Meaning and Importance of ‘Gangaur Festival’
“Gan” is a synonym of Lord Shiva and “gaur” stands for goddess Gauri or Parvati, the consort of lord Shiva. Gangaur celebrates the union of the two and is a symbol OF marital happiness for all married couples. Gangaur is celebrated in the month of chaitra (April), the first month of the Hindu calendar. This month marks the end of winter and the onset of spring. This worship which starts from the first day of the chaitra month, lasts for about 18 days.
Celebrations of Gangaur
Gangaur Festival is one of the most important local festivals of Rajasthan, observed throughout the state with great fervor by girls and married women. Women dressed in colourful clothes sit by the Teh lake in Udaipur and make offerings of Gauri images and ornaments in the lake. This is a way they seek good health and long life for their husbands from the almighty. Unmarried girls also seek the blessings of Gan and Gauri for a good husband.
The procession of Gangaur is headed by a colorful pageantry of elephants, old palanquins, chariots, bullock carts and performances by folk artists.
Weather in Udaipur
The ‘Jewel of Mewar’ or the ‘Venice of the East’, Udaipur lies in Rajasthan, one of the hottest states of India. However, the weather in Udaipur is moderate throughout the year, owing to its geographical terrain. The numerous lakes in the ‘lake city’ provide some comfort from the heat when the sun is harsh in the summer. Perfectly placed in the backdrop of lush green Aravalli Mountain Ranges, Udaipur also receives cool winds from the hills which makes the nights very pleasant.
Summer technically begins in mid-March in Udaipur and maximums touch 45°C in the month of April. “According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorological Division in India, mercury levels could sustain in Udaipur during the festival, with a slight rise in the day temperatures and a marginal drop in minimums. So far the weather in Udaipur has been pleasant with maximum recording 35⁰C on Sunday. Minimum too recorded a comfortable 20.5⁰C on Monday morning.
"The month of April does observe some rain but at the moment there seems very little chance of showers in the city. The weather will be dry with partly cloudy sky, making it ideal for celebrations of the Gangaur Festival in Udaipur”, said G.P Sharma, of Skymet Meteorological Division.
Photo by udaipurtimes.