India is a diverse country of festivals. It is filled with colours by its different states and their culture. There is a saying “Saat Vaar Aur Naun Tyohaar” meaning that there are only 7 days in a week but festivals are nine. Gangaur or Gauri Tritiya is a vibrant religious festival which celebrates the divine love of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Gangaur is celebrated after Holi: The festivals of colours on the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the Month of Chaitra according to the hindu calendar. Gangaur or Gaur Mata is a local Goddess and a form of Goddess Parvati consort of Lord Shiva. The Gangaur festival is celebrated largely in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Except for these two states Gangaur is also celebrated in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat.
The culture of every state is shown in its customs, costumes and festivals. Every state of India has its specialty in which festivals are very important . Rajasthan, a northern state of India, is a state of Marwaris. Gangaur is a major festival of Marwaris, which is observed with great splendour. Marwaris not only from Rajasthan but living in every state celebrate this festival with full of customs. Gangaur is celebrated differently in different places. Nimari people from Madhya Pradesh also celebrate it with equal enthusiasm like Marwaris. The methods of worship of both communities are different while the festival is the same. Marwari people worship Gangaur for sixteen days but Nimari people celebrate Gangaur only for three days.
Gangaur festival holds a great significance for the married woman as they worship Goddess Parvati for the healthy life and life of their husbands and healthy conjugal relationship. To get an understanding and best husband like Lord Shiva, unmarried girls also participate in the worship and Gangaur celebrations.
Overview:-
| Name | Gangaur festival |
| when is it celebrated | On the third date of Chaitra Navratri |
| when is it in 2024 | 11 April |
| who is worshipped | Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati |
Gangaur Festival 2024: Date and Shubh Muhurt
Gangaur will be celebrated this year on 11th of april 2024 and daily worship will start from Monday 25th march 2024.
Best Muhurt on Sunrise will be: 6:29 am – 8:24 am
Abhijit Muhurt will be: 12:04 pm – 12:52 pm
| Tithi | Time | Date |
| Tritiya Tithi Start | 05:30 PM | 10 April 2024 |
| Tritiya Tithi End | 03:00 PM | 11 April 2024 |
Gangaur Festival 2024: Pujan Samagri (Items)
Pujan Samagri is the most important thing to remember and should be taken care of in any festival and worship. Here’s a list of Pujan Vidhi Samgri of Gangaur Puja:
- Wooden Chowki/Bajot/Pata
- Red or Yellow Coloured Cloth
- Copper pot
- Black clay/holi ashes
- Gangaur Idols
- Two earthen pots/pots
- Earthen Diyas
- Brass Diyas
- Kerosene lamp
- Kumkum, rice, turmeric, henna, gulal, abeer, kajal
- Ghee
- Pujan Thali
- flowers, grass, mango leaves
- pot full of water
- betel leaves
- Wooden Basket
- Coconut
- Guna Sweets
- Betel and Ashok leaves
- Gangaur’s clothes
- Wheat, Rice, Moong
- Chunari cloth
Udyapan Materials
All the above written materials are used in Udyapan, but there are some materials which are necessary too in Udyapan on the last day.
- sera (halwa)
- Puri
- wheat
- Flour Guna (Fruit)
- Saree
- Suhaag or Solah adornment items etc.
- Green Grass
What is the method of worshipping Gangaur (Gangaur Puja Vidhi)
Gangaur is worshipped for sixteen days by Marwari Women. Mainly, on the first Holi after marriage, a married girl celebrates Gangaur for sixteen days in her parents’ house or in-laws’ house. Gangaur is worshipped with a couple not alone. Married girls invite other 16 girls for worship. She gives them a betel nut and other Suhag things. Gangaur is celebrated with great enthusiasm for sixteen days and after 16 days, Gangaur Mata idol is immersed in the waterbody after doing the Udyapan. The worship of Gangaur starts from the Purnima (the full moon day) of Phalgun month, on the Padva, the second day after the burning of Holika, on which Holi is played. Woman who is celebrating her first Holi is after marriage, Gangaur is worshipped in the house for sixteen days by placing a ‘Chowki/Pata’ of Gangaur. Here’s step by step guide for the Gangaur Puja 2024:
- First of all, a pot is set and a Saathiya (a sacred sign) is drawn on it to start worship. After it a pot is placed, filled with water, with five betel leaves on the sides and coconut on centre of it like a kalash. It is kept on the right side of the stool.
- Now one and a quarter rupees are kept in the pot and a betel nut is worshipped in the form of Lord Ganesha.
- Now sixteen small balls are made from the ashes of Holi and the black soil and kept on the chowki/pata. After that, worship is completed by sprinkling water, kumkum and rice seeds.
- A paper is fixed on the wall and the married girl applies sixteen tikkis each and the unmarried girl applies eight tikkis each of kumkum, turmeric, henna and kajal respectively.
- After this, all ladies sing the Gangaur songs together while playing the Dholak, sixteen times.
- Thereafter, a lady recites the story of Lord Ganesha and sings the song of Paate, pays Aragh (homage) to Lord Suryanarayan and gives water.
- For the whole sixteen days this Puja is done. On the seventh day on the day of Sitala Saptami in the evening, Gangaur and two earthen pots are brought from Kumar’s place with musical instruments and celebrations.
- Now every morning from Ashtami to Gangaur Teej, Bijora is decorated with flowers. In two furrows, wheat and sorghum is sawn. There are a total of five statues of Gangaur in which Isar Ji (Lord Shiva), Gangaur Mata (Parvati Mata), Malan, Mali, two such pairs and one Vimaldas Ji. All these are worshipped every day. Udyapan is done on the Teej of Gangaur and every idol with every thing is immersed in the waterbody.
Story/ History of Gangaur Mata (Gangaur Katha)
Goddess Gauri is a symbol of austerity and purity. It is said that she impressed Lord Shiva with great devotion and commitment. She did intense meditation and Harsh Tapasya to get Lord Shiva as her husband. There are many versions of Gangaur Katha in different regions.
There was a time when Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati and Narad Muni visited the earth. They arrived in some forest. This news came to the women of the village nearby. All the women got so happy and wanted to welcome God and Goddess. They cooked delicious food for them. The lower caste women came first and they worshipped and offered food to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Goddess Parvati gave them Suhaga in the blessings. The upper caste women came late because they were getting ready. They also worshipped and offered delicious food to Shiv ji and Parvati ji. Goddess Parvati had given all her Suhagas to the lower caste women so she cut her thumb and gave her blood to upper caste women as blessings. To depict the same story people celebrate the Gangaur festival joyously.
Method of Gangaur Udhyapan (Gangaur Udhyapan Vidhi)
On the main Gangaur festival after the sixteen day worship on the last day the Gangaur idols are worshipped and Udyapana puja is performed with family and friends and the festival is celebrated.
Method –
- On the last day or Main Gangaur festival day, Guna (a sweet), fruits, Seera, Puri and wheat are offered to Gangaur.
- These things are offered eight times to Gangaur Mata Idol and half are taken back.
- On the Gangaur festival day, Kawari (unmarried) girls worship Gangaur twice, one on a daily basis.
- Before the second puja, the Byawali woman puts on a cholia, in which papdi or guna (fruits) are kept. In it there are sixteen fruits of oneself, sixteen fruits of brother, sixteen fruits of daughter-in-law and sixteen fruits of mother-in-law.
- Keep saree and wedding attire over the chola. After worshipping, hands are rubbed over the robe.
- In the evening, people go to immerse Gangaur in the water with musical instruments and the things that were offered are given to the gardener as per the story.
- After the Visarjan (immersion) of Gangaur everyone comes home singing and dancing with musical instruments.
Importance of Gangaur worship (Gangaur Festival Mahatva)
The word Gangaur is made up of two words Gun means Shiva and Gaur means Gauri (Maa Parvati). This festival is dedicated to the love and marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Gangaur is a festival which is celebrated by everyone, girl or woman. Both unmarried girls and married women worship Gangaur with all the rituals and customs, a form of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati during the festival. The married women pray for the long life of her husband while the unmarried girls pray to get a good husband like Lord Shiva. This festival gives a different colour and vibes to the simple daily life of ladies.
FAQs:-
1. What is Gangaur Festival?
– Gangaur Festival is a traditional Hindu celebration dedicated to Goddess Parvati, known as Gauri, and Lord Shiva. It symbolizes marital happiness and the love between husband and wife.
2. When is Gangaur Festival celebrated?
– Gangaur Festival is celebrated on the third day of Chaitra Navratri, which typically falls in March or April according to the Hindu calendar.
3. What is the significance of Gangaur Festival?
– Gangaur Festival holds great significance for married women, who pray for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. Unmarried girls also participate, seeking blessings for a suitable spouse like Lord Shiva.
4. Where is Gangaur Festival celebrated?
– Gangaur Festival is prominently celebrated in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, although it is also observed in other states like Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat.
5. What are the rituals associated with Gangaur Festival?
– Rituals include creating clay idols of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, fasting, offering prayers, singing folk songs, and immersing the idols in water on the final day.
6. How long does Gangaur Festival last?
– Gangaur Festival typically spans over 16 days, starting from the Purnima (full moon day) of the Phalgun month and concluding with the immersion of idols.
7. What are the traditional dishes prepared during Gangaur Festival?
– Traditional dishes include Guna sweets, puri, wheat-based sweets like sera, and various fruits offered as prasad during worship.
8. Why do women celebrate Gangaur Festival?
– Women celebrate Gangaur Festival to seek blessings for the well-being of their husbands and to pray for marital bliss. Unmarried girls participate to find suitable spouses.
9. What is Gangaur Puja Vidhi?
– Gangaur Puja Vidhi involves creating clay idols of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, offering prayers, performing aarti, and observing fasts as a form of devotion.
10. How is Gangaur Udhyapan performed?
– Gangaur Udhyapan is performed on the final day of the festival, involving the worship of idols with family and friends, offering sweets, fruits, and performing rituals before immersion.
11. What is the Gangaur Katha or story associated with the festival?
– The Gangaur Katha narrates the story of Goddess Parvati’s devotion to Lord Shiva and her determination to marry him, symbolizing purity, devotion, and marital love.
12. How do unmarried girls participate in Gangaur Festival?
– Unmarried girls participate in Gangaur Festival by fasting, offering prayers, and seeking blessings for finding a suitable spouse like Lord Shiva.
13. What are the auspicious timings for Gangaur Puja?
– The auspicious timings for Gangaur Puja vary each year and are determined based on the Hindu calendar. Generally, sunrise and specific muhurtas are considered auspicious.
14. Can Gangaur Festival be celebrated at home?
– Yes, Gangaur Festival can be celebrated at home with devotion, by creating clay idols of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, performing rituals, offering prayers, and fasting.
15. Is Gangaur Festival celebrated differently in different regions of India?
– Yes, while the essence of Gangaur Festival remains the same, the rituals and customs may vary slightly across different regions of India, reflecting local traditions and practices.
16. What is the significance of Gangaur idols immersion?
– Immersion of Gangaur idols symbolizes bidding farewell to the divine presence of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, concluding the festival with prayers for their blessings.
17. Are there any specific colors or attire associated with Gangaur Festival?
– Women traditionally wear vibrant attire in shades of red, yellow, and green during Gangaur Festival, symbolizing auspiciousness and devotion.
18. Can men participate in Gangaur Festival celebrations?
– While Gangaur Festival is predominantly celebrated by women, men can also participate in the rituals, prayers, and festivities alongside their family members.
19. What are the social and cultural significance of Gangaur Festival?
– Gangaur Festival promotes family bonding, community harmony, and the preservation of cultural traditions through collective worship, prayers, and celebrations.
20. Is Gangaur Festival a public holiday in India?
– No, Gangaur Festival is not a public holiday in India, but it holds significant cultural importance and is widely celebrated across various communities.
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