Gangaur is an important festival celebrated in Rajasthan and some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat. This festival is amongst the most famous festival in the state of Rajasthan and is observed throughout the state with great fervour and devotion.
Gangaur is a festival celebrated by women and begins on the on the first day of Chaitra which is the day following Holi and continues for 18 days. In the word Gangaur 'Gan' is the synonym for Lord Shiva whereas 'Gaur' stands for Gauri or Goddess Parvati.
This festival is held in the honour of Goddess Parvati who symbolizes married bliss. Married women worship Gauri for the welfare, health and long life of their spouses and a happy married life while unmarried women worship her for being blessed with good husbands.
Gangaur 2022 Date : When is Gangaur?
Gangaur festival will be celebrated from 18-03-2022 to 04-04-2022
It is believed that goddess Parvati returned to her parents’ home to bless her friends with marital bliss. And on the last day Parvati was given a grand farewell and lord Shiva came to escort her.
Gangaur Rituals
During the eighteen days all the newly married girls must fast. This fast can also be observed by unmarried girls wherein they eat only one meal a day for 18 days. Throughout the eighteen days goddess Parvati is worshipped. During this festival ash from the Holi fire is collected and seeds of wheat and barley is buried in it and watered daily till it germinates. A week after Holi women make clay images of Isar (Shiva) and Gauri and decorate it with ornaments. But these idols do not have a canopy unlike the idols made during Teej. On the seventh day women go around singing songs of Gangaur and carry Ghudlias on their head which are earthen pots with numerous holes all around and a lamp lit inside them.
During this festival women dress up in their best attire, adorn themselves with jewellery and apply Mehandi (henna) on their hands and feet. Singing and dancing are an essential part of the festival. The celebrations reach its climax during the last three days. On the first two days the beautifully decorated idols of Gauri and Isar are taken in procession to a tank or well by the women and the procession comes back after offering water to the image of Gauri. The image faces backwards during the first two days. On the last day Gauri’s image faces the same direction as that of Isar and the procession concludes with the immersion of the images in the waters of the tank or well. During this time songs are sung about the departure of Gauri to her husband's house.
This festival reflects the rich cultural heritage of the state and is celebrated throughout Rajasthan with great pomp and grandeur. During this festival many fairs are held. A boat procession is taken out on the Pichola Lake in Udaipur. Gangaur festival is celebrated with great pomp and show in Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.