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 Gangaur
Festival
Quick Look
Time : March / April
Venue : Jaipur Rajasthan
How to Reach : Jaipur is well connected by air, road and rail
network with most cities and towns of Rajasthan and India.
Significance : The Gangaur Festival to Goddess Parvati, the
consort of Lord Shiva.
Highlights : Unmarried females pray for good husbands while
the married ones worship to be blessed with a happy married life.
A festival devoted to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva.
It is time for young girls to dress up in their finery and pray for
grooms of their choice while  the
married women pray for the well-being of their husbands. This 18-day
festival is laced with various activities and culminates in a grand
procession marking the arrival of Shiva to escort his bride home.
Gangaur Festival, a spirited celebration gets underway every year
during the Hindu month of Chaitra (March - April) in Jaipur - A
city of pomp and pageantry. Gangaur Festival marks the end of winter
and the coming of spring. Mists fade away and the sun shines bright
through a clear blue sky. Trees sprout forth new leaves and buds.
It is a time to rejoice and celebrate.
'Gan is a synonym for lord Shiva and 'Gaur' or 'Gauri' for Goddess
Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva and a symbol of conjugal bliss
and marital happiness. During the festival, the ladies decorate
their palms and fingers with henna (Mehndi). The decorations comprise
motifs of flowers, 'swastika', 'chaupar', Sun, Moon, Stars or some
Geometrical Designs.
A traditional procession commences from the Zanani-Deorhi of the
City Palace, passes through Tripolia Bazaar, Gangauri Bazaar, Chaughan
and finally converges near the Talkatora with the image of the deity
being immersed in the lake. The procession is headed by a colourful
pageantry of elephants, camels, horses, musicians, old palanquins,
chariots and bullock carts.
People purchase colourful idols of Gauri and Isar and put them
up in their homes to worship at the commencement of the festival.
The walls of the room where 'pooja' (Prayer) is performed are whitewashed
and the women paint the figures of Isar and Gauri.
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