Gangaur - Rajasthan

The different states of India exhibit varied cultures and traditions and some places, and people do leave a lasting impression.

- Mrinmoy Choudhury

The Northern state of Rajasthan in India is a large state with a varied landscape and geography. The state of Rajasthan has some of the biggest deserts in India along with some marvellous architecture in its major cities. The cultural interests of people in Rajasthan make them very colourful and most of the occasions will definitely involve a lot of colours as a part of their culture.

The festivities in India range from various beliefs and various faiths. It is quite a challenge to understand the importance of each and every festival, although we can be a part of it by travelling to places and joining the locals and the people to celebrate the local festivals. All this adds an immense pleasure to travelling and seeing and having new experiences. In this edition of Festivals of India, we travel to Udaipur, also known as the “City of Lakes”, in the colourful state of Rajasthan, to experience the Gangaur festival, a yearly festival celebrated in some parts of Rajasthan.

‘Gana’ is another synonym for Lord Shiva and ‘Gaur’ is Parvati or Gauri who symbolises ‘marital bliss’. ‘Gangaur’ signifies both Lord Shiva and Parvati together. Gangaur is one of the most important festivals in Rajasthan and is celebrated by the women folk with great enthusiasm. It is believed that Parvati returned to her parental home during Gangaur, to bless her friends with marital pleasure. On the last day, Parvati was given a grand farewell by her loved ones and Lord Shiva had come to escort her back home. This year, it was celebrated on 20th of March in India. Women of Rajasthan celebrate Gangaur with great devotion to Parvati or Gauri, the companion of Lord Shiva. The married women worship Gauri for the longevity and good health of their husbands, and unmarried women worship the deity to be blessed with a good husband.