About Gangaur
Gangaur is one of the most loved festivals of Rajasthan, also observed in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Its name joins "Gan", a name of Lord Shiva often called Isar, with "Gaur", Goddess Gauri or Parvati. The festival celebrates their devotion to each other, and is dedicated especially to Gauri as a symbol of marital harmony, abundance and grace. The worship begins on the day after Holi and continues for about eighteen days, reaching its high point on Chaitra Shukla Tritiya.
Through these days, married women pray for the wellbeing of their husbands, while unmarried girls pray for a kind and loving partner. They make or bring home clay images of Gauri and Isar, offer fresh grass, flowers and water, and sing traditional Gangaur songs together. Many women apply mehendi and dress in their finest clothes and jewellery. On the final days, beautifully adorned images of the Goddess are carried in processions with music and folk dancers. The processions in Jaipur and Udaipur are especially well known, with Udaipur's celebration taking place along the shores of Lake Pichola.
How it is observed
- Worshipping clay images of Gauri and Isar at home
- Offering fresh grass, flowers and water while singing Gangaur songs
- Applying mehendi and dressing in festive clothes and jewellery
- Joining or watching the Gauri processions in towns and cities
- Bidding farewell to the Goddess by immersing the images
Gangaur dates in past and coming years
| Year | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Thursday, 11 April 2024 | Past |
| 2025 | Monday, 31 March 2025 | Past |
| 2026 | Saturday, 21 March 2026 | Past |
| 2027 | Friday, 9 April 2027 | Next |
| 2028 | Wednesday, 29 March 2028 | Upcoming |
| 2029 | Tuesday, 17 April 2029 | Upcoming |
| 2030 | Saturday, 6 April 2030 | Upcoming |
Dates are calculated from the Panchang for New Delhi. Some regions may observe a day earlier or later.
Across India
Celebrated widely in: Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh Gujarat
The same season is marked in many ways. Where a region keeps the festival on a different day, its calculated date is shown.
Rajasthan
Gangaur
Women worship Gauri (Parvati) with Shiva, starting the day after Holi and ending on Chaitra Shukla Tritiya. Married women pray for their husbands, and girls pray for a good life partner.
Jaipur
Gangaur Sawari
A grand procession of the Gangaur idol leaves the City Palace with decorated elephants, music and folk dancers.
Udaipur
Gangaur
Women carry the idols to Gangaur Ghat on Lake Pichola, and the festival is celebrated with boat processions and folk performances.
Madhya Pradesh (Nimar, Malwa)
Gangaur
In Nimar, Gauri is worshipped as Ranubai and Shiva as Dhaniyar Raja, with folk songs, wheat seedlings and village processions.
Marwari communities across India
Gangaur
Marwari families in cities like Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai keep the tradition alive with clay idols, songs and gatherings by the water.
Customs vary between families and communities, and some observe a fast on the main day.
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