Gangaur is a festival that celebrates the honor of the goddess Gauri and is associated with love and marriage. Gauri, a manifestation of Parvati, represents purity and devotion. Married women worship Gauri to pray for the good health and long life of their husbands, while unmarried women seek her blessings to find a suitable husband.
The word "Gangaur" is a combination of "Gana," which symbolizes Lord Shiva, and "Gaur," representing Parvati. Gangaur is a festival that signifies the union of Lord Shiva and Parvati. It is believed that Gauri won the affection of Lord Shiva through her sincere devotion and meditation. During Gangaur, Parvati returns to her parents' home to bless her friends with marital happiness. On the final days of the festival, Parvati is bid farewell by her loved ones, and Lord Shiva accompanies her back home.
Where is it Celebrated?
Gangaur is celebrated throughout Rajasthan and is one of the most important festivals in the state. The main celebrations take place in cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Nathdwara.
How celebration begin?
The festival is primarily for women, who dress in their finest clothes and jewelry and offer prayers for the well-being of their husbands or for finding a suitable life partner. On the last day, colorful processions carrying beautifully adorned idols of the goddess Gauri wind their way through cities and villages, accompanied by local music bands. In Udaipur, there is a boat procession on Lake Pichola, followed by fireworks. Women display their skill by balancing several brass pitchers on their heads. The festival concludes with fireworks on the banks of the lake.
What rituals are performed during Gangaur?
During Gangaur, special idols of Shiva and Parvati are crafted by local artisans and worshipped. These idols are placed in baskets along with grass and flowers. Wheat plays a significant role in the rituals, with small earthen pots containing wheat being used for worship on the final day. Traditional Rajasthani folk songs related to the festival are sung, and gifts are exchanged among family members.
On the second-to-last day, known as Sinjara, parents of married women send them sweets, clothes, and decorative items. The women dress up in these items, decorate their hands and feet with henna, and celebrate with their families.
The festival culminates with Gauri's departure on the final day, marked by breaking gladiolas and immersing the Gauri idols in water. Women can be seen carrying these idols on their heads through the streets.
Gangaur is also considered an auspicious time for choosing a life partner. Tribal men and women have the opportunity to meet and interact, select their partners, and elope for marriage. In addition to these rituals, newly married women observe a fast for the entire eighteen days of the festival, and even unmarried women fast and eat only one meal a day in the hope of finding a suitable husband. In Jaipur, a popular sweet dish called "Ghewar" is distributed among family, relatives, and friends during this festival.
Want to experience this festival in Rajasthan? Book your tour for as starting date 17 March 2024
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