With the colours of Holi settling down, the festive spirit in Udaipur gently transitions to another cherished tradition- the vibrant Gangaur Festival. Celebrated in honour of Goddess Gauri and her divine union with Lord Isar (Shiv), Gangaur symbolises marital happiness, prosperity and devotion. The festival holds special significance for women, with married women praying for the well-being and long lives of their husbands while unmarried girls seek blessings for a loving life partner.
The festival traditionally begins on the Krishna Paksha Pratipada of the Chaitra month, the day after Holi. On this day, women collect sacred ash from the Holika bonfire of Holika Dahan and bring it home. The ash is used during the rituals marking the beginning of the sixteen-day Gangaur pooja, a period filled with devotion, folk traditions and community gatherings.
Across neighbourhoods in Udaipur, women assemble everyday to perform the rituals together. Courtyards resonate with traditional Gangaur geet, as women clap in rhythm and sing lines such as “Khelan do Gangaur… Bhawan mhane poojan do Gangaur…” and the popular geet “Gor gor Gomati, Isar puje Parvati…”. The gatherings often turn festive with dancing, laughter and traditional Gangaur games that have been part of the celebration for generations.
Neetu Rathore, who participates in the rituals almost every year, shared that Gangaur is not only about worship but also about community bonding. Women and young girls come together daily, strengthening relationships while keeping cultural traditions alive.
Swati Sharma noted that celebrating Gangaur in Udaipur feels particularly special because of the city’s festive atmosphere. “There is so much enthusiasm here. Dressing up for all these days, applying mehendi, shringar, dancing, singing, brings so much joy! The royal procession on the final days on Lake Pichola and the rituals at Gangaur Ghat make the celebration truly grand. Hundreds of women gather there to perform the final pooja, sing, dance and celebrate together,” she said.
For Vimla Devi, an elderly participant, the festival carries decades of memories. Having observed the rituals for years, she says it feels wonderful to see the same traditions being embraced by younger generations with equal enthusiasm and devotion.
Among them is Swara, a teenage girl performing her first Gangaur pooja, learning the songs and customs from elders and eagerly participating in the daily rituals.
The celebrations will continue in this spirit of devotion and festivity until March 21, when the city witnesses the grand culmination of Gangaur. As the days pass with songs, prayers and gatherings, women across Udaipur eagerly await the final day, when hundreds will assemble at the ghats, dressed in vibrant traditional attire, to offer prayers to Goddess Gauri and celebrate the festival with music, dance and deep cultural pride.
