What is the Gangaur festival
Gangaur is a beautiful festival in Rajasthan. The word “Gangaur” comes from two words: Gan (lord Shiva) and Gaur (Goddess Gauri). The festival highlights the beautiful relationship of a married couple and people celebrate it for 18 days.
When it is celebrated
Gangaur is usually celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaitra. It is an 18-day festival. It starts on the day after Holi, which is dhulandi and continues for 18 days. On the 8th day, they celebrate “Sheetala Ashtami” (in Marwadi, we call it Basoda). On that day, we have to eat cold food. After the completion of 18 days, Gangaur is celebrated
Who celebrate Gangaur
- Married Women: They pray for the long life and well-being of their husbands.
- Newlywed Women: During the first year of their marriage, they celebrate this festival in their maternal house.
- Unmarried Women: They pray to God for a good life partner.
How is this Gangaur Festival Celebrated?
- On the next day of the Holi festival, women make the statue of Isar and Gaur from the mud and establish it in their house with rituals.
- They dress them in beautiful clothes and worship them using flowers, grass, water, mehendi, kajal, and roli.
- Women get ready in traditional Rajasthani Dress as they have to wear the traditional “chunari”
- In the morning, they worship Isar and Gaur; in the evening, they offer them sweets and water.
- On the 8th day, they take Isar and Gangaur to temples. On the day of Basoda, people dress younger girls as “dulha” and “dulhan” and take them to the temples.
- After the “basoda”, ladies have to do “bindoora” as the women celebrate the Gangaur, they used to bring the Gangaur to their house.
- On the 18th day, women wear colorful clothes and take Isar and Gaur out by singing devotional songs and with music.
- Then in the evening, they immersed Isar and Gangaur in water.
Gangaur celebration in Jaipur
Gangaur in Jaipur is a grand celebration that takes place on the final day. It starts from the City Palace of Jaipur through the bustling streets of Jaipur. Folk dancers and musicians join the parade, entertaining the audience with their performances. People beautifully decorate camels, elephants, and horses for the Shahi Sawari (royal parade) of Gangaur, adding to its magnificence.
Women dressed in traditional attire carry the mud statue called “ghudlias” on their heads, symbolizing their offering to the goddess.
Gangaur festival in Jaipur is not just a religious celebration but also reflects the Rajasthani culture and tradition.
While enjoying the Gangaur festival, you can also explore the most famous places in Jaipur like:
- Sip of coffee and relax at the best cafe in Jaipur.
- Relish the luxurious cuisine at restaurants in Jaipur.
- Explore the places to visit in Jaipur. Include the iconic forts and museums.
- Visit the famous temples in Jaipur like Govind dev ji and Birla Mandir.
- Calling all shopaholic, discover famous market in Jaipur for traditional Rajasthani chunari and jutti.
- Beat the heat with the famous water parks in Jaipur.
- Enjoy the laughter and joy at fun places in Jaipur with your loved ones.
- Taste the street foods in Jaipur like kachori, ghevar, pyaz kachori
- Add adventure to your trip with a thrilling desert safari in Jaipur.
If you want to witness this beautiful Gangaur festival in Jaipur, it will give you a beautiful experience to remember. Then just pack your bags and get ready to see the vibrant culture, and tradition that this Pink City has to offer.
