What is the Gangaur festival?
It is a vibrant and joyful festival celebrated in Rajasthan, India. The festival is celebrated everywhere with a small or large population of the Marwari community. The Gangaur festival in Rajasthan has a special place in Jaipur’s tourist circuit.
Gangaur Festival History
It’s a festival of marital bliss or Saubhagya. It is believed that on this day Lord Shiva blessed Goddess Parvati his wife with saubhagya and Goddess Parvati blessed women with marital bliss.
It has been celebrated in the whole of Rajasthan from prehistoric times and religious processions are carried out on the eve of the festival in major cities like Jaipur and Udaipur.
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When is Gangaur 2025?
It is celebrated in March April month just after Holi and it commences after the 16th day of rituals. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is celebrated on the third day of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra Month.
This year, the Gangaur Festival 2025 will be celebrated from 15 March 2025 to 31 March 2025. The royal procession will take place on March 31st and during the evening of April 1st this year.
What does Gangaur mean?
It is a festival that holds deep cultural and spiritual significance. The term “Gangaur” is derived from two Sanskrit words: “Gana,” which means people, and “Gaur,” which represents Goddess Gauri, another form of Goddess Parvati. Thus, the word symbolizes the devotion and reverence of people towards Goddess Gauri and her consort, Lord Shiva. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in households, reflecting the collective faith and worship of the divine couple.
What is the religious significance of the Gangaur Festival?
The festival celebrates marital bliss and devotion. Unmarried girls observe rituals for 16 days, praying to Goddess Gangaur to be blessed with a good husband. Married women participate in the festivities to seek the long life, well-being, and prosperity of their spouses. In Rajasthan, it is particularly significant for newlywed women, as they are required to observe the rituals and worship during the first year of their marriage as a cherished tradition. The festival embodies the cultural values of love, commitment, and devotion in marital relationships.
How is the Gangaur Festival celebrated?
- On the next day of the Holi festival, girls and women make Isar (Shiva) and Gangaur (Paravati) from the mud of ponds the mud statues are established with full rituals at any place in any home of the neighborhood.
- Isar and Gangaur are dressed in beautiful clothes and are worshiped using flowers, water, and grass.
- For 16 days ladies sing melodious songs of devotion and worship Shiva Parvati in the early morning for a prosperous and happier married life.
- Ladies get ready in traditional Rajasthani clothes and ornaments.
- Newlywed girls have to wear a red Chunri (a scarf meant for a happy married life).
- In the morning Isar and Gangaur are worshipped, in the evening they are offered water and delicacies.
- Ladies dress younger girls as Dulha Dulhan (Bride and Groom) on the 8th day. The fest commences on the 16th day.
- On the 16th day, Isar Paravati is taken out in the form of a religious procession. Women wear colorful clothes and sing devotional songs in the procession.
- Then Isar and Paravati are immersed in water bodies.
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Gangaur Festival in Jaipur
Jaipur’s celebrations are world-famous for its fair and royal procession. The Gangaur ki Sawari, or Ride of Gangaur processions, start from Zenana Deodhi of City Palace, where the royal family members worship Shiv and Parvati.
Then, it ends as a fair near Talkatora, traveling through Tripolia Bazar, Choti Chaupad, and Gangauri Bazar. Local artists perform dances in front of the procession. Men wearing colorful turbans or Pagdi and ladies wearing traditional Indian dresses from nearby villages also come to witness the carnival.
The best spots to see and click pictures of vibrant Mela are in Tripolia Bazar of the walled city. Sitting arrangements are made on the roof of the verandah of the market.
After the fair people go to visit relatives and friends and eat treats. The evening before, ladies and girls get Mehandi designs on their hands and legs as a custom.
Gangaur Festival Recipes – Food
It is a custom to eat and distribute Jaipur’s traditional sweet Ghevar. People eat ghevar and gift them to their sisters and daughters on the eve.
Where to buy the best Ghevar in Jaipur?
Since Ghevar is mostly used during Gangor Puja and Celebration, here are the best picks of restaurants from my side.
- Lakshmi Mishthan Bhandar, Jouhari Bazar
- Sodhani Sweets, Tonk Road
- Sambhar Feeni, Jouhari Bazar
- Bombay Mishthan Bhandar, Sanganeri Gate
- Kanji Sweets, Station Road
- Sweet House, Kishanpole Bazar
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