Gangaur Festival, 8th - 9th April 2008

Gangaur is a local festival of Rajasthan, albeit a colourful one. Held nearly a fortnight after Holi, the festival of colours, the celebrations of Gangaur go on for eighteen days.

This festival is celebrated with great pomp and ceremony and there are a number of fascinating rituals. This festival is observed by married women who pray for a happy married life and the longevity of their spouses and by young girls who pray for a spouse of their choice. The deities worshipped are Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati, in their forms of Gana and Gauri respectively.

Women undertake fasting and offer daily prayers. Colorful processions with the town band, horses, and elaborate palanquins are a key part of this festival and make it a fascinating spectacle. Mehendi or henna art, to decorate hands and feet as well as other body parts is an important aspect of "Gangaur Festival".