[Pics]Gangaur Marks the Beginning of Mewar Festival

Gangaur, one of the most important festivals for the people of Rajasthan is celebrated today in Udaipur with great enthusiasm. Tens of communities (Hindu sub-castes) participated in colorful procession that started from Jagdish Chowk to Gangaur Ghat by carrying beautifully decorated idols of Gauri and Isar.

The festival of Gangaur is spirited for spring, harvest and marital fidelity and hundreds of women devotees carrying the idols marched in the procession singing the customary songs of Gangaur which concluded at Gangaur Ghat with a mass gathering.

The festival also marks the beginning of Mewar Festival, organized by department of tourism. The best decorated Gangaur was awarded by the department.

All over, 18 communities have participated in the program viz. Maru Kumawat, Kahar Bhoi, Shreemarwari Gacha, Mali Samaj, Lodha Rajput, Kshatriya Jeengar, Vasita, Jat, Shree Khatik, Shree Purbia Kalal, Shree Shani Maharaj Joshi, Kshatriya Rawat, Vari, Od, Rajmali, Shakyaval Koli, Lakhara, Shree Suryavanshi Kumawat Tamboli and Salvi. ( source Rajasthan Patrika)

At the end, a cultural program was organized at Gangaur Ghat facing Lake Pichola where traditional artists have performed various classical and folk dances.

The results of the Best Gangaur Award have been declared after the end of the procession in which the gangaur of Rajmaali Samaj bagged the first prize and won Rs. 11000 as prize money. The second position goes to Kahar Bhoi Samaj and they got prize money of Rs. 7000 while Maru Kumawat Samaj remained on the third position with prize amount Rs. 5000.

Before this the enthusiasm of the festival could be seen on the faces of women when they set out for pooja in the morning wearing traditional dresses and accouterments required for it which included specially prepared ‘fal’ (made with gram and wheat flour).

All photographs clicked by UT photographer/reporter Sayeed Ahmed