Gangaur Festivals

A very important festival of Rajasthan in India, Gangaur Festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm and joy. Gangaur Festival is celebrated nowhere else in India except the state of Rajasthan. There is one reason why it is held in high esteem in Rajasthan. The Gangaur Festival is related to Goddess Parvati who is supposed to be the goddess of abundance. Young married girls and women keep fasts for their husbands for 18 days eating only one meal per day and pray for their long life. Even unmarried girls can keep fasts to get a good and handsome spouse. The Gangaur festival of Rajasthan is celebrated in the end of winter season and the onset of spring season.

The Gangaur festival is celebrated in different styles in different parts of Rajasthan. The festival is celebrated with much fun and enthusiasm in all major cities of

Rajasthan. Young girls dress up in their best colorfull traditional clothes and look absolutely charming. They make gloroius and beautifull designs on their palms with henna, popularly known as "Mehndi". The fanfare music of the festival starts from the day of Holi and keep on for around 18 days. They collect ashes from the sacred Holi fire and put seeds of wheat and barley in it. They are carefully watered and when they grew properlly, they are taken to the nearest colony temple of Lord Shiva and Parvati and worshipped alongwith the idols of Gan and Gaur.

After the succesful period of 18 days, the idols of Gan and Gaur are submerged in a pond or river on the last day of the festivity. The colorful processions show a sceen like a king is arriving to the state with beautifully decorated elephants, camels, palanquins, chariots and local performers take Participate in the procession thus making it a spectacle that is absolutely magnificent and royal. Tourists visit Udaipur from all corner of the world to see this festivals, also participate in this festival and enjoy with the local people of Rajasthan.