Jyeshtha Gauri Puja 2024 Date, Visarjan Day, Significance, Details
Posted on September 10, 2024
Jyeshtha Gauri Puja is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated primarily in Maharashtra, especially by the Konkan and Maharashtrian communities. This festival is dedicated to Goddess Gauri, also known as Parvati, who is considered the mother of Lord Ganesha and the goddess of fertility, prosperity, and well-being.
- Jyeshtha Gauri Puja 2024 Date: Wednesday, September 11.
- Jyeshtha Gauri Visarjan Date: Thursday, September 12.
Significance:
Jyeshtha Gauri Puja is celebrated during the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, usually a few days before or after the famous Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The festival is marked by invoking the blessings of Goddess Gauri, with the belief that her presence brings happiness, good fortune, and peace to families. It is considered especially auspicious for married women, as it is believed that performing this puja ensures the long life and well-being of their husbands and children.
Rituals:
Arrival of Gauri: The puja starts with bringing an idol of Goddess Gauri into the home. This idol is often beautifully decorated with flowers, jewellery, and new clothes. Families welcome her with much enthusiasm, similar to how Lord Ganesha is welcomed during Ganesh Chaturthi.
Puja and Offerings: The main rituals involve worshipping the goddess with flowers, lamps, incense, and offerings like fruits and sweets. Special dishes, especially made of rice and coconut, are prepared as prasad (holy offering) for the deity.
Women’s Involvement: This festival has a strong focus on women. Married women often gather to perform the puja together, sing devotional songs, and exchange gifts and sweets. It is a time for social bonding and sharing.
Departure of Gauri: After two or three days of rituals, the idol of Gauri is immersed in a nearby water body, similar to the immersion of Lord Ganesha idols.
Cultural Impact:
Jyeshtha Gauri Puja is not as widely known outside Maharashtra but holds immense cultural and religious importance in the region. It symbolizes family unity, prosperity, and the power of women in nurturing and protecting their households.
While the festival has a strong religious foundation, it also strengthens community ties and fosters traditions passed down through generations.