Gangaur: Fun and Festivities in Rajasthan

If there’s any place in India where grandeur and celebration come together in a seamless confluence of festivities, it’s Rajasthan. While Holi in itself is a massive riot of colours and celebration here, the fun and festivities by no means end with it, but continue for another 18 days in the form of the Gangaur festival, one of Rajasthan’s most important and awaited occasions. Celebrated with great pomp and show particularly in the cities of Bikaner, Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, it gives visitors and tourists a spectacular opportunity to observe this state’s magnificent culture at close quarters.

Women celebrate the festival by making beautiful colourful images of Gauri and carrying them in processions around the city. Photo Credit: Ggia / Wikimedia

What is Gangaur?

The word Gangaur is an amalgamation of two mighty members of the Hindu pantheon – Gan or Shiva and Gauri or Parvati, his consort. The festival celebrates their union and has become a symbol of marital bliss and fidelity for all women and young girls of Rajasthan.

When is it celebrated?

The Gangaur celebrations commence on the day after Holi, which falls on March 27 this year, and continue for 18 days thereafter, till the final immersion of the images of Gauri.

What are the rituals involved?

The most significant and perhaps the most difficult part of the festivities is the fasting before the feasting. Newly married women and young girls are expected to fast for the entire duration of the festival, eating only one meal a day.

• They make beautiful images of Gauri with clay, which they carry in processions around the city. Some Rajput families, however, keep permanent wooden images, which are painted afresh every year.
• The seventh day of the festival is particularly special. On this day all young girls and women dress in traditional clothes and walk through the city in a procession with a ghudlia or earthen pot on their head. This pot is usually punctured with holes and carries a small diya or light within. A beautiful sight to behold, it is made even more unique by the singing of traditional songs as the girls move about and are showered with gifts of money and jaggery.
• The celebrations reach their zenith during the last three days when beautifully dressed women carry ornamented images of Gauri on their heads to the accompaniment of local bands. Adding to the grandeur are elephants, chariots, palanquins, bullock carts and groups of local performing artistes.
• In Jaipur the procession begins from the Zenani Deodi of the City Palace and passes through Tripoli Bazaar, Choti Chaupar, Ganggauri Vasar, Chaugan stadium, finally converging near the Talkatora.
• Udaipur's festivities are even more fascinating since they include a boat procession on Lake Pichola followed by a spectacular display of fireworks.
• It is also ritualistic to dye your hands with mehendi.

In Jaipur the procession begins from the Zenani Deodi of the City Palace. Photo Credit: Avinashmaurya / Wikimedia

Fasting and Feasting

The festivities end with the immersion of the clay idols of Gauri in a pond, tank or well after which the women break their fast with a big celebratory feast. Ghewar, a delicious local dessert, is very popular during Gangaur and families usually exchange gifts of ghewar during this time.

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