Gangaur is one of the most significant and colorful festivals of Rajasthan, dedicated to Goddess Gauri (Parvati), the divine consort of Lord Shiva. This vibrant festival is primarily celebrated by women, especially married women, who worship Goddess Gauri for marital bliss, prosperity, and the well-being of their husbands. The festival extends for 18 days, beginning on the day after Holi and culminating on Chaitra Shukla Tritiya.

The name 'Gangaur' is derived from 'Gan' (Lord Shiva) and 'Gaur' (Goddess Gauri/Parvati), symbolizing the divine union and eternal bond between them. The festival beautifully represents the ideals of a harmonious married life, devotion, love, and the sacred relationship between husband and wife. Celebrated with great enthusiasm in Rajasthan, especially in Jaipur, Udaipur, and other parts of the state, Gangaur showcases the rich cultural heritage and traditions of Rajasthan.

The festival involves elaborate rituals, colorful processions, traditional songs, and the creation of clay idols of Goddess Gauri. Young unmarried girls also participate, praying for a good husband, while married women seek blessings for their husband's long life and prosperity. The festival is marked by fasting, prayers, and vibrant celebrations that bring communities together.

Gangaur holds immense religious and spiritual significance as it celebrates the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri. The festival symbolizes the ideals of a perfect married life, mutual respect, love, and devotion between partners. Married women observe fasts and perform rituals seeking the long life and prosperity of their husbands, making it a festival that strengthens marital bonds.

For unmarried girls, Gangaur is an opportunity to pray for a loving and compatible life partner. The festival teaches the importance of devotion, commitment, and the sacred nature of marriage in Hindu culture. The worship of Goddess Gauri is believed to bring blessings of marital harmony, fertility, and prosperity to families.

The 18-day celebration period allows for sustained spiritual practice and devotion, with each day having its own significance. The culmination on Chaitra Shukla Tritiya is considered highly auspicious, as it marks the completion of the festival with the immersion of the Goddess Gauri idols, symbolizing the return of the Goddess to her divine abode.

• The festival begins on the day after Holi when women bring home clay idols of Goddess Gauri or create them themselves. The idols are beautifully decorated with traditional Rajasthani attire, jewelry, and accessories.
• For 18 days, women observe fasts and perform daily prayers to Goddess Gauri. The idols are worshipped with flowers, incense, lamps, and traditional offerings. Daily rituals include singing devotional songs (bhajans) and reciting prayers.
• During the festival, women apply mehndi (henna) on their hands and feet, wear new traditional clothes, especially in bright colors like red, orange, and yellow, symbolizing joy and prosperity. They also wear traditional Rajasthani jewelry.
• On the final day (Chaitra Shukla Tritiya), the festival culminates with a grand procession. Women carry the beautifully decorated idols of Goddess Gauri on their heads in a ceremonial procession to a nearby water body (pond, lake, or river) for immersion.
• The procession is accompanied by traditional Rajasthani music, folk songs, and dances. Women sing traditional Gangaur songs that narrate the glory of Goddess Gauri and pray for marital bliss and prosperity.
• Special puja is performed on the final day, including elaborate aarti (worship with lamps), offering of prasad (sacred food), and seeking final blessings from the Goddess before immersion.
• The immersion ceremony is particularly significant as women bid farewell to Goddess Gauri, praying for her return the following year and seeking her blessings for continued marital happiness.
• After the immersion, women break their fast by consuming the prasad and traditional Rajasthani sweets. The day is celebrated with family gatherings and feasts.

Traditional offerings for Gangaur include special Rajasthani sweets and foods that symbolize prosperity and marital bliss:

• Ghevar - A traditional Rajasthani sweet disc-shaped delicacy, deep-fried and soaked in sugar syrup, representing sweetness and prosperity
• Malpua - Sweet pancakes made with flour, milk, and sugar, fried and soaked in sugar syrup, symbolizing joy and celebration
• Laddoos and barfis - Traditional sweets representing sweetness and happiness in married life
• Fresh fruits, especially seasonal fruits - Representing nature's bounty and prosperity
• Red and yellow flowers - Symbolizing love, devotion, and marital harmony, particularly marigolds and roses
• Incense, lamps (diyas), and traditional items - Essential for daily worship and creating a sacred atmosphere