Gangaur is a festival of women celebrated during Chaitra Month especially in Rajasthan. Gangaur festival begins on the first day in Chaitra month continues till the fourth day in Shukla Paksha or brighter half of Chaitr month. Gangaur 2010 date is March 18 and March 19, 2010. ‘Gan’ means Lord Shiva and ‘Gauri’ is Goddess Parvati. Gangaur is dedicated to the divine couple Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri. This vow is observed by married women for marital bliss and young girls for ideal husband. In 2010, Gangaur starts on March 1st, the day after Holi, and ends on Chaitra Shukla Tritiya or Chaturthi, i.e. March 18 / March 19.
Women make clay idols of Lord Isar (Shiva) and Goddess Gauri (Parvati) and worship for 18 days. They sing bhajans or devotional songs as part of Gangaur Puja. During Gangaur festival many fairs or Jatra are celebrated in Jaipur, Udaipur, and many other towns in Rajasthan. These fairs attract several lakh people from all around the world.
Gangaur festival is also celebrated as Gauri Tritiya and Soubhagya Tritiya in other parts of India. Soubhagya Vratam is observed in Falgun month in Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Karnataka.
Avidh Navami Puja, also called as Avidh-va-Navami or Adukh Navami or Aveha Navmi, is observed on the ninth day during the Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapad month. In 2009, the date of Avidh Navami or Adukh Navami is August 29. On Avidha Navami day, married women worship Goddess Gauri and observe Gauri Vrat. They keep fasting during Gauri Puja and the fast is broken after performing the puja or in the evening.
On Avidha Navami or Adukh Navami day, men who have lost their wives offer dry food and other offerings to a Brahmin and feed a married woman. In Maharashtra, on Bhadrapad Navami day, Jyeshta Gauri Visarjan is performed.
Bhadrapad Navami is also observed as Nanda Navami in some places of India.
Jyeshta Gauri Puja or Jeshta Gowri Vrat is observed mainly in Maharashtra during Bhadrapad month. Jyeshta Gauri Pooja is a three-day vrata especially performed by married women. In 2009, Jyeshta Gauri puja begins on August 27 with Gauri Avahan and ends on August 29 with Gauri Visarjan.
Jeshta Gauri puja is observed for three days – the first day is the day of Gauri Avahan or the day to invoke Goddess Gauri. The second day is the main puja to Gowri and the third or the final day concludes the vrata with Gauri Visarjan.
In 2009, the date of main puja to Goddess Gauri or Jyeshta Gauri pooja is August 28. Jyeshta Gauri puja is observed during Ganesh Chaturthi Navratri festival in Maharashtra. On the third or the final day of Jyeshta Gauri Puja, Goddess Gauri idol is immersed in nearest water bodies.
Shri Gauri Astottara Satanamavali or 108 names of Mangala Gowri is the stotram to recite during Gauri Puja, especially on Mangala Gauri Puja, Maha Gouri Puja or Shodasa Gauri Puja. Devotees recite Gouri Astottaram on every Friday.
Om Murari priyardhamgyai namah //55//
Om Putra poutra varapradayai namah
Om Punyayai namah
Om Krupa prurnayai namah
Om Kalyanyai namah
Om Anchit yayai namah
Om Tripurayai namah
Om Trigunam bikayai namah
Om Purushardha pradayai namah
Om Satya dharma ratayai namah
Om Sarva sakshinyai namah
Om Shashamka rupinyai namah
Om Sarasvatyai namah
Om Virajayai namah
Om Svahayai namah
Om Svadhayai namah
Om Pratyamgi rambikayai namah
Om Aaryayai namah
Om Dakshaenyai namah
Om Deekshayai namah
Om Sarvottamotta mayai namah
Om Shivabhinama deyayai namah
Om Sreevidyayai namah
Om Pranavardha svarupinyai namah
Om Hrinkaryai namah
Om Naada rupayai namah
Om Sundaryai namah
Om Shodashakshara devatayai namah
Om Mahagouryai namah
Om Shyamalayai namah
Om Chandyai namah
Om Bhaga malinyai namah
Om Bhagalayai namah
Om Matrukayai namah
Om Shulinyai namah
Om Amalayai namah
Om Annapurnayai namah
Om Akhilagama samstut yayai namah
Om Ambayai namah
Om Bhanukoti sandyatayai namah
Om Parayai namah
Om Seetamshu kruta shekha rayai namah
Om Sarvakala sumangalyai namah
Om Soma shekharyai namah
Om Amara samsev yayai namah
Om Amrutai shvaryai namah
Om Sukha sachi chudara sayai namah
Om Balyaradita bhutidayai namah
Om Hiranyayai namah
Om Sukshmayai namah
Om Haridra kumkuma radhyayai namah
Om Sarvabhoga pradayai namah
Om Markandeya varapradayai namah
Om Sree nityagouree devatayai namah //108//
Ithi Shree Gauri Astottara Shatanamavali Samaptam
Mangala Gauri Astottara Shatanamavali – Part 1
Shri Gauri Astottara Satanamavali or 108 names of Mangala Gowri is the stotram to recite during Gauri Puja, especially on Mangala Gauri Puja, Maha Gouri Puja or Shodasa Gauri Puja. Devotees recite Gouri Astottaram on every Friday.
Om Shree gauryai namah
Om Ganesha jananyai namah
Om Guhambi kayai namah
Om Jaga nnetryai namah
Om Giritanu bhavayai namah
Om Veera bhadra prasuve namah
Om Vishva vyapinyai namah
Om Vishva rupinyai namah
Om Ashta murtyat mekayai namah
Om Ashta daridrya shamanyai namah
Om Shivayai namah
Om Shambha vayai namah
Om Shan karyai namah
Om Balaayai namah
Om Bhavanyai namah
Om Haima vatyai namah
Om Parvatyai namah
Om Papa nasinyai namah
Om Narayanam shajaayai namah
Om Nityayai namah
Om Nirma laayai namah
Om Ambi kayai namah
Om Hemadri jaayai namah
Om Vedanta lakshanayai namah
Om Karma bramha mayai namah
Om Ganga dhara kutumbinyai namah
Om Mrudanyai namah
Om Muni samsevyayai namah
Om Maninyai namah
Om Menakat majaayai namah
Om Kumaryai namah
Om Kanyakayai namah
Om Durgayai namah
Om Kalidosha vighatinyai namah
Om Katya yanyai namah
Om Bhadra daenyai namah
Om Mangalya daenyai namah
Om Sarva mangalayai namah
Om Manju bhashinyai namah
Om Mahe shvaryai namah
Om Maha mayayai namah
Om Mantra radhyayai namah
Om Maha balayai namah
Om Satyai namah
Om Sarva mayai namah
Om Soubhagya dayai namah
Om Kama kala nayai namah
Om Kamkshi tardha pradayai namah
Om Chandrarka yuta tatamkayai namah
Om Chidambara shareerinyai namah
Om Sree chakra vasinyai namah
Om Devyai namah
Om Kameshva rapatyai namah
Om Kamalayai namah //54//
Next or Part 2 of Mangala Gauri Astottaram
