Gangaur Festival

Time : Hindu Month of Chaitra (July-August).
Significance : Dedicated to Gauri (Parvati), the companion of Lord Shiva.
Venue : All over Rajasthan
Gangaur's first word 'Gan' is a synonym for lord Shiva and 'Gaur' stands for 'Gauri' or Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva and a symbol of conjugal bliss and marital happiness. Gauri is the epitome of perfection and spousal love which is because, young girls adorned in their best clothes pray for a spouse of their choice, while married women do so for the welfare, health and long life of their spouses and a happy married life. Starting the festival, the ladies decorate their hands and feet with Mehndi and decorations comprise motifs of flowers, Sun, Moon, Stars or some geometrical designs.
The festival is celeberated on the first day of Chaitra, fortnight after Holi and continues for eighteen days. Both the unmarried and married women in Jaipur are involved in the festival. This is the fact that also a perfect time for young people to select their life partners during the festival. Even unmarried girls fast for the full period of 18 days and eat only one meal a day, hoping that we will find a good husband, while married women do the same for the happiness and long life of their husbands.
As per the thinking of local people of Jaipur, it is celebrated that during this period, goddess Parvati had returned to her parental home to bless her friends with marital bliss. On the last day of her stay, she was given a grand farewell by her loved ones. The festival ends in rejoicing, with the arrival of Shiva to escort his bride, Gauri, home, accompanied by horses and elephants. The Festival involves colorful dances, musical performances and joyful celebrations. The festival is also celebrated in Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nathdwara, Udaipur and Banswara but in different styles.

Gangaur Festival 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.

Features

• This festival is basically women oriented as all the rituals are performed by the women folk.
• Married women during this festival keeps fast and prepare mouth watering delicacies especially sweet dishes which are offered to the beloved Goddess.
• Pujas are performed and the married women pray for the long life of their husbands. Unmarried young girls also looking gorgeous in their best clothes, pray to the benevolent Mother for husbands of their choices. The festivities usually begin a fortnight before the actual day of the festival.
• During the festival and in an auspicious hour of the afternoon, the women take out a procession of the idols of Gauri Mata and Isar, balanced on their heads. The procession is accompanied by songs of departure of Gauri Mata to her husband's house.
• The procession returns after two days. According to the rituals Gauri faces Isar in the same direction and the festival is concluded with the idols being immersed in the water of the tanks or a well. The end is marked by sorrow and tears in the eyes of the women.

How To Reach

Flight : Indian airlines, Jet airways and Sahara airlines have regular service to Jaipur. All the major cities are connected to Jaipur.

Train : Shatabdi and Intercity connects Jaipur to Delhi. Shatabdi is fully air conditioned train starts from Delhi (5.55 AM) to Jaipur (10.35 AM), you can also try Intercity Exp starts from Delhi at (4.55 PM) reaches Jaipur (10.35 PM). There are other trains also to Jaipur from other metro cities, to know more click here.

Road : Rajasthan Roadways have regular bus services from New Delhi, running deluxe and air conditioned coaches from Bikaner house, Delhi. Jaipur is also well connected with the other cities of Rajasthan.
With good road conditions you can also travel by private car/taxi.