakiya in puja is considered auspicious, and households prepare it in large numbers for Teej.
Both Thekua and Pedakiya are not only important for Hartalika Teej but also for Chhath Puja in Bihar. On these occasions, women prepare them with devotion, offer them during prayers, and later share them as prasad with others. For families across Bihar, these sweets symbolise both faith and celebration.
