Gangaur is an auspicious local festival of Rajasthan and is celebrated with great zeal and devotion particularly in Jaipur.
The 18-day long festival begins on the first day of Chaitra, a day after Holi. The festival is celebrated in honor of Goddess Gauri or Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva.
Gangaur itself is derived from two word 'Gana' representing Shiva and 'Gaur' representing Gauri. Both married and unmarried woman celebrate this festival to be blessed with a blissful married life or loving and caring husband. Young girls as well as married women turn up in their best clothes and jewelry to participate in the celebration.
According to the local beliefs, Parvati comes to her paternal home to bless her friend with gifts and blessings of happy marriage after her marriage with Lord Shiva. Gangaur is celebrated on the day when Parvati leaves her parent's home to return to her husband's home. At an auspicious time in the afternoon, a procession is taken out to a tank or a well with the clay images of Isa and Gauri placed on their head. The procession returns back after offering water to the image of Gauri. This ritual continues for three days.
Gangaur Festival is celebrated throughout Rajasthan with little variation. In Jaipur, the procession beings at Tripolia Gate and passes Chaugan to Talkatora. A sweet, 'ghewar' is associated with the festival of Gangaur and is distributed among relatives and friends. In Bikaner, married and maiden women fast for the 18 days. Swwet dishes are prepared to make an offering to the goddess at the tank or well and are distributed as prasad o the way home. In Jodhpur, the fair of lotias is held, which is attended by many people.
Maiden girls get read early in the morning to bring water and durya grass in silver pots to Girdikot while singing songs all through the way. In Nathdwara, Gangaur procession lasts for 7 days and for each day, a particular color is chosen to dress up the goddess. Ion the final day, the goddess is draped in attire o black color with golden lace. In Udaipur, the images of Isar and Gauri are carried to Lake Pichola in a procession. The circumambulation of lake is done on a boat and the ceremony comes to an end with a marvelous display of fireworks.
