Gangaur Festival, Jaipur

The Gangaur Festival is celebrated with much aplomb across Rajasthan. The word Gangaur is a combination of two words - Gan which is a synonym for Lord Shiva and Gaur which is used to refer to Goddess Parvati. This festival is held in commemoration of Goddess Parvati. The Goddess is revered and worshipped for possessing many qualities such as marital love, courage, strength, and power. Married women worship the deity for happiness and a long married life. They pray that their husbands continue to make wealth and provide for the family.

Rajasthan's Gangaur festivities are observed in March and April. This occurs in the month of Chaitra, which is the first month in the Hindu calendar. Married ladies practice fasting and only eat once each day. These women dress newly for the occasion, including jewelry. They apply henna on their palms and apply Mehandi to their feet. Women wear earthen pots on their heads during the festival's seventh day to carry the presents that they have received from elders. The ceremony lasts for almost ten days. The earthen pots are smashed on the last day. A procession takes place during this day starting from Zanani-Deodhi in Rajasthan and concluding at Talkatora.