Gowri Festival 2023: Date and Significance of The Festival

Date, timing and tithi of the festival

In Karnataka, the Gowri Habba or Gowri Ganesha Festival is celebrated during the Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi Festival which is also known as Gowri Festival. The date for Gowri Habba 2023 is September 18. Swarna Gouri Vratam is another name for Gouri Habba. Goddess Gowri (Parvathi) is revered on this day. According to the conventional Kannada calendar, the ritual and observance are held on the third day of the Shukla Paksha (moon’s waxing phase) of the Bhadrapad month.

Timing:

Gowri Habba Monday, September 18, 2023

Pratahkal Gowri Puja Muhurat/Timings = 5:27 AM to 7:52 AM Duration = 2 Hours 25 Mins

Tithi

Tritiya Tithi Starts = 11:08 AM on 17 September 2023

Tritiya Tithi Ends = 12:38 PM on 18 September 2023

Overview

Goddess Gowri, an embodiment of Goddess Parvati, is honoured in Gowri Habba. It takes place the day before Ganesh Chaturthi and is a prominent Hindu festival observed in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

On the day of Gowri Habba, devotees worship the Goddess Gowri, who has a particularly fair complexion, and ladies observe Swarna Gowri Vratha to ask for her blessings in order to have a good marriage.

On this day, it is said, Goddess Gowri returns home in the same manner that a married woman returns to her parent’s home. The very following day, Lord Ganesha, her son, appears as though to transport her back to Mount Kailasha’s residence. In Maharashtra and other North Indian states, this festival is commonly referred to as Hartalika Teej.

Significance

Married women’s lives are greatly influenced by the day. On this day, female devotees observe Swarna Gowri Vratha and obtain Goddess Gowri’s blessings.

In order to find a wonderful husband like Lord Shiva, single ladies who worship Goddess Parvati commemorate the event. This day is observed because it is thought that Goddess Parvati visits the homes of her worshippers.

History behind the Gowri festival

The story says that Lord Shiva, who is the Hindu God of the resolution, was at war. His wife Pavarti wanted to take a bath, but there was no one to watch the door to her house. She thought of making a son so that he could watch the door for her. Parvati created Ganesha from the sandalwood paste she used for her bath, giving the figure life. Then she put him in charge of guarding her door and told him not to let anyone in.

Lord Shiva came back from the battle, but Ganesha stopped him from going into Parvati’s room because he didn’t know who he was. Ganesh’s arrogance made Shiva angry, so he removed his sword and cut off Ganesha’s head. Pavarti came out and found Ganesha’s head cut off. This made her very angry. She turned herself into the Goddess Kali and threatened to destroy Heaven, Earth, and the underground earth.

Beliefs

Gowri Habba, also known as the Gowri festival, is a significant Karnataka celebration that takes place just one day before Ganesh Chaturthi. During this festival, Goddess Gowri, the wife of Lord Shiva and mother of Lord Ganesha, is worshipped because she is thought to be the exact manifestation of Adi Shakti Mahamaya. She is regarded as the most potent Goddess of them all. In other parts of India, such as Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Goddess Gowri is also revered. It is believed that she may grant her followers bravery, strength, and strength.

On the thirteenth day, or Thagide, of the month of Bhadrapada, exactly one day before Ganesh Chaturthi, when the Goddess is warmly welcomed to her parent’s home and her son Ganesha appears as if to escort her back to her home in Kailasha, Swarna Gowri Vratha is performed to placate Goddess Gowri. On this day, Hindu ladies and young girls dressed in traditional ethnic garb create a symbolic idol that resembles the Goddess out of turmeric. They are known as Jalagauri or Arishinadagauri idols. Even while some homes purchase beautifully painted prefabricated Gowri idols and Ganesha statues from the neighbourhood market, the idols are still built from scratch at home. The idol, set on a dish with rice or wheat as its basis, is surrounded by a lovely Mandapa decorated with mango leaves and banana stems. An Asthis Pooja must be performed in accordance with the Vrata with devotion and cleanliness. Gowri is decorated with cotton ornaments, flower garlands, and silk saris. As part of the vrata rites, the ladies who participate get a sacred thread with 16 knots called the “gauridaara,” which is thought to bring the goddess’ blessings. Baagina is a prepared package intended to be offered to the Goddess. One bagina is offered to the shrine, and the remaining 12 are given to married women. The 13 packages of turmeric, vermillion, black beads for mangalsutras, black bangles, a comb, a mirror, a blouse piece, cereal, bale bicchole, rice, tur dal, wheat or rava, a small cube of jaggery, and green daal are made.

Families come together in Karnataka and the majority of South India to commemorate this solemn occasion. Gifts and cash are given by the families of married women’s parents to their daughters as a gesture of Mangala-Dravya. Payasa, obbattu, bajji, holige, kosambari, and other mouthwatering treats are cooked and offered to the deity before being served and shared as prasadam with friends and family. The festivities continue the following day until Lord Ganesha arrives on Ganesh Chaturthi.

Rituals Conducted

• • On this day, women rise early and bathe in holy water.
  • They then dress neatly and treat themselves like a bride.
  • Women break their fast early in the morning by eating fruit and drinking water.
  • Afterward, they go the rest of the day without eating or drinking anything.
  • Women gather to offer puja on Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s idols.
  • Then God’s idols are presented with flowers, fruits, and sweets.

• Women pray for a happy marriage while singing Teej Katha.

Traditional foods consume in The Gowri Festival

Chitranna Rice

Cooked rice, urad dal, chana dal, oil, mustard seeds, salt, chillies, onions, peanuts, curry leaves, turmeric powder, asafoetida, lemon juice, coriander leaves, and shredded coconut are used to make this well-known South Indian dish. Heat oil in a skillet, add mustard seeds, peanuts, urad dal, chana dal, and sauté until fragrant. Add onions and peppers after that. Mix the ingredients thoroughly by adding the spices to the coconut, rice, and lemon juice. You can now offer your chitranna rice.

Tovve

Toor dal, green chilies, tomatoes, lemon, ginger, tamarind, coriander leaves, turmeric powder, ghee, asafoetida, red chillies, cumin seeds, and curry leaves, are used to make tovve, also known as Kattu Saaru. While the dal is being pressure cooked, cut the vegetables. Cumin seeds, diced vegetables, and boiled dal are added to heated ghee in a deep pan. Salt, water, and spices should all be added. After 10 minutes of cooking, add the curry leaves and lemon juice. Serve with idli or steamed rice.

Semiya Payasam

Vermicelli, milk, ghee, dry fruits, cardamom powder, and sugar are used to make the kheer recipe. Vermicelli is cooked in ghee with dry fruits added. Vermicelli that has been cooked and dry fruits are added to a pot of boiling milk, sugar, and cardamom powder, ten more minutes of cooking after stirring. You can now serve your payasam.

Kayi Holige

This well-known South Indian dish is made with shredded coconut, crushed cardamom, sesame oil, jaggery, plain flour, and turmeric. Knead the flour, water, sesame oil, and a pinch of turmeric to make the dough. Use coconut, jaggery, and cardamom in a bowl as the filling. One tablespoon of the stuffing should be placed into a little ball that you have formed from the dough. The ball should be rolled into a flatbread. Oil-fry it, then serve it hot. As an alternative to this recipe, you can try Puran Poli.

Kayi Kadubu

It is a modak made using rice flour, coconut, jaggery, ghee, cardamom, and salt. Rice flour, ghee, and salt are added to boiling water. Cardamom, jaggery, and grated coconut are then well combined. Take it out in a bowl and knead a dough after the consistency is thick and the water has entirely evaporated. Make a tiny ball, and then stuff it with coconut and jaggery. You can fold it in any way you desire, like a dosa or a modak. Serve hot after steamed.

Murukku

Simple materials like rice flour, urad dal, sesame seeds, carom seeds, asafoetida, red chilli powder, and salt are used to make murukku, also known as chakli. Using a chakli maker makes making this salty snack simple. Combine everything and add water to form a smooth dough, place it in the chakli maker, and fry the murukkus in oil. Use tissue paper to absorb any extra oil before serving.

Rasam

Simple ingredients like tamarind, tomatoes, curry leaves, asafoetida, garlic, cumin seeds, and various Indian spices can make this sour and spicy recipe quickly and easily at home. Oil should be heated while the tamarind is soaking in water. Add the spices last after adding each ingredient one at a time. After thoroughly combining, add the tamarind water to complete the recipe. Steamed rice is recommended.

Kosambari

Moong dal that has been soaked, cucumber, coconut, red chillies, lemon juice, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and salt are used to make this salad. In a sizable mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients. Your kosambari is ready when the red chilli and mustard seed tempering are added to the salad.

Ambode

Ambode is a masala vada made in the Karnataka style and is made with soaked chana dal, rice flour, coriander leaves, onions, ginger, green chilies, salt, turmeric, and asafoetida. To begin, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and roll them into little balls. Serve them with green chutney after frying them in oil.

FAQS

1. How do you celebrate the Gowri Ganesha festival?

The Goddess’s image is on a plate containing a grain of rice or wheat. Around the idol is a mandapa, typically embellished with banana stems and mango leaves. Asthis pooja must be performed in accordance with the Vrata with “suchi” (cleanliness) and “shraddhe” (dedication).

2. What is the Gauri story?

Ma Parvati, the mother of Lord Ganesha, has taken the form of Gauri. Gauri, however, is said to be Ganesha’s sister in Maharashtra, where she visits him. The appearance of Ma Gauri in a person’s home, like that of her brother, denotes prosperity, good fortune, and health. Gauri sthapna has been completed with two Ma Gauri idols.

3. Which day Gauri comes?

Typically, two days after Ganesh Chaturthi officially begins, the idols of Gauri are delivered. Avahana is performed on the first day, the major Gauri Puja and Satyanarayan Puja are performed on the second day, and Gauri is submerged in water on the third day.

4. What is Gouri Pooja?

Traditionally, followers pray to the Goddess Parvati during the Maharashtrian wedding ritual known as Gauri Puja, also known as Gauri Pujan. This prayer is offered on the fourth or fifth day of Ganesh Chaturthi, one of the essential celebrations in Maharashtra, and is recognized as a holiday unto itself.

5. Why is Gauri Puja done in Ganpati?

Some people carry a picture of the Goddess Gauri on the actual Ganesh Chaturthi day. Most followers believe that during the time of Gauri Pujan, divine rays emerge from the Gauri image or idol, ending all sorrow. Additionally, Gauri Pujan bestows prosperity and well-being upon humanity.

6. Who in Hindu mythology is Gowri?

Sakti’s original name is Gowri, and it is widely acknowledged that her union with Siva was the first and oldest. Kailasa is the home of Siva and Sakti, who are never apart.

7. Why is Parvati known as Gauri?

When Parvati entered the Ganga River to take a bath, her dark skin thoroughly washed off her body. She emerged as a stunning golden woman wearing white clothing, earning her the nickname “Mahagauri.”

8. What is Gouri Pooja?

Traditionally, followers pray to the Goddess Parvati during the Maharashtrian wedding ritual known as Gauri Puja, also known as Gauri Pujan. This prayer is offered on the fourth or fifth day of Ganesh Chaturthi, one of the essential celebrations in Maharashtra, and is recognized as a holiday unto itself.