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Gangaur Festival, Jaipur
Gangaur is one of the most important and widely celebrated traditional festivals
of Rajasthan. The word Gangaur is derived from two words Gan a synonym of Shiva
and Gauri his consort, Parvati.
A festival devoted to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Ishar & Gangaur
are the divine male and female who 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 drawing designs with Mehendi (Myrtle Jaste).
On the evening of the 7th day after holi, 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. 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.
The festival commences with the ritual of collecting ashes from Holika Dahan (Holi
Fire) and planting seeds of wheat and barley in it. While women carry the painted
water pots on their heads, songs praising the deities Isar and Gauri are sung.
Colorful idols of Gauri are taken out on the last day in a procession accompanied
by camels, bullock carts, horses and elephants, decorated in traditional finery.
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.
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