The acclaimed Broadway producer, David Blinder, once said: “Festivals promote diversity, they bring neighbors into dialogue, they increase creativity, they offer opportunities for civic pride, they improve our general psychological well-being. In short, they make cities better places to live.” This couldn’t be truer for India, rich in tradition, diverse in culture, and magnanimous enough to embrace the nuances of her vast geography. A glance through India’s annual festival calendar means to travel through moments of celebration, togetherness, bonds, and also a pause from life’s hurrying routine. Often there are festivals within a festival - like the observance of the Gauri puja during the famous Ganesha puja.
Ganpati utsav & Gauri puja
“I followed with the greatest curiosity crowds who carried in procession an infinite number of idols of the god Ganesh. Each little quarter of the town, each family with its adherents, each little street corner I may almost say, organizes a procession of its own, and the poorest may be seen carrying on a simple plank their little idol or of papier mâché…
– Angelo de Gubernatis, Bombay Gazette (1886)
These lines could be describing present-day throngs of crowds at Ganesh visarjan (ceremonial send-off in the form of the immersion) at any corner of India or abroad. It is believed that Bhausaheb Laxman Javale installed the first public (sarvajanik) Ganesh idol in Pune, Maharashtra in 1893 since the festival had dipped during the British rule. The famous freedom fighter, Lokmanya Tilak saw this festival as a bridge between people of different classes, castes, and religions and gave it an impetus. And true to its original intent, Ganesh utsav is seen as a festival for all. And for many, equally important is the Gauri puja performed during the ten-day Ganpati festival.
Who is Gauri?
Some communities believe that Gauri comes to visit her brother Ganesha. In other cultures, Ganesha has two sisters - Jyestha Gauri (elder Gauri) and Kanishta (younger Gauri) - who come to meet him. Hence, two idols of Goddess Gauri are brought home.
Other regions like West Bengal attribute the two sisters to be Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi, daughters of Goddess Durga.
Regions like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh attribute Gauri to be Goddess Parvati, Ganpati’s mother and observe the Gauri Habba with great pomp. Women also observe the Swarna Gowri Vratha (a special fast) here.
One thing is common: the sheer joy and exuberance of the Gauri puja.
It would be correct to call this an all-women’s show, where every aspect of the puja and the celebration is headed by women of the family.
What is Gauri puja?
Gauri puja begins with the avahan (welcoming) of the Goddess Gauri on the third day of the Ganpati festival and ends with the visarjan (immersion) on the fifth day. Usually, the puja takes place on the second day. The puja is significant, especially for married women, and usually takes place at the home of the girl’s parents. It is believed that Goddess Gauri wanted to visit her parent’s home but Lord Shiva didn’t want to stay away from her. One folklore suggests that Lord Shiva, too, followed Gauri and is welcomed too at home. Another legend says that Ganesha comes on the second day of the puja to take his mother back to Mount Kailasa.
When is Gauri puja this year?
August 26, 2020
The puja is believed to bring happiness, prosperity, increases wealth, and blesses a couple with a good marriage. For unmarried women, it’s a chance to sneak in a prayer for a good spouse.
Diversity of celebrations
The beauty of Gauri puja is that it adds more sparkle to the excitement of the ongoing Ganesha festival. The Gauri idols are brought home, the altar is decorated with mango leaves, flowers and coconuts, and welcomed with the traditional aarti. Little rangoli patterns depicting the Goddess’ feet entering the house to the temple area are drawn. Not just the goddess, women of the house adorn themselves too! Bright colored sarees and traditional wear, jewelry...the works.
Interestingly some communities bring home the full idol of the goddess, while others draw the idol on paper. In some other parts of India, the idol consists of the head while a vessel filled with grains forms the body.
Bhajans (Mangala Gauri bhajans) are sung, delicacies are shared together and in erstwhile times, traditional games like the zhimma and phugdi were played (especially in some parts of Maharashtra). While some of the traditions have changed with time, the essence of celebration still stays the same.
It’s a time to make the women feel special - perhaps with an offering of a coconut, bangles and a blouse fabric to each guest. In some parts of Karnataka, women of different homes exchanged these goodies in traditionally woven bamboo plates.
While the women take center stage, it’s a time for families and loved ones to come together. Perhaps to share a meal with delicious prasad or stop by as an entourage moves from home to home, praying to the Gauri idols there.
The true essence
There is a traditional significance to each festival which promises a shared continuum of rituals and cultures among communities. Wrapped within that significance are concentric circles of other aspects that are equally important. The ‘me’ time given to women - the idea that the Goddess has come to Her mother’s home! The celebration which shadows any ongoing worry or concerns, the soothing camaraderie that could be a balm to strained relationships, the physical meeting of people - a sharp contrast to the virtual worlds we’re all creating.
While the visarjan takes place on the third day, the vermilion and turmeric memories of the festival stay longer.
