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Rajasthan's
Gangaur festival a big draw
by Lokendra Singh
Jaipur: Decorated elephants, dancing puppets and a welcome procession befitting a king's besides thousands of ladies singing prayers for longevity and prosperity of their husbands, were all part of the annual Gangaur festivities held recently across Rajasthan. Carrying puppets of Gods and Goddess on their heads, the dancers performed in a spirited fashion as the heavily decorated pachyderms raised their tusks in a gesture of salute to them. Over 50,000 people participated in the Gangaur procession, which was watched by 4,000-5000 tourists from abroad who attended it. Gangaur symbolizes marital happiness achieved by Gauri (or, Parvati), the consort of Lord Shiva. Women across Rajasthan worship the Goddess with dances and songs craving for her blessing for a similar bliss that she cherished in becoming Shiva's wife.
The festival finds it origin in the mythical legend of "Gan" or Lord Shiva
and "Gaur" or Gauri, his consort Goddess Parvati. It says Parvati, in
one of her forms as Gauri, did years of meditation and penance to win
Lord Shiva as her consort. In the beginning, "Gangaur" was used to be
celebrated within the household but in recent years it is commemorated
in a grand fashion in the State. The festival has also become a tourist
attraction. "Its really exciting. I am visiting India for the first time
and I have never attended such a festival. Be the colours, the elephants,
the bands...everything looks so exciting. I am really enjoying it," Julie,
a tourist, said. "I am enjoying a lot, it's very interesting. This is
my first time in this kind of festival and it's very beautiful. I like
it a lot," added Beatrice, another tourist. As a part of the procession,
an elaborate palanquin of Goddess Parvati was also carried through the
main thoroughfares of the Jaipur. Although the Gangaur festival is celebrated
for 16 long days, the procession is held on the final day. This year it
was taken out on Saturday (April 1) and culminated with the immersion
of idols of the deity in the Jaipurs' main lake.
-April 3, 2006
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