The Optimistic -GANGAUR

Gangaur is a festival celebrated in the India state of Rajasthan and some parts of Gujrat, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh

Gangaur is colourful and one of the most important festivals of people of Rajasthan and is observed throughout the state with great fervour and devotion by womenfolk who worship Gauri, the wife of Lord Shiva during March–April. It is the celebration of spring, harvest and marital fidelity.

Gangaur is all about honoring the goddess Gauri, and celebrating love and marriage. A manifestation of Parvati (Lord Shiva's wife), she represents purity and austerity. Married women worship Gauri for the good health and longevity of their husbands. Unmarried women worship her to be blessed with a good husband.

Gana" is another word for Lord Shiva, and Gangaur signifies Lord Shiva and Parvati together.

It's believed that Gauri won the affection of Lord Shiva through her deep devotion and dedicated meditation to attract him. Parvati returned to her parental home during Gangaur, to bless her friends with marital bliss. On the last day, Parvati was given a grand farewell by her loved ones and Lord Shiva arrived to escort her home.

Clay idols of Gangaur, Isarji, Kanu, Rova and Malan are made by the local potter they are decorated and placed in a basket with grass and flowers.

For 16 days Gangaur is worshipped by unmarried girls with a desire to get a handsome, loving and noble partner. Married women join them on the final and last day. Besides praying for a suitable match the girls pray and ask for blessings for their brothers. The women dress up gorgoeusly as the prayer goes -if you are well dressed while praying you will be granted a well dressed husband…to each her own.

And finally the day of departure comes and Gangaur leaves he mother’s place there is the longing for her return the next year. For 16 days every morning and evening songs are sung some tell a Mahadev Gora(Parvati) story, some express wishes and some depict the fun relation of jija (brother- in- law) and sali where Mahadev or Isarji is the jija and we the worshippers are his salis(sister-in-law).

The Shiva Parvati folk stories, interestingly revolve around basic human tendencies. Shiva and Parvati are divine powers who can change the course of events. Shiva is depicted as handsome but not well dressed, mature, patient, sensable and far sighted person. Whereas Parvati is depicted as a extremely beautiful very impulsive impatient impractical person. Both partners are extremely romantic and loyal. All the wisdom of Shiva is left aside as he actually does exactly what his lady commands. Even though Shiva warns Parvati she always refuses to oblige. And Shiva waits no further and bows to her wishes. Parvati is of course unhappy with the consequences of her decisions and Shiva reminds her of his warnings and Parvati realises her mistake.