Gangaur Festival, Jaipur
A
festival devoted to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Ishar &
Gangaur are the divine male and female ho embody marital love.
Dedicated to goddess Gauri (Parvati), the festival commences on Holi/ Young
girls pray for rooms of their choice while married women seek a long life for
their husbands. The ladies decorate their hands and feet )y drawing designs
with Mehendi (Myrtle Jaste).
On the evening of the 7th day after -ioli, unmarried girls go around singing
songs of ghudlia (earthern pots with numerous holes all around with a lamp lit
aside) carrying the pots on their hands. )n their way they collect small presents
,f cash, sweets, jaggery, ghee, oil etc. The women do these while chanting hymns
to the Goddess.
Festivities continue for 18 days culminating with the arrival of Lord Shiva
to escort his bride home.
A grand process Ion with the ideal of Gauri in beautifully decorated gold and
silver a palanquin caparisoned elephants, camels, horses, dances, drummers &
joyous children, goes through the city streets.
In Jaipur procession forms at the Palace Gate known as Tripolia and moves on
the city streets on to Talkatora.
A vast gathering of jaipurites & villagers from nearby areas witness the
procession. A sweet dish called Ghewar characteristic of the Gangaur festival
is distributed among friends & relatives.
In Jodhpur early in the morning thousands of maidens, clad in their best attire,
singing melodious songs, bring water and durba grass in silver or brass pots
to a place known as Girdikot.
In Udaipur the images of Isar & Gauri are taken in a procession to the Pichola
lake there after in a boat for an hour they go around the lake and the ceremony
comes to an end with a display of fireworks on the banks.
The Girasia tribe eligible boys & girls in Sirohi, Mount Abu region during
Gangaur festival select their life partners & elope with them. This form
of marriage has the sanction of the community.
Gangaur Festival, Jaipur, Fairs & Festivals
of Rajasthan
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