What is Gauri Puja?

Gauri Puja, also known as Gouri Puja, is a three-day event that is celebrated with great devotion. It is a traditional Hindu festival that has been celebrated for years to show gratitude towards Goddess Gauri, who is the incarnation of Goddess Parvati (wife of Lord Shiva). Moreover, as per the ancient tradition, this festival is celebrated with the joy of the homecoming of Lord Ganesha's sisters. This festival is celebrated on the third day of Ganesh Chaturthi. So the celebration of Gauri Puja starts with Gauri Avahan, where the goddess is welcomed, followed by Gouri Puja and then the Gouri Visarjan.

Furthermore, this festival is a time for all the family members and neighbours to come together and celebrate the festival of Gouri puja with joy and happiness. In the year 2023, the celebration of the three-day festival of Gauri Puja will start on September 21. The first day is the Gauri Avahan, the second day, which is on September 22, is the main Gouri Puja, and the last day is the Gouri Visarjan, which is on 23 September. However, for 2024, the Gauri Puja will be starting from 12th September.

What is the story behind Gauri Puja?

The celebration of Gauri Puja dates back to the time when a girl named Sati was in love with Lord Shiva and wanted to marry him. Sati was a daughter of Daksha Prajapati, who was a great scholar. On hearing about his daughter's love for Lord Shiva, he was against it because Sage Daksha was a great follower of Lord Shiva and considered him a deity.

Furthermore, Sati started showing a lot of dedication and perseverance in getting married to Lord Shiva. Meanwhile, Lord Shiva was extremely impressed with the faithful commitment and determination of Sati, so he decided to get married to her. However, Sati had to take a rebirth to get married to Lord Shiva, so she was reborn as a daughter to a Himalayan king, Himavan and his wife, Queen Mainavati. This is the reason this festival holds great significance for married women to keep their married life filled with bliss and harmony.

Furthermore, this festival also brings up another story from Hindu mythology that makes this festival more unique and special. Lantern, when Lord Shiva was impressed by Sati, he decided to appear before her and get married to her. So this festival is also celebrated as the union of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva and the homecoming of Goddess Gauri as an incarnation of Goddess Parvati.

What is the significance behind Gauri Puja?

The festival of Gauri Puja reminds us about the union of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Moreover, on this festival, the married women observe fast and puja to have a blissful and harmonious married life. Also, during this festival, unmarried women also perform Puja with devotion as an opportunity to pray for a good spouse. Moreover, this festival also reminds us to celebrate the role of women in society and the power of feminine energy.

Furthermore, the reason behind the celebration of Gauri Pooja in the state of Maharashtra is that this festival holds a great historical story from the state. There used to be a Maratha king named Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, along with his mother, who was a great devotee of Goddess Gauri. So, this is how the celebration of Gauri Puja became famous in the state of Maharashtra.

Many people perform Puja at their homes by keeping the idol of Goddess Gauri and offering prayers, bhajans and vrat katha. On the auspicious occasion of Mangala Gauri, women take part in the traditional games, which are known as Phugdi and Zhimma, to make the festival more energetic and enthusiastic. So, get ready to be a part of the celebration in the year 2023 and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

What are the Rituals and Remedies involved in Gauri Puja?

On this day, devotees follow certain rituals that make the celebration and puja complete. All the festivals and celebrations need to be followed by some rituals on the auspicious day. Read below the following rituals so that you can follow the ritual's steps correctly and perform the rituals properly.

Gauri Puja Rituals

  • The celebration starts with preparing a beautiful idol of Gauri mata to perform certain rituals and puja.
  • The idol is then decorated and adorned with red and yellow cloth, followed by performing mantras and offerings to welcome the three-day event of Gauri Pujan.
  • All the devotees, including the committee members and all the people in and around, come to perform Gauri Pujan by offering Prasad, lighting diya and offering prayers.
  • Many people also observe fast by just eating one meal a day, while some people do not eat anything for the entire day.
  • As an offering on the special Gauri Puja day, Gauri mata is offered with haldi, kumkum, coconut and betel leaves.
  • People wake up all night to celebrate Gauri Puja before the last Visarjan day, accompanied by religious hymns, prayers and dance.
  • Finally, on the last day, Gauri mata is immersed in the water, praying for her safe journey towards Kailash.

Gauri Puja Remedies

  • On this day, people can observe fast, known as the Shodash Uma Vrat, offer prayers and perform rituals.
  • On this day, you must prepare 16 types of food items and perform Aarti by lighting 16 diyas.
  • Performing Abhishek to Gauri mata with milk, curd, honey, and water is very beneficial to devotees.
  • On the second day of Gauri Puja, you can perform the Satyanarayan Puja at your home to seek the blessing of Lord Vishnu for prosperity and well-being.

Conclusion

So, this was all about the celebration, rituals, story and significance of Gouri Puja. So, make sure to read all the important information in detail so that you are aware of what makes this festival more special and unique. Celebrate the auspicious occasion of Gauri puja for marriage and make your married life harmonious and blissful.

Image

Worried about your marriage?

CONSULT NOW AT RS.1 ONLY

Frequently Asked Questions

While Gauri is a manifestation of Parvati, Ganesha’s mother, it is believed that Gauri is also Ganesha’s sister who has come to visit him. In Maharashtra, Goddess Gauri is worshipped as Ganesha’s sister, and her arrival is believed to bring happiness, abundance, joy, and prosperity.
Gouri Puja is celebrated to seek the blessing of Gauri Mata for a blissful marriage and a good spouse. Moreover, married women observe fast and pray for the long life and well-being of their husbands.
Gouri Puja can be performed at home or in the pandals placed in certain places. The Puja is performed by observing fast, offering prayers and worshipping Gauri mata. Some of the offerings made on this puja are haldi, kumkum, coconut, betel leaves, nuts and mango leaves.
Goddess Parvati is also known as Gauri since Gauri is one of her manifestations. Different regions of India call Goddess Parvati by different names, and Gauri or Gowri is one of them.
Gauri Puja is a three-day affair that is set to start on September 21, 2023. While Gauri Avahan is on the 21st of September, Gauri Puja is on the 22nd of September, with Gauri visarjan on the 23rd of September.
Gauri Pujan is one of the major festivals celebrated in Maharashtra. While there are several other regions that perform this festival with great festivities, Maharashtra is the state that observes this day with much enthusiasm and happiness.
Karishma tanna image
close button

Karishma Tanna believes in InstaAstro

Urmila image
close button

Urmila Matondkar Trusts InstaAstro

Bhumi pednekar image
close button

Bhumi Pednekar Trusts InstaAstro

Karishma tanna image

Karishma Tanna
believes in
InstaAstro

close button
Urmila image

Urmila Matondkar
Trusts
InstaAstro

close button
Bhumi pednekar image

Bhumi Pednekar
Trusts
InstaAstro

close button