This year, the Hindu festival of Gauri Puja is celebrated with fervor and excitement on Thursday, April 11. Hindus commemorate Gauri Puja, also known as Gangaur, as a significant event to pay homage to the goddess Parvati. The lively festival is observed nationwide, with Rajasthan particularly renowned for its extravagant celebrations. The term “Gangaur” originates from the amalgamation of two words: “Gan,” referring to Lord Shiva, and “Gaur,” synonymous with the goddess Parvati. Married women predominantly observe Gangaur or Gauri Puja to wish for their husbands’ longevity and prosperity.
According to the Hindu calendar, Gauri Puja begins on the first day of the Chaitra month, following the festival of Holi, and spans 18 days. In the Gregorian calendar, it typically falls between March and April, symbolizing the transition from the wintry chill to the vibrant spring. Read on to delve into the significance of this auspicious occasion.
Significance of Gauri Puja 2024
The primary objective of Gangaur, or Gauri Puja, is to pay homage to Goddess Parvati, who embodies conjugal love, valor, excellence, strength, and power in Hindu mythology. During these eighteen days of festivities, married women seek the prosperity, longevity, and well-being of their husbands by praying to Goddess Parvati.
It is believed that girls who participate in Gangaur puja are blessed with desirable spouses. Gangaur marks Goddess Parvati’s return to her parental home to bestow marital bliss upon her companions. On the festival’s culmination, a grand farewell is bid to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, who accompanies her.
Rituals and Celebrations of Gauri Puja 2024
Throughout the 18-day Gangaur festival, women observe fasting, consuming only one meal daily, while dressing in vibrant red attire. They adorn themselves with mehendi, wear new clothes and jewelry, and worship clay idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. During the final three days, elaborate processions featuring ornate idols of Parvati and Shiva are paraded through the streets. On the concluding day, the clay idols are immersed in water, as women pray for Goddess Parvati’s annual visit to their homes.
