GANGAUR FESTIVAL INN RAJASTHAN - INDIA

When : 6th - 7th April 2011
Where : Rajasthan

Gangaur Puja and festival is dedicated to Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is a celebration of the arrival of spring, harvest and also the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. Gangaur 2011 date is April 6. It is observed on the third day of the Shukla Paksha or waxing phase of moon in Chaitra month (March – April). The 18 day vrat associated with Gangaur Festival begins on March 20, 2011.

Gana is one among the numerous names of Shiva and Gaur is the name of Parvati or Gaur. An 18 day vrat and rituals beginning from the first day of Chaitra Month is observed for Gangaur. Married and unmarried girls observe the rituals. Married women perform it for the welfare of the family and unmarried women perform it for a good husband. Gangaur Melas are held during the period. The most important day is the Gangaur Puja day on Chaitra shukla paksha Tritiya Gangaur is a noteworthy fiesta which has augmented the number of tourist visiting Jaipur every year. The Gangaur Festival is all about women. The word Gangaur is made up of 'Gan' and 'Gauri' which symbolize 'Siva' and 'Parvati' respectively. The fanfare music of the festival starts from the day of Holi and keep on for around 2 weeks. The jollifications are dedicated to Gauri, who possessed divine virtue and powers.

For married women, the Gangaur Festival provides them an opportunity to wish something for their husbands, whilst all the unmarried girls worship the goddess to get their dream boy. To begin with the rituals, ashes gathered from the fire of Holi and frying the seeds of barley in it. After that, the seeds are germinated and outcome is awaited.

Devotees make the atmosphere musical by chanting the melodious songs of Gauri. The beautiful designs of Myrtle (Mehandi) are made on hands of women and girls. With wonderfully decorated painted pots on head, ladies walk in stylish manner. On seventh day after Holi, spinster girls congregate for an out of the ordinary parade with 'Ghudlia' (a clay pot with many holes and a lamp stored inside) on their heads. The girls are presented sweets, ghee and cash by their senior elders.

On the last day of Gangaur Festival, when the times approach near to terminate the festivities, dynamic pictures of Gauri are taken out in a grand convoy in which fully clad camels, bullock carts, horses and elephants stride as well. During the entire rally, hymns are sung on the name of Gauri. Finally, the pots are conked out by throwing them on ground and the trash is put into the river. The level of celebration is extremely grand which draw the attention of the visitors in Rajasthan.

Gangaur Festivals holds a special significance for the Rajasthanis. It is celebrated in honour of Gauri, the goddess of abundance. Young girls adorned in their best clothes pray for a spouse of their choice. The married ladies pray for the welfare of their husbands. This spring festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal all over Rajasthan. The celebrations at Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nathdwara and Jaisalmer are full of pomp and are a must-see.

Activities

At an auspicious hour in the afternoon, a procession is taken out to a garden, tank or a well with the images of Isar and Gauri, placed on the heads of married women. Songs are sung about the departure of Gauri to her husband's house. The procession comes back after offering water to the image of Gauri, which faces backwards on the first two days. On the final day, she faces in the same direction as Isar and the procession concludes with the consignment of all the images in the waters of a tank or a well. The women bid farewell to Gauri and turn their steps homewards with tears in their eyes and the Festival comes to an end.

History

Parvati or gauri is the consort of Shiva, the destroyer. The festival is held in her honour as she is the symbol of virtue and fidelity and as such is the mythological role model of married women. Gangaur is the most important local festival in Rajasthan. It is believed that if unmarried girls observe the rituals of this festival they will get married to the spouses of their choice and married women observe the same for the happiness and long life of their husbands. The celebrations in Jaipur and Udaipur have a unique charm and attraction.

The festivities begin almost a fortnight before the actual day. Girls worship the goddess throughout the preceding fortnight. Colorful images of Gauri are taken out in procession accompanied by the town band. Thousands of people from the countryside come to take part in the procession of the image from village to village.

Another unique thing about this festival is that on this occasion, tribal men and women have an opportunity to meet and interact freely and during this time, they select partners and marry by eloping.

To have a live experience of vivacious carousal of Gangaur Festival, a visit to Rajasthan is undeniable