Introduction

Gangaur is an important festival of Hindu which is mainly celebrated in the state of Rajasthan. The festival is observed on the first day of Chaitra month of Hindu calendar. It starts from the day following Holi and last for eighteen day. Women of Rajasthan celebrate this festival as the mark for their long conjugal life coupling with marital fidelity. The married women worship Goddess Gauri who is embodiment of prefect fidelity towards her husband Shiva. The unmarried women worship her to be blessed with perfect husband. This festival also commemorates monsoon, harvest with marital fidelity.

Customs of Gangaur

The women of Rajasthan collect the ashes from the fire of Holi. They show the seeds of wheat and barley on the ashes and water it regularly for their germination. The ritual of watering the seeds is performed with the song in praise of Isar and Gauri (Shiv and Parvati). After one week of Holi they make clay images of Gauri and Isar. On the seventh day of the festival the unmarried women take out a parade with Ghudlia which is a perforated earthen with a lamp inside it. In the course of parade the girls are gifted with sweets, jaggery, ghee, oil and cash. This ritual is continued for ten consecutive days till the end of festivity. On the last day the Ghudlia is broken and is thrown into the water. The festival reflects the cultural heritage of the state and celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and gaiety in the regions of Bikaner, Jodhpur, Marathwara and Jaisalmer.