Saturday, 19 September 2015

19th SEPTEMBER 2015 GAURI-GANAPATI FESTIVAL

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Significance of Gauri Pujan

INDIAN-CULTURE INDIAN FESTIVALS AND OCCASSIONS 
Gauri Pujan is the festival of worshiping Goddess Parvati celebrated by Maharashtrians. It is also celebrated in few other places near Maharashtra. Know about the features of this festival which makes it unique. On the day of Gauri Pujan all Maharashtrian women stay awake the whole night and play traditional games like Zhimma and Phugdi. Read on to find more about how Gauri Pujan festival is celebrated.

Festivals have a special importance in life of every individual. People from all the religions celebrate their festivals in their own way. One such festival is Gauri Pujan which resembles some Hindu festivals but has its own unique features. Parvati mother of Lord Ganesh is also known as Gauri. Gauri Pujan is all about worshiping Goddess Parvati or Gauri. 

It is celebrated mainly in Maharashtra. It falls during the fourth or fifth day ofGanesh Chaturthi. It is regarded as the festival of Maharastrian women. It is the only time in a year when women enjoy themselves along with their friends. This Puja is very well known in Maharashtra as 'Mangala Gauri'. According to Hindus Mangala means holy and auspicious. To know more about this holy celebration read on.

Bringing Gauri Idol or Image Home 

Just like Ganesh idol, Gauri idol is brought one day before Gauri Pujan or along with Ganesh idol. Gauri is brought home in form of the idol or a simple image on a paper. In Maharashtra most of the families bring Gauri idols but in some villages near Maharashtra people prefer to worship an image of Goddess Gauri. Most of the Maharastrians bring Gauri idol exclusively during Gauri Pujan day during Ganesh Chaturthi. There are some people who bring an image of Goddess Gauri on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi itself. 

It is believed by most of the devotees that the holy rays come out of the Gauri image or idol during the period of Gauri Pujan which puts end to sufferings. Gauri Pujan also brings prosperity and well being to the mankind. Some people also worship the images of Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri during Ganesh Chaturthi. This is done with the view of paying respect to the parents of Lord Ganesh.

Dressing up Gauri 

If the devotees bring idol they drape the idol with a very fine and colourful sari. The devotees also decorate the idol with the jewellery like green bangles, mangalsutra, nose-ring, necklace etc. mangalsutra and green bangles are the most important jewellery which Hindu married women wear. Goddess Gauri is also offered a hair band of flowers known as Veni in Marathi which is worn on the backside of the head. Devotees also offer garlands to Goddess Gauri.

Gauri Pujan 

Gauri Pujan requires leaves and flower of a specific plant. It also requires systematic Puja to be done by inviting a Pujari at home. Performing Aarti is also necessary during Gauri Pujan. After the systematic Puja is performed all the women visit each others house to offer coconut, a piece of cloth, flowers, bananas, rice and even new saris to the idol of Goddess Gauri. 

All the women wear new saris and all the traditional jewellery on this day. On the night of Gauri Pujan all the women gather together and sing Mangala Gauri songs. These songs have a traditional base and reflect the life style of Hindu married women. Males do not take part in this function. This occasion is considered important in the life of a newly married Maharastrian woman as her first Mangala Gauri. 

All the women taking part in Mangala Gauri occasion are awake the whole night and play various games. The typical games known as Zhimmaa and Phugadi are played during this occasion. In Zhimmaa women clap hands and sing songs to tease each other. Phugadi is played by crossing both hands and holding each others hands just as we shake them. After holding hands in this specific position, women move round in circles and sing songs. The whole night is full of fun and joy for the women.

Gauri Visarjan 

Gauri Visarjan is done immediately the next day of Gauri Pujan. It is done along with Ganesh Visarjan on sixth or seventh day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Before Gauri Visarjan Aarti is performed and the Prasad of cooked rice mixed with curd and cooked fenugreek leaves is offered to the idol. This Prasad is then distributed amongst the devotees as the blessings of Goddess Gauri. 

The occasions like Gauri Pujan and Ganesh Chaturthi are major events for the Maharastrians. They celebrate it according to the Marathi calendar. These festivals are vital to bring families and friends together. These festivals play an important role in making the bonds of love stronger.


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Gauri Pooja and Ganesha Chathurthi

 SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 BY 
11
Ganesha Festival is one of a kind in Hinduism.  It’s when mother and son are worshipped together.
The other name for Goddess Parvati (also known as Lakshmi or Mahalaxmi), the mother of Ganesha, is Gauri.  There are many different interpretations of the festival which changes from households to localities, however no matter where the festival, the Goddess is worshipped with full devotion.  In our family home, the Goddess is welcomed home a day before Ganesha Chathurthi.
New laws was enacted allowing women (for the first time in over 2000 years) to entire the temples proper and touch the feet of the statue of Mahalakshmi as well as enter to perform puja.  While many derided it, many more (women) devotees were glad to hear the news that they would finally be able to pray at the feet of their family Goddess.
Devotees believe that bringing home Goddess Gauri will bring them wealth and prosperity. Some regions consider Gauri Pooja as upasana of Goddess Lakshmi.
In our family, the Gauri Festival is celebrated on the seventh, eighth, ninth of Bhadrapada Shukla paksha.  Although we keep it for five days total, the actual prayer and puja is only for those three days.  The day before and the day after are considered preparation for us to welcome the arrival and leave taking of Gauri.  She is worshipped as the goddess of harvest and protectress of women.  We have three bronze vessels that hold the grains important to our household.
Goddess Gauri is kept and worshipped for three days – first day is the avahana, and this is when the Goddess is brought into the home.  The preparations for Gauri pooja are made in the same way as Ganpati, married women within the house mark footsteps of Goddess by using Rangoli (colorful powder) and then the idol of Goddess Gauri is brought home.  This year, Aai asked me to mark the footsteps of Goddess into the home.  It’s a simple and artistic task which helps you focus on the reason behind the ritual and to become closer to the Goddess.
In our family, Gauris arrive in a pair, one as Jyeshta (the Elder one) and another as Kanishta (the Younger one).  The vessels that hold the grain are also the base for the Gauris “bodies” and their head is placed on top of these bodies after a puja to welcome them.  That evening, the married ladies in the home ‘dress’ Gauri in a new Sari and adorn her with wedding jewelry, mangalsutra, nose ring, toe rings, bangles and earrings.  This year, Aai also gave me one of the Gauri to dress in Sari and jewelry.  This very special for me, especially since everyone knows my poor sari wrapping skills!  Here is the Gauri that I dressed:
Here is the one Aai dressed:
The next day is Satyanarayan puja which is a puja that most families use before or during any major occasion.  While it can be used on any day for any reason, in our family the puja is used for special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord.
Then at mahurat (auspicious timings), Naivedya (offering) is presented before Goddess and the ritual is followed by singing aarti (holy song) and praying to Goddess for health, wealth, success and prosperity.
There are many sweets to be eaten on this day.  Aai prepares the special food that we serve to the Goddess’ first.  Everyone leaves the room to give the Goddess’ peace and quiet.  Then we return and it is the men, children and guests turn to eat.  Afterwards, the ladies eat.
On the third day our family hosts Haldi Kumkum as well as this being the day that Gauri and Ganesha are immersed in water (this is our family’s tradition).  This year Bear and I had to leave the morning of the immersion, so we missed this.
However, last year we did this with Baba at a local Mumbai park which was dedicated for Pooja and Immersion during Ganesha Chathurthi.  We carefully carried our Ganesha near to the river and performed a pooja.  Then we brought out Ganesha to the dais and received blessings from a Guru.  Then our Ganesha idol was immersed into the river with hundreds of other’s with many of us standing on the banks shouting “Ganpati Bappa Morya!”
Later that day,  Aai hosts a Haldi Kumkum ceremony where married ladies are invited into our home, given sweets and a gift as well as being sprinkled with rose water, having perfume applied to their wrists and then Haldi Kumkum is applied to their foreheads.  The ladies spend time chatting while the men hide in another room.
That evening, the family immerse Gauris and perform the final pooja for the Goddess.  After the pooja, the idols are loving packed and put away for the next year.  The jewelry is stored in a locked cabinet.  The sari’s are given to Aai and Vahini (I am given a special Kurta that has been displayed with the Gauris).  And the dais and decorations are put away.
The fifth day (next day) the family rests and eats light foods while trying to avoid travelling or strenuous work.
How does your family celebrate Ganesha Chathurthi and Gauri Pooja?  If you don’t celebrate these, what is your favorite family tradition or holiday?

11 THOUGHTS ON “GAURI POOJA AND GANESHA CHATHURTHI”

  1. how can govt interfere with running of hindu temple they dont do that with muslim or christian affairs (afraid they will lose their minority vote bank)
    Reply
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