Festival of togetherness

Ganesha Chaturthi’ is usually observed on the fourth day of ‘Bhadra-pada’, the sixth month of the Hindu calendar. Gowri festival is celebrated a day earlier.

Gowri symbolises bounti-fulness, serenity and happiness while her son, Ganesha is known as the one who wards off the obstacles (‘vighna nivaraka’). According to mythology, Goddess Parvathi came to earth on the day of Gowri festival to answer the prayers of her devotees and Lord Shiva sent Ganesha to fetch his mother from the earth, the next day.

The Gowri festival has more significance for women. ‘Mangaladrayva’ is given in the form of money to married women from her parental house. The annual gift serves to cement the bond between the married woman and her parents.

Gowri is worshipped in various forms on the day of the festival. ‘Jalagowri’ (a sacred pot or ‘kalasha’ representing the Goddess) or ‘Arisihnagowri’ (a symbolic idol made of turmeric paste) is worshipped on the day. Clay idols of the Goddess are also available in the market. A ‘mantapa’ with banana stems and mango leaves will be erected in which the idol would be placed. Much work goes into erecting this ‘mantapa’, with artistic decoration.

Another important feature of the festival is ‘bagina.’ A ‘bagina’ consists of ‘arashina-kumkuma’ (turmeric and vermillion), black bangles, black beads (similar to the ones in ‘mangalasutra’), a comb, a small mirror, cereals, and jaggery in cube form. All these are put in a ‘mora’ (turmeric painted winnow) and covered by another. During the pooja, one such ‘bagina’ is offered to the Goddess while at least five are offered to other married women.

Women visit each other’s houses to exchange ‘bagina’ on the festival day. The clay idol of the Goddess is immersed in water along with that of Ganesha, on the concluding day.