Gangaur Festival

Gangaur Festival, a spirited celebration gets underway every year during the Hindu month of Chaitra (March - April) in Jaipur - A city of pomp and pageantry. Gangaur Festival marks the end of winter and the coming of spring. Mists fade away and the sun shines bright through a clear blue sky.

Trees sprout forth new leaves and buds. It is a time to rejoice and celebrate.

Happiness 'Gan is a synonym for lord Shiva and 'Gaur' or 'Gauri' for Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva and a symbol of conjugal bliss and marital happiness. During the festival, the ladies decorate their palms and fingers with henna (Mehndi). The decorations comprise motifs of flowers, 'swastika', 'chaupar', Sun, Moon, Stars or some Geometrical Designs.

A traditional procession commences from the Zanani-Deorhi of the City Palace, passes through Tripolia Bazaar, Gangauri Bazaar, Chaughan and finally converges near the Talkatora with the image of the deity being immersed in the lake. The procession is headed by a colourful pageantry of elephants, camels, horses, musicians, old palanquins, chariots and bullock carts.

People purchase colourful idols of Gauri and Isar and put them up in their homes to worship at the commencement of the festival. The walls of the room where 'pooja' (Prayer) is performed are whitewashed and the women paint the figures of Isar and Gauri.

Gangaur is one of the most important local festival in Rajasthan. In some form or the other it is celebrated all over Rajasthan. “gan” is a synonym for Lord Shiva and “gauri” or “gaur” stands for goddess parvati, the heavenly consort of lord Shiva. Gangaur celebrates the union of the two and is a symbol of conjugal and marital happiness.

Gangaur is celebrated in the month of chaitra (March-April), the first month of the Hindu calendar. This month marks the end of winter and the onset of spring.

This festival is celebrated especially by women, who worship clay idols of “Gan” & “Gauri” in their houses. These idols are worshiped by unmarried girls who seek the blessings of Gan and Gauri for a good husband, while the married women pray for the good health and long life of their husbands.

This worship which starts form the first day of the chaitra month culminates on the 18th day into Gangaur festival with a great religious fervor. On the eve of Gangaur festival women decorate their polms and fingers with henna. The idols of Gan and Gauri are immersed in pond or in a near by lake on the last day of the festival.

A traditional procession of Gangaur commerces form the Zanani- Deodhi of the City Palace, passing through Tripolia Bazair, Chhoti Chaupar, Gangauri Bazar, Chaugan stadium and finally converges near the Talkatora. The procession is headed by a colorful pageantry of elephants, old palanquins, chariots, bullock carts and performance folk artists.