Gangaur

Gangaur is a spring festival of Rajasthan devoted to Gauri—Parvati—and her union with Shiva. Its name is traditionally explained through ‘Gan’ for Shiva and ‘Gaur’ for Gauri. The devotional ideal behind the festival is Parvati’s steadfast penance and her marriage to Shiva, so married women pray for the well-being and longevity of their husbands while unmarried girls seek a loving and worthy partner. Celebrations begin after Holi and continue through Chaitra, with women worshipping images of Isar and Gauri, decorating hands with mehndi, carrying water, singing traditional songs and preparing special offerings. On the concluding day beautifully dressed images are taken through streets in colourful processions, recalling Gauri’s ceremonial departure to join Shiva. Because the season also marks spring and agricultural renewal, Gangaur combines marital symbolism with fertility, abundance, friendship among women and the fresh vitality of the land.

Gangaur is valued for devotion, family tradition and the spiritual or seasonal meaning attached to the day.

Clay images of Isar and Gauri are made and kept in the house for the eighteen days. Girls carry water on their heads to them each morning and sing. Ghudlia lamps are carried in Marwar. The last day is a procession through Jaipur and Udaipur, ending at a lake.

Rajasthan above all - Jaipur and Udaipur take the procession to the water - with Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Braj keeping it alongside. Bengal and the south do not keep it; their Gauri comes at other times of the year.