The womenfolk celebrate the festival of Gangaur with great zeal and devotion, praying to Goddess Parvati/Gauri to bless them with a bountiful spring that’s full of harvest, and also marital harmony. They also urge the goddess to bless their husbands with good health and long life. Although this festival holds special significance for the married women, unmarried girls are also seen partaking in it in hopes of being blessed with a good husband. The story of Gangaur revolves around Parvati being escorted by Lord Shiva from her parental home,following a grand farewell. As per ancient texts, Parvati had performed severe penance for days to persuade Lord Shiva to have her as his wife. Her perseverance and devotion did indeed move him.

The Gangaur festival starts on the first day of the month of Chaitra (as per Hindu calendar)which is on the following day of Holi, and is consummated on the third day of Shukla Pakshaof the same month. Thisfestival is usually an 18-day affair, during which all women are expected to observe a fast restricting themselves to only one meal a day. Clay idols of Shiva-Gauri perfected by the local craftsmen are decorated and worshipped during the full course of the festival. Certain Rajput families worship traditional wooden figurines of the divine couple, which are repainted every year by matherans (local painters) before the festival commences. These figures are then placed within baskets along with wheat grass and flowers; wheat plays an important role in the rituals as it signifies harvest. People also buy earthen pots known locally as kunda, anddecorate them in a traditional Rajasthani painting style called maandna. It is customary for married women to receive gift hampers from their parents known as Sinjara, which comprises of clothes, jewellery items, makeup and sweets. These gift hampers are generally sent on the second last day of the festival which the women utilize to get ready on the final or main celebration day. Decorating hands and feet with beautiful designs made out of Mehndi (myrtle paste) is another popularpractice that’s widespread during the Gangaur festival.

Rajasthan is widely recognized for its grand and colorful celebration of events, and the Gangaurfair is no different. Various fairs are held in different corners of the state, the intriguing processions being their main highlight. Traditionally, a bevy of women clad in exquisite attires and bedecked with jewellery, process around the town with the beautified idols of Shiva and Gauri placed on their heads. Bands of local musicians are also a part of this procession as they play traditional and folk songs. The event culminates with the immersion of the idols in bawdi or johad (wells or water reservoirs), marking the farewell to Goddess Gauri. Often, people from distant corners of the town also flock to witness and participate in these processions. Certain tribes in Rajasthan also hold Gangaur as an auspicious occasion for choosing life partners. Following this popular belief, the unmarried men and women in these tribes come together and interact with each other. The purpose behind such a congregation is generally marriage.

The traditional procession is carried out with great pomp and pageantry in Jaipur, starting from the Zanani-Deodhi in City Palace and covering Tripolia Bazaar, Chhoti Chaupar, Gangauri Bazaar, Chaugan Stadium and Talkatora along the way. The royal procession of goddess Gangaur comprises of camels, chariots, bullock carts and dancing folk artists. The Gangaur festival reaches its epitome on the final day when no matter which city you visit, you won’t remain untouched by the grandeur of Gangaur fair in the majestic lands of Rajasthan.