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The Gangaur Festival is the colorful and most
important local festival of Rajasthan and is
observed throughout the State with great fervor and
devotion by womenfolk who worship Gauri, the consort
of Lord Shiva during July-Aug. It is the celebration
of monsoon, harvest and marital fidelity in Jaipur.
The festival starts the following day of Holi, the
festival of colors. The Gangaur festival is an 18
day affair. The festival is of great significance to
both married and unmarried girls who partake just
one meal per day for the entire duration of 18
days.Women embellish their hands and feet with
mehendi and wear new clothes. Earthen pots are in
much demand especially those with holes. The
womenfolk carry these pots with a glowing lamp
inside on top of their head. They move around
amassing currency notes and coins along with other
essential assortments like sweets, butter, oil, etc.
the women are on the move for 10 days and it is only
on the tenth day that they break the pots and
ultimately throw the shards into a water-body (tank
or reservoir) located in the neighborhood. Once this
ritual is over, its time for some feasting and
banqueting.
The Gangaur festival is celebrated all over
Rajasthan with great pomp and grandeur. The festival
is particularly conspicuous by its frenzied passion
in Jaipur, Udaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.
During the festival a spectacular boat race is held
in the picturesque Lake Pichola. Women are seen
carrying brass bowls on their head as they march
along the streets.
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