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Festivals

Gangaur 2019: Feel the essence of Mewar

One of the most colourful festivals of Mewar is around the corner, Gangaur is a festival full of zeal and devotion for goddess Gauri. About 25 years back celebration of Gangaur was extended for three days by Rajasthan Tourism department and hence, Mewar festival came into the picture. This creative approach to the local festival gave a chance to tourists to know regional rituals closely. Generations after generation youngsters from the city core are taking the legacy forward. Each year footfall and engagement of tourists are increasing for the celebration in parts of Rajasthan. This scene is a treat for everyone who’s visiting the city during this time of year. Gangaur is a perfect example of a different world inside a city heart.

 

Know the history of Gangaur and relive it in Udaipur where it was created:

This festival has quirky charm in the capital of Mewar. Udaipur has the privilege of having a dedicated Ghat named after Gangaur. Gangaur Ghat is one of the prominent shore of Pichola Lake that connects populated part of the city to Lake Pichola. This ghat is a prime location for the celebration of multiple festivals, including Gangaur festival. Traditional processions of Gangaur starts from the City Palace which is commenced by a royal family, and several other places, covering almost every part of the city.

gangaur festival

As per tales of the respective elderly people of Udaipur, Gangaur was also the festival when communities were visited by their royal family. As per the description from one side royals used to come in a boat with their Gangaur idols and on another side of shore people used to wait to celebrate the festival with their ‘Anndaata’. The legacy is continued and even today people representing royal family come in a boat with the processions. Women dressing in their best attire with hand made idols march towards the ghat and submerge the idols as a climax.

gangaur festival in Udaipur

The story behind Gangaur to give you feels:

Once upon a time, Lord Shiva(Gan), Parvati (Gauri) along with Sage Narad came upon a village. The news escalated real quick like the fire in the forest, the local women started preparing a feast for the God guests. Women from the upper class served, first. As a symbol of blessing, they were showered by holy water by the goddess Gauri. But they ran out of holy water when the women of lower class arrived with their offerings. Thus, Goddess Parvati cut her finger to sprinkle blood as the holy water.

gangaur fest Udaipur

Basically, during this festival Lord Shiva (Gan) and his wife goddess Gauri (Gaur) is worshipped. On this occasion, married women keep fast for their beloved husbands and unmarried ones also join in. The festival commences on the first day of spring according to the Hindu calendar and continues for 16 days. For a newly-wedded girl, it is binding to observe the full course of 18 days of the festival that succeeds her marriage. Numerous folk tales are associated with Gangaur which makes this festival deeply rooted in the hearts of Rajasthan’s mass.

Gangaur festival 2019

The beliefs strengthen with each passing year, expecting the arrival of Gods next year hence every time it’s a happy ending. Rajasthan Tourism welcomes tourist population to join the festival, to witness the culture of Mewar more closely.

For breaking the ice a three day Mewar festival is organised with many creative events lined up. Best Rajasthani attire by a foreign couple is awarded free royal meals, plus to make things interesting different communities offer prizes to best Gangaur and Isar idols. Without Rajasthani folk music and dance, any festivals are incomplete, followed by art and cultural events.

So what are you waiting for? Add Gangaur to your checklist, put your dancing shoes on and be ready to get painted in the colour of Mewar.  Don’t forget to add Gangaur to your checklist if you are in the city from 8th to 10th of April 2019.

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Festivals

Fascinating Stories of Capturing Gangaur

Gangaur is one of the Mewar’s eagerly awaited festivals. Women worship Gangaur with deep devotion for the long life of their husband while young girls do so to get a spouse of their liking.

Fascinating Stories of Capturing Gangaur
Source: Patrika

According to Dr. Mahendra Bhanawat, an authority on folk culture, there have been several cases of abduction (Kidnapping) of Gangaur. He has heard about quite a few incidents in which to show their valor and to run down others, kings have abducted Gangaur. There are many songs that relate such incidents. No wonder the rulers kept their Gangaurs surrounded by guards.

The beautiful wife of Isar Singh

Beginning with Udaipur, Dr. Bhanawat says that once Viramdas who was related to a royal family had a beautiful daughter who was engaged to Isarsingh of Bundi. Several young men began to envy Isarsingh and wanted to take away his wife. When Isarsingh came to know about it, he rushed to Udaipur and carried away his wife on horseback. On his way back, he found that river Chambal was fully flooded. Without any consideration, he jumped into the river. No wonder, the couple was washed away.

‘Bringing the Gangaur of Jawad’

Dr. Bhanawat relates another incident that he says he heard from Rani Laxmikumar Chundawat of Devgarh. Near Devgarh is a village named Barjal that had a big population of Rawats. Once the wife of Jala Rawat’s brother taunted him saying as if he could bring the Gangaur of Jawad. Jawad was a big jagridari and its Gangaur was very famous. Jala was deeply hurt. He went to Jawad and when the Gangaur was taken out in a procession, he rushed, took away the Gangaur and returned home with it. He was praised highly by the people in the village. ‘Bringing the Gangaur of Jawad’ became a phrase. Later on, this Gangaur was given to Devgarh Thikana by the Rawats.

The capturing of the Gangaur of Kota

Dr. Bhanawat has yet another story about Gangaur. Once someone praised the Gangaur of Kota before Maharana Swarup Singh. He challenged everybody to bring it to Udaipur. Kunwar Lalsingh of Gogunda accepted the challenge and went away to Kota. When the festival of Gangaur was being celebrated Lalsingh sent a message to the Durbar that from a distance had come to a horse rider who was expert at making a Gangaur on a horse dance. The Durbar was amazed and called Lalsingh. Lalsingh entered the place, lifted the Gangaur, put it on the horse and began to move the horse slowly. Then he gradually increased the speed and suddenly made the horse gallop away. The shocked Durbar asked his horse riders to chase Lalsingh but to no one availed. Lalsingh returned home and presented the Gangaur to the Maharana. The Maharana was all praise for Lalsingh and asked him to keep the Gangaur with him. This very Gangaur is a big attraction during the Gangaur Mela at Gogunda and is taken out in a procession. This Mela takes place at night. Thousands of tribal folks from neighboring villages add to the attraction of this fair with dancing and singing. Dr. Bhanawat adds that he learned about this incident from Purohit Bherunlal of Gogunda when he met him in 1975.

The Broken Gangaur

According to Dr. Bhanawat Rao Manohar Singh of Bedla Thikana has a Gangaur that has only its trunk. Rao Saheb does not remember from where it was brought. But he had heard from his forefathers that its limbs were broken in a fight and only its trunk was brought on the tip of the lance. This 300-400-year-old Gangaur is still worshipped reverently. It is extremely beautiful and is dressed in expensive clothes in such a way that its disability is not revealed.

Gangaur of Bikaner state

Dr. Bhanawat says that as ordered by Maharawal of Jaisalmer, Bhati Mehajal and his group took away by force the Gangaur of Bikaner state. Then Lakhan Singh son of Bitwar Khangir Singh attacked the Bhatis and killed Mehajal. Pleased by this act, Maharaja Karansigh of Bikaner gave Loha village of Ratangarh tehsil of Churu district to Lakhan Singh. The latter is still remembered for his valor.

Gangaur of Merta City where the Gangaur is guarded with Guns

Saubhagya Singh Shekhawat an eminent scholar of Dingal literature wrote in a letter to Dr. Bhanwat that once Ramsignh Khangarot of Singhpri near Jubner took away the Gangaur of Merta City. He was the Faujdar of Sikar Thikana. Villagers of the area are still so frightened of him that they guard their Gangaur with guns, bows, arrows and ‘lathis’.

The origin of the song ‘Aage Aage Gindoli, Pachhe Jagmal Kanwar’

Rani Laxmikumari Chundawat related one more incident to Dr. Bhanawat. Once Hathikhan, Subedar of Patan forcibly carried 140 girls when they were celebrating Teej and presented them to the Badshah of Ahmedabad. Jagmal was not in the village at that time. He was furious when he returned and learned about the incident. He vowed not to shave, wear clean clothes or put on Pagdi till he took revenge. On the occasion of Gangaur when Gindoli the daughter of Badshah Mehmood Baig came out to see the procession, the Pradhan of Jagmal, Bhopji Hool reached there with his group and captured her. When, after the immersion of Gangaur, the procession, the Pradhan of Jagmal was returning Bhopji reached there with Gindoli. Jagmal was extremely happy. He kept Gindoli in the front of the procession and himself at the back. This is the origin of the song ‘Aage Aage Gindoli, Pachhe Jagmal Kanwar’ that still reminds people of the incident.

Fascinating Stories of Capturing Gangaur
Source: Patrika
Categories
Photos

[Photos] Gangaur Festival 2013 (Mewar Festival)

Colors of tradition spread out everywhere, Sparkling water of Pichola, Rajasthani women and girls elegantly dressed up, and beautifully decorated idols of Gangaur glittering in the beautiful light. Such was the charm of Mewar Festival at Gangaur Ghat. Here are some Photos of the Celebration that took place @ Gangaur Ghat, Udaipur.

Photos By : Piyush Javeria

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Festivals Photos

[Pictures] Mewar Festival – a lively Celebration

Mewar_Festival_2012_Gangaur

Colors of tradition spread out everywhere, Sparkling water of Pichola, Rajasthani women and girls elegantly dressed up, and beautifully decorated idols of Gangaur glittering in the beautiful light. Such was the charm of Mewar Festival at Gangaur Ghat. It felt as if everything around is tinted in rainbow – colorful and vibrant. As the folk tales say, these 16 days of Gangaur were the days when Parvati Ji stayed at her father’s home. These were the days of celebration, days to worship Gauri for a perfect husband and his well being. Today, Gauri Ji was given farewell amidst a big festival – the Mewar Festival.

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Look of Mewar

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Mewar_Festival_2012_Gangaur_Udaipur

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The celebration started with a procession, in which women carried the idols of Isar and Gangaur all the way from Clock Tower to the Gangaur Ghat. Then the Royal boat of Palace was taken out from Bansi Ghat to Gangaur Ghat which was the centre of attraction of the evening. Colorful boat in the glowing water of Pichola was truly worth watching. Then the artists showed various shades of culture in the cultural programme that followed.The Show started by the performance of renowned Maand Singer of Udaipur – “Maangi bai”; Tune of ‘Padharo Mahare Desh’ filled the air and traditional dance forms like ‘Ghoomar’ and ‘Kalbeliya’ took hold of the breath. On the whole, the whole festival served as an eye candy with its striking colors and glorious culture.

 

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Mewar_Festival_2012_Gangaur_Udaipur

Mewar_Festival_2012_Gangaur_Udaipur

The best decorated award were won by the Rajmali Samaj who won the first prize and an amount of Rs. 11000. The second was the Kahar Bhoi Samaj while Maru Kumawat Samaj bagged the third spot.

Mewar_Festival_2012_Gangaur_Udaipur

I was so untouched from one of the best festivals of Rajasthan and that too purely dedicated to womenfolk. For those who are still untouched with its allure, UdaipurBlog have the best of pictures of this celebration. And for those who captured the view in their eyes, these photos will recall those amazing moments.

Photos By Mujtaba Rg & Yash Sharma 

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News

Schedule of Mewar Festival 2012

mewar fest 2012

Program of Mewar Festival 25th to 27 March 2012

 

Mewar Festival in Udaipur is to be organised this year from 25th to 27th March, 2012. Here is the Schedule of the Mewar Festival which includes the timing Gangaur Procession which will be carried out everyday.

25th March to 27th March :-

Gangaur procession by different Communities from Clock Tower to Gangaur Ghat (Time: 4pm to 6pm)

25th March, 2012 :-

Royal Gangaur Boat Procession from Bansi Ghat to Gangaur Ghat in Pichhola Lake (Time: 6pm to 7pm)

Cultural Evening at Gangaur Ghat (Time: 7pm to 8.30pm)

26th March, 2012 :-Cultural Evening at Bhartiya Lok kala Mandal.

Performances by Rajasthani Folk Artists. And Best Rajasthani Dressed Foreign Couple Competition. (Time: 7pm to 9pm)

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Festivals

Awaited Mewar Festival – an euphoric celebration of Gangaur

Gangaur Festival Udaipur 2012

Continuing with the mood of festivity and the spirit of celebration, here is the ongoing colorful festival of Gangaur, which commences from the day following Holi and continues for 18 days. Gangaur is one of the local festivals of Rajasthan which is celebrated by the womenfolk with great sparkle and fervor. Started by the rulers of state of Rajputana, this celebration is still continued with the same devotion and glory.

During these 18 days, married women worship Gauri, who epitomizes marital bliss or saubhagya, for the well-being and prosperity of her husband. Unmarried girls also observe fast for being blessed with good husband as Gauri got Shiv as her perfect consort. Girls and women make idols of Isar and Gauri out of clay and decorate them beautifully as if they instill life in those figures. They, themselves, dress up in bright and colorful dresses, prettily and elegantly. They rejoice and make merry, sing and dance throughout these 18 days.

The last day of the festival is a real magnificence and charm when Gauri is bided farewell in a grand procession. Married women place the idols of Isar and Gauri on their heads and take them to a well, pond or a lake while singing traditional songs.

Udaipur celebrates the last three days of Gangaur as “Mewar Festival”. Extending from 25th to 27th March this year, the festival offers a warm welcome to the spring. Women, dressed up in their best attire, take out a procession carrying the idols of Isar and Gangaur through various parts of the city. The procession ends at Gangaur Ghat of Lake Pichola by placing the idols in special boats amidst the air of singing and joy. After that starts the cultural programme which catches every eye with its beautiful performances. These three days of vibrant feast ends with a spectacular display of fireworks.

Lake Pichola During Gangaur

Pictures by : Rohit Gautam