Gangauri Tritiya Festivals is celebrated in devotion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Devotees observe fast on this day to get the blessings of goddess Parvati. In 2024, Gangauri Tritiya Festival will be celebrated on 24th April, Thursday. This fast is observed by females in the family only. According to ancient scriptures, it is also known as Gauri Utsav, Gauri Tritiya, Ishwar Gauri, and Dolotsavam.
Chaoitrashuklatritiyayam Gaurimishvarsamyutam |
Sampujya Dolotsavam Kuryat||
Rituals to Perform Gangauri Puja
Usually, this festivals is celebrated on the day of Teej. A person observing this fast should wake up early in the morning, take bath and worship the whole family of Lord Shiva. She should first sprinkle ganga jal at the place of worship before establishing the idols. The prepare a 24X24 inch platform made with mud and establish the idol of Lord Shiva and Goddess parvati on it. Now worship the idols with fruits, flowers, incense and roli. All the ten incarnations of the goddess re worshipped on this day. The ten incarnations of the goddess are: Gauri, Uma, Latika, Subhaga, Bhagamalini, Manokamna, BHavani, Kamda, Bhog Vardhini and Ambika.
All the manifestations of the goddess are worshipped with utmost devotion and faith. The person observing the fast should not eat anything throughout the day, except of a glass of milk in the morning. Females observing this fast are blessed with a child, happy and prosperous life. There is a tradition of worshipping the idol of the goddess made with wood or metal. The idols are bathed with panchamrit and adorned with beautiful clothes and jewels.
Significance of Gangauri Fast
As per the legends, once Gauri and Shiva reached a dense forest where goddess parvathi felt thirsty. She asked Lord Shiva for water to drink. Lord Shiva asked Parvati to follow the directions where the bird are going as they are probably flying in the direction of water. Goddess parvati went there and saw a river flowing.
When Parvati took water in her hands it got filled with a bunch of fruit, second time it got filled with flowers and the third time with dhokla. Parvati got confused and a lot of things came into her mind. Seeing this, Lord SHiva told her that, “Today is Teej. All the females keep fast on this day in devotion of Gauri and all these things that you are seeing in the river have been offered to the goddess”
On this, Parvati asked Lord Shiva to establish a place where all the females can come and observe the fast so that she can bless them personally with their desires. Lord Shiva granted her wish. After a while a group of females came to the place. Parvati got a bit curious and asked Lord Shiva to bless the females with some boon, along with her blessing. This is why Lord Shiva and goddess parvati are worshipped together on this day.