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Gangaur:(March/April)
This spring festival is held in March-April in honour of
Gauri, the goddess of abundance. Gauri or Parvati is the wife of
Shiva or the destroyer in the Hindu trinity. She is the symbol of
virtue and fidelity and as such is the mythological role model of
married women.
Gangaur
is the most important local festival in Rajasthan. Girls dress up
in their finest clothes and pray for a spouse of their choice,
while married women do the same for the happiness and long life of
their husbands.
Although
celebrated throughout Rajasthan with great enthusiasm, the
celebrations in Jaipur and Udaipur have their own charm and
attraction. The festival is also celebrated with great pomp and
show in Bikaner, Jodhpur, Marathwara and Jaisalmer.
Girls
worship the goddess throughout the preceding fortnight. Colourful
images of Gauri,
beautifully
dressed and bejewelled are taken out in procession accompanied by
the town band. A boat procession in Pichola is also taken out.
Women balance brass pitchers on their heads and the lake adds to
the gaiety of Udaipur celebrations. Thousands of people from the
countryside come to take part in the procession of the Gangaur
image from village to village.
The
tribal men and women have an opportunity to meet and interact
freely and during this time, they select partners and marry by
eloping. An unusual, romantic custom, which is sanctioned by the
community.
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