Mewar Festival

Mewar Festival

All festivals

cultural

Three days matching the Gangaur festival in Chaitra (March–April). Region: Udaipur, Rajasthan. 3 days

When it happens

March

Three days matching the Gangaur festival in Chaitra (March–April). Region: Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Annual

Gallery

Mewar Gangaur Festival Udaipur India
Mewar Gangaur Festival Udaipur India · Ggia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mewar Festival
Manish Suryavanshi
lossy-page1-1920px-India, Rajasthan, Mewar, 17th century - Shri Raga - .451 - Cleveland Museum of Art.tif
anonymous (CC0)
Maharana Raj Singh II (1751-61) of Mewar with his nobles celebrating Holi
Aadrit28 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Krishna and Gopis Celebrating the Holi Festival LACMA AC1999.127.23
Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Significance

Welcomes the arrival of spring with traditional Rajasthani folk dances, singing, lake boat pageants, and fireworks.

Why it's celebrated

The festival celebrates the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and honours Gangaur Mata, with women praying for their husbands' long life and their family's prosperity.

How it's celebrated

Udaipur is dressed in lights. Women in traditional Rajputi ghaghra-choli adorn the Gangaur idols, which are carried in procession and immersed from boats on Lake Pichola.

Key rituals

The Gangaur idols are carried in a grand procession to Gangaur Ghat on Lake Pichola, placed on royal boats for immersion, and a maha-aarti is performed on the ghat in the evening.

Beliefs & spiritual meaning

Worshipping Gangaur Mata is believed to bless married women with a happy married life and unmarried girls with a good husband.

History & origins

The festival has been celebrated at the Mewar court since the era of the Maharanas, and Rajasthan Tourism has since developed it into a major draw for visitors from around the world.

What to expect

Udaipur's version of Gangaur, in March or April. Women carry dressed images of Isar and Gangaur down to Gangaur Ghat singing, and the images go out onto Lake Pichola by boat before immersion. Fireworks at the end. Stand on the ghat itself rather than at the palace end.

Frequently asked

When is the festival held?+

Every year in spring, during the month of Chaitra (March or April).