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Jaipur
In Jaipur, a sweet dish called 'ghewar' is
characteristic of the Gangaur Festival. People buy 'ghewar'
to eat and distribute it among their friends and
relatives. A procession, with the image of Gauri, forms at the
Palace Gate known as Tripolia and moves on the city streets
passing Chaugan and on to Talkatora. A vast gathering
of the citizens of Jaipur and villagers from nearby areas
witnesses the procession.
Jodhpur
The fair of 'lotias' is a distinctive feature of the
Gangaur celebrations in Jodhpur. Early in the morning,
thousands of maidens, clad in their best attire, singing
melodious songs, bring water and 'durva' grass in
silver or brass pots to a place known as Girdikot. The
fair is witnessed by a large number of citizens who throng to
the locality to be a part of the celebration.
Nathdwara
In Nathdwara, the procession of Gangaur lasts 7 days.
Each day, a particular colour is chosen for the dress of the
goddess. On the last day of the festival, the image of Gauri
is dressed in black with golden lace work and women carrying
the image too are dressed in a similar fashion. This indicates
the final departure of Gauri.
Udaipur
The images of Isar and Gauri are taken in a procession to the
Pichhola Lake, thereafter they go around the lake in a
boat, for an hour and the ceremony comes to an end with a
display of fireworks on the banks
Banswara
In Banswara, the procession is taken out from the Zenana
Deorhi to Singhvashi Chowk, both are areas within the palace
compound. Traditional religious ceremonies are performed here.
Celebration Trends And Rituals
The festival commences on the first day of Chaitra, the
day following Holi and continues for 18 days. For a
newly-wedded girl, it is binding to observe the full course of
18 days of the festival that succeeds her marriage. Even
unmarried girls fast for the full period of 18 days and eat
only one meal a day.
Celebration Preparations & Decorations (Images and
Paintings)
Images of Isar and Gauri are made of clay for the festival. In
some families, permanent wooden images are painted afresh
every year by reputed painters called 'matherans' on the eve
of the festival. A distinct difference between the idols of
Teej and Gangaur is that the idol will have a canopy during
the Teej Festival while the Gangaur idol would not have one.
Mehandi
The ladies decorate their hands and feet by drawing designs
with 'mehandi' (myrtle paste). The figures drawn range
from the Sun, Moon and the stars to simple flowers or
geometrical designs.
Ghudlia
Ghudlias are earthen pots with numerous holes all around and a
lamp lit inside them. On the evening of the 7th day after Holi,
unmarried girls go around singing songs of 'ghudlia'
carrying the pots with a burning lamp inside, on their heads.
On their way, they collect small presents of cash, sweets,
jaggery, ghee, oil etc. This continues for 10 days i.e. upto
the conclusion of the Gangaur Festival when the girls break
their pots and throw the debris into a well or a tank and
enjoy a feast with the collections made.
This ritual is performed on the occasion of Gangaur as a
reminder of the triumph of Rao Santhal, ruler of Jodhpur, over
Mir Ghudley Khan, who had carried away 140 maidens who
were celebrating the festival of Gangaur, in 1548 AD. The
burning lamp signifies the valour and chivalry of the
Maharaja.
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