GA
festival devoted to Goddess Parvati, the consort
of Lord Shiva. Ishar & Gangaur are the divine
male and female ho embody marital love. Dedicated
to goddess Gauri (Parvati), the festival commences
on Holi/ Young girls pray for rooms of their
choice while married women seek a long life
for their husbands. rhe ladies decorate their
hands and feet )y drawing designs with Mehendi
(Myrtle Jaste).
On the evening of the 7th day after -ioli,
unmarried girls go around singing songs of ghudlia
(earthern pots with numerous holes all around
with a lamp lit aside) carrying the pots on
their hands. )n their way they collect small
presents ,f cash, sweets, jaggery, ghee, oil
etc. The women do these while chanting hymns
to the Goddess.
Festivities continue for 18 days culminating
with the arrival of Lord Shiva to escort his
bride home. A grand process Ion with the ideal
of Gauri in beautifully decorated gold and silver
a palanquin caparisoned elephants, camels, horses,
dances, drummers & joyous children, goes
through the city streets. In Jaipur procession
forms at the Palace Gate known as Tripolia and
moves on the city streets on to Talkatora.
A vast gathering of jaipurites & villagers
from nearby areas witness the procession. A
sweet dish called Ghewar characteristic of the
Gangaur festival is distributed among friends
& relatives. In Jodhpur early in the morning
thousands of maidens, clad in their best attire,
singing melodious songs, bring water and durba
grass in silver or brass pots to a place known
as Girdikot.
In Udaipur the images of Isar & Gauri are
taken in a procession to the Pichola lake there
after in a boat for an hour they go around the
lake and the ceremony comes to an end with a
display of fireworks on the banks. The Girasia
tribe eligible boys & girls in Sirohi, Mount
Abu region during Gangaur festival select their
life partners & elope with them. This form
of marriage has the sanction of the community.