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| Gangaur |
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| Celebrated In
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The festival commences on the first day of Chaitra, the day following Holi and
continues for 18 days |
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| THE STORY |
The most important local festival in
Rajasthan, Gangaur is held about a fortnight after Holi, the festival of
colours, and the celebrations go on for eighteen days. The festival is held in
honor of Gauri, a manifestation of Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. The
festival is celebrated by girls and married women throughout Rajasthan. Images
of Gauri are ornamented and offerings are made. This is also an auspicious time
for young people to select their life partners. Colorful processions with the
town band, horses, and elaborate palanquins make it a fascinating spectacle.
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This Festival is celebrated
throughout Rajasthan with great enthusiasm but the celebrations in Jaipur and
Udaipur have their own special charm. The festival is also celebrated with
great pomp and show in Bikaner, Jodhpur, Marathwara and Jaisalmer. Girls
worship the goddess throughout the fortnight. Colorful images of Gauri,
beautifully dressed and bejeweled, are taken out in a procession accompanied by
the town band.
A boat procession is taken out on the Pichola Lake in Udaipur. Women balancing
several brass pitchers on their heads add to the gaiety of the Udaipur
celebrations. Thousands of people from the countryside come to take part in the
procession of Gangaur, which goes around from village to village. Tribal men
and women get the opportunity to meet and interact freely and during this time,
they select partners and elope to marry. An unusual, romantic custom sanctioned
by the community, it helps many young people find their life partner.
The festival commences on the first day of Chaitra, the day following Holi and
continues for 18 days. For a new bride, it is binding to observe all the
rituals and fasts specified for the 18 days of the first Gangaur after her
marriage. Even unmarried girls fast for the full period of 18 days and eat only
one meal a day in the hope of finding a good husband. Girls dress up in their
finest clothes and pray for a spouse of their choice, while married women do
the same for the happiness and long life of their husbands.
Celebrated all over Rajasthan, the Gangaur Festival offers a colourful insight
into the culture of Rajasthan. So, embark on a Rajasthan tour to experience a
world of colours and festivities. |
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