ॐ श्री गणाधिपतये नमः
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The Gangaur Festival of Rajasthan is a vibrant and culturally rich celebration that epitomizes the devotion and traditions of the state’s people. Dedicated to Goddess Gauri (an embodiment of Parvati), the festival symbolizes marital bliss, prosperity, and the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Celebrated primarily by women, it marks their prayers for the well-being of their husbands and family, as well as for a harmonious marital life. Unmarried women also participate, seeking blessings for a virtuous spouse.
The festival, lasting 16 days, features intricate rituals, colorful attire, beautifully adorned idols, traditional songs, and grand processions. Gangaur is not only a spiritual observance but also a spectacle of Rajasthani art, culture, and community spirit, bringing life to the towns and cities during the festivities.
The Gangaur Festival is celebrated in the month of Chaitra (March-April), which corresponds to the first month of the Hindu calendar. It begins the day after Holi and lasts for 16 days, culminating on Tritiya Tithi (the third day) of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha). The exact dates vary each year according to the lunar calendar.
The word Gangaur is a combination of two words:
- Gana (गण): Refers to Lord Shiva, who is often addressed as the lord of the Ganas (divine attendants).
- Gaur (गौर): Refers to Goddess Parvati, representing Saubhagya (marital bliss and prosperity).
Thus, Gangaur symbolizes the worship of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati together, celebrating their union and invoking blessings for marital happiness, prosperity, and longevity.
Celebrating Gangaur: A Touch of Rajasthani Tradition in the Heart of Kolkata
The Gangaur Festival, a vibrant celebration of devotion and culture, brings the spirit of Rajasthan alive in Kolkata. This festival, dedicated to Goddess Gauri (Parvati) and her consort Lord Shiva, symbolizes marital bliss, love, and prosperity. Organized by the Rajasthani community in Kolkata, it features colorful processions, traditional folk songs, and dance performances. Women dress in traditional Rajasthani attire, carry beautifully decorated earthen pots, and participate in rituals with fervor. The festival fosters a sense of togetherness and keeps the rich Rajasthani heritage thriving, even outside its native state.
The tradition of celebrating Gangaur in Kolkata is relatively newer, particularly when compared to its long-standing presence in Rajasthan, where it dates back several centuries. The festival’s observance in Kolkata can be traced to the arrival of Rajasthani communities in the city, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Over time, these communities brought their cultural practices, including Gangaur, to Kolkata.
Today, Kolkata celebrates the festival with much enthusiasm, especially among the Rajasthani and Marwari communities. It has gained prominence over the last few decades, blending traditional Rajasthani customs with the local Bengali cultural fabric. The festival in Kolkata is now celebrated with processions, music, dance, and colorful rituals, reflecting the city’s cosmopolitan nature. The Gangaur festival has been celebrated in Kolkata for around 100 to 150 years, but its growing recognition and public celebrations have been more notable in the last few decades.
Rites and Rituals of Gangaur Festival
Gangaur festival is deeply steeped in vibrant rituals that celebrate marital bliss and the bond of love and devotion. Women, particularly those who are married, wake early to perform pujas dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, represented by beautifully adorned clay idols.
The rituals often include the ceremonial application of turmeric paste to the idols, offerings of flowers, sweets, and other sacred items, and singing traditional folk songs that narrate tales of divine love and sacrifice. Unmarried girls participate with equal fervor, seeking blessings for an ideal life partner. Fasting is a significant aspect of the festival, where women abstain from consuming food or have a single meal a day as a gesture of devotion.
The festival culminates in a grand procession, where the idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are taken out amidst joyous music, dance, and celebrations, symbolizing the departure of the Goddess to her marital home. These rites create a tapestry of devotion, community spirit, and cultural heritage that make Gangaur a cherished festival in Indian tradition.
Symbols of Devotion: Idols and Paintings in the Gangaur Festival Worship
During the Gangaur Festival, which is primarily celebrated in Rajasthan, particularly in Jaipur, images, idols, and paintings are used in various forms of worship and rituals. Some of the key representations include:
- Idols of Goddess Gauri (Parvati): The central deity of the Gangaur festival is Goddess Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva. Idols of Goddess Gauri, often depicted as a beautiful young woman, are made of clay or metal. These idols are typically adorned with traditional clothing, jewelry, and are often shown with a serene and peaceful expression.
- Lord Shiva Idols: Lord Shiva, as the divine consort of Goddess Gauri, is also honored during the festival. His idol is placed alongside that of Gauri, and sometimes the depiction shows him in his famous form, adorned with rudraksha, a crescent moon, and a snake.
- Gangaur Procession Figurines: In the Gangaur processions, beautifully decorated wooden and clay figurines of the couple – Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri – are carried through the streets. These figurines are intricately designed, and their decorations often include vibrant colors and embellishments like flowers, beads, and fabric.
- Paintings of Gauri and Shiva: Traditional paintings, often inspired by miniature art styles, depict scenes of Gauri’s worship, her union with Shiva, and the various rituals associated with the festival. These paintings are colorful, ornate, and symbolic of the joy and devotion that the festival brings.
- Local Folk Art Depictions: Many local artisans create paintings on cloth, canvas, or wooden boards, showcasing various rituals associated with Gangaur. These works may include scenes of women preparing offerings, participating in processions, and singing devotional songs.
Adorning the Hands: The Role of Mehendi in the Vibrant Celebrations of Gangaur Festival
Mehendi holds a special significance during the Gangaur festival, especially for women in Rajasthan and other parts of North India. It is a traditional ritual where women, especially married ones and young girls, apply intricate henna designs on their hands and feet. This act is considered auspicious and is believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and marital bliss. The mehendi designs are often elaborate, with intricate patterns symbolizing love and fertility. The application of mehendi is not just about beautification but also represents a deeper connection to the goddess Gauri, as women seek her blessings for the well-being of their husbands, families, and themselves. The henna-stained hands and feet are seen as a sign of joy and celebration, reflecting the vibrant spirit of the Gangaur festivities.
Ghudlias are earthen pots with numerous holes all around and a lamp lit inside them. On the evening of the 7th day after Holi, unmarried girls go around singing songs of Ghudlia carrying the pots with a burning lamp inside, on their heads.
On their way, they collect small presents of cash, sweets, jaggery, ghee, oil etc. This continues for 10 days i.e. up to the conclusion of the Gangaur festival when the girls break their pots and throw the debris into the well or a tank and enjoys a feast with the collection made.
Vrat katha (Vrata Kathā) :
Once upon a time, Lord Shiva, along Goddess Parvati and Narad Muni went out to take a small trip. When they reached a nearby forest, the news of their arrival spread like wild fire.
As the women were busy preparing a gorgeous spread for the Gods and Goddess, the women of the low class came with their offerings. Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvati happily ate the food and Goddess sprinkled the ‘Suhagras’ on them.
After a certain time, the women of the high classes came with the food they had prepared. When they had finished eating Lord Shiv asked his wife that with what was she going to bless the women as she had already finished every bit of the ‘Suhagras’ on blessing the women of lower classes.
To this, Goddess Parvati replied that she intended to bless these women with her own blood. Saying so, she scratched the tip of her finger and sprinkled the blood on these women.
Gauri’s Departure :
The festival reaches its climax during the last three days. The images of Gauri and Ishwar are dressed in new garments especially made for the occasion. Unmarried girls and married women decorate the images and make them look like living figures.
At an auspicious hour in the afternoon, a procession is taken out to a garden, Bawdi or Johad or well with the images of Ishwar and Gauri, placed on the heads of married women. Songs are sung about the departure of Gauri to her husband’s house.
The procession comes back after offering water to the first two days. On the final day, she faces in the same direction as Isar and the procession concludes in the consignment of the all images in the waters of a tank or a well.
The women bid farewell to Gauri and turn their eyes and the Gangaur festival comes to an end.
Gangaur Festival in Jaipur:
The Gangaur Festival in Jaipur is a vibrant celebration of Rajasthani culture, dedicated to the goddess Gauri, symbolizing fertility, marital bliss, and prosperity. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm by women, who fast and pray for the well-being of their husbands. The streets of Jaipur come alive with grand processions, colorful decorations, and folk performances. The highlight of the festival is the beautifully adorned idol of Gauri being carried through the city, accompanied by traditional music, dance, and fervent devotion.
Gangaur Festival in Udaipur:
In Udaipur, the Gangaur Festival is a magnificent blend of religious fervor and royal tradition. The city’s lakeside setting adds to the charm, as the main procession takes place along the scenic banks of Lake Pichola. The festival marks the devotion of women to Goddess Gauri, with intricate rituals, cultural performances, and a spectacular display of royal splendor. The royal family’s participation further elevates the grandeur of the celebration, making it one of the most anticipated cultural events in Udaipur.
Traditional processions of Gangaur commences from the City Palace, and several other places, which passes through various areas of the city. The procession is headed by old palanquins, chariots, bullock carts and performance by folk artists.
After the processions are complete, the idols of Gan and Gauri are brought to this Ghat and immersed in Lake Pichola from here.