Main Attraction:- Reverence
of Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvati
Overview/History:- Gangaur festival of Rajasthan is
celebrated in reverence to Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. It derives its name
from the words 'Gan' and 'Gauri', the former is another name for Shiv while the
latter is used to address Parvati. The festival centers around women and all
the rituals to be followed are observed by them. The festival is held in the
month of 'Chaitra' as per the Hindu calendar. The festival rituals commence the
day after Holi.
Celebration:- Thefestival celebrates Rajasthan the union of Shiva and Parvati which gives young girls and
boys an occasion to interact with each other. It is an elaborate occasion and
there are several rituals associated with it. These rituals include:
Collecting ash from Holika Dehan and burying seeds of wheat
and barley in it and protecting them by watering till the seeds germinate.
Songs in praise of Shiv and Parvati are sung by women who
also carry pots on their heads.
Women make clay images of both Shiva and Parvati.
A procession is taken by young girls and all of them place
an earthern pot with holes and lamp inside on their heads. They distribute cash
and other gifts on their way.
The final day of the festival sees images of Gauri being
taken out in a procession accompanied by camels, bullock carts, horses and
elephants. The procession is symbolic of return of Gauri to her husband's
(Shiv's) home.
To mark the end of the procession, the girls break their
pots.
Apart from these rituals, newly married women fast for the
festival inJaipur, a popular sweet dish called 'Ghewar' is distributed between families,
relatives and friends.
whole eighteen days of the festival and even unmarried women fast and eat only
one meal a day in the hope to find a good husband. During this 