Hal Sasthi also called ‘Lalhi Shasti’ is a Hindu festival dedicated to the elder brother of Sri Krishna, Lord Balaram. It is celebrated on the ‘Sashthi’ (6th day) of Krishna Paksha (the waning phase of the moon) during the month of ‘Bhadrapada’ according to the Hindu calendar. The festival of Hal Sasthi is observed in remembrance of the birth anniversary of Lord Balaram and is celebrated with great zeal and vigour all over India. It is celebrated six days after Shravan Purnima or Raksha Bandhan festival. In 2023, Hal Sashti falls on Tuesday, September 5. Hal Shashti is also known as the Balaram Jayanti.

Also Read: Importance of Raksha Bandan for Brothers and Sisters

Benefits of Observing Hal Sashti

• Women desiring to have a child should perform this puja.
• Women with sons should keep the fast for the long life of their sons.
• Anyone facing hurdles and obstacles in life should perform the puja successfully
• Keeping the vrat grants you a life of happiness and prosperity. 
• People worship Lord Balram on this day seeking good harvests of their crops.

Also, Read about Baisakhi – An Important Harvest Festival of Farmers

Hal Sasthi Puja Offerings 

Flower Garlands, fruits such as bhog, sweets, incense sticks, sandalwood, oil lamp, milk, Basil leaf, Kalash (earthen pot), rice, Ganga Jal, sindoor, turmeric

Hal Sashthi 2023: Date, Muhurat and Timings

• Shashthi Tithi Starts: September 04, 2023, 4:42 p.m
• Shashthi Tithi Ends: September 05, 2023, 3:46 p.m

Rituals During Hal Sasthi Puja

• Hal Sasthi is a festival observed with enormous dedication by farmers across India. Most of the rituals of the festival are conducted by the women of the farming communities. 
• On the puja day, the women get up early and bathe before sunrise. Then, the preparations begin for the Hal Sashti Puja. The place where the puja is to be conducted is cleaned first and then graced with cow dung. After that, a well is prepared and there’s a combination of a stem of straw grass and a kind of reed Palash to design a small plough, the weapon of Lord Balaram. Then, the women worship it seeking good harvest and prosperity. 
• The people who keep the Hal Sasthi Vrat also offer puja to the well with ‘Satavya’. A ‘Satavya’ is an amalgamation of seven types of grains namely, jowar, gram, corn, paddy, wheat, moong and lentil. Then the devotees need to place a cloth dipped in turmeric water near the plough for worship. The Hal Sasthi Vrat Katha is recited after the puja gets completed.
• Women observe a strict fast on Hal Sasthi Puja day. They do not eat anything throughout the day. They can’t even consume milk and fruits. If required, women can consume only buffalo milk. Consumption of cow milk is prohibited on puja day.

Also read, Kali Puja: An End To All Evilness And Negativity

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