Mumbai: Rajasthan's vibrancy echoes across the nation during the auspicious celebration of Gangaur, a festival dedicated to honoring Goddess Parvati with utmost devotion and fervor.
Date of Gangaur Vrat 2024:
Scheduled for April 11th in 2024, Gangaur aligns with the third day of the Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month, coinciding harmoniously with Chaitra Navratri. During this sacred time, both unmarried and married women earnestly beseech Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, seeking the longevity and prosperity of their marital bonds. While Rajasthan is renowned for its exuberant festivities, the spirit of Gangaur resonates across various regions including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat.
Gangaur Festival: April 11, 2024
Commencement of Chaitra Shukla Tritiya: April 10, 2024, at 05:32 PM
Conclusion of Chaitra Shukla Tritiya: April 11, 2024, at 03:03 PM
Significance of Gangaur Puja:
The observance of Gangaur Puja carries profound significance, akin to the revered tradition of Karwa Chauth, believed to bestow marital harmony and bliss. Unmarried maidens and married women partake in this sacred ritual, seeking divine blessings from Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, envisaging a life adorned with enduring companionship and joyous union.
Celebrating Gangaur Puja:
Initiating on the third day of Krishna Paksha in the Chaitra month, women meticulously craft clay idols embodying Lord Shiva (Gan) and Goddess Parvati (Gaur), adorning them with reverence and devotion. The jubilant festivities culminate with vibrant processions and ceremonial immersions, symbolizing the union of the divine couple.
Commencing on the full moon day of Falgun (Holi), this festivity spans 17 days, wherein each day is embellished with intricate rituals and heartfelt prayers dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Adorning themselves resplendently on the auspicious third day of Chaitra Navratri, women observe fasts, engage in fervent worship, and partake in captivating narrations of Gangaur folklore.
Rituals of Gangaur Puja:
Commencing the daybreak for 16 consecutive days, women gather fresh grass and fragrant flowers, symbolizing purity and auspiciousness, to fashion clay idols of Gangaur, which are then anointed with milk as a sacred offering. The culmination of the festivities unfolds on Chaitra Shukla Dwitiya, as the idols are immersed in flowing rivers, serene ponds, or tranquil lakes, signifying Gangaur's symbolic journey from her abode to her in-laws' dwelling.
Embodying the eternal bond between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Gangaur Puja epitomizes devotion and conjugal harmony, resonating with joy, reverence, and cultural opulence as women come together to celebrate this sacred occasion.
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