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And that’s a pity.
There’s no doubt that the elephant-faced, pot-bellied deity, widely considered to be an embodiment of prosperity and good luck is revered by many, however, no discourse about Lord Ganesha can be complete without at least an honourable mention of his mother Gowri aka Gauri, or Parvati.
With Ganesh Chaturthi just around the corner, let’s delve into the festival that celebrates his mother - Gowri Habba.
What Is Gowri Habba?
As the name indicates, the festival is observed in honour of Gowri or Goddess Parvati. On this day female devotees observe fasts and offer prayers for a happy conjugal life. Unmarried women also pray for a good life partner. The festival is mostly celebrated in Southern states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The festival is also known as Hartalika in North Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan Chattisgarh etc.
In Hinduism, Gowri is also regarded as an incarnation of Aadhi shakti Mahamaya - the embodiment of female power.
Vani Kola, the MD of Kalaari Capital took to LinkedIn to reminisce about her childhood memories associated with this festival. She recalled how her mother would create an idol of the goddess from scratch, using red mud and turmeric, while she was entrusted with the responsibility of sieving the mud to a fine powder.
She also shared that earlier the woman’s relatives would send money to buy mangaladravya (items for worship).
She revealed that her tatha (her mother’s uncle) would continue the tradition of sending money every Gowri Habba. “Some of you may not even know what it is, in the era of digital instant payments. But every festival, I could be reassured, he would send me a money order. Some things don’t change. For a 93-year-old, to diligently continue this tradition with his small retired income - priceless,” wrote Kola.
Sharing the money order with her followers (amounting to Rs 1,000), she wrote, “This makes my heart joyful beyond any expensive gifts. A gift's intrinsic value comes from the intent and effort of the giver.”
The post went viral on the job posting portal, gaining more than 549 likes. One LinkedIn user wrote, “Such a beautiful tradition and story Vani Kola! I am in Mumbai this week and feeling all the energy of a beautiful festival well celebrated - it’s so awesome to be back in India and witness all of this live!”
Timings:
This year, Gowri Habba was celebrated on September 18 (Monday). Rituals Of Gowri Habba
The rituals are led by the married women. Dressed in new clothes, they perform a ‘sthapana’ or the installation of jalagauri or the arishinadagauri (the idol). The idol is placed on a plate, and rice is strewn all around it. A makeshift mandapa, crafted from mango leaves and banana stems is built and the idol is housed inside it. The idol is then inundated with garlands. The women tie a gauridaara (a sacred thread with 16 knots) tied to their right wrists. Each of the knots is worshipped during the ceremony.
Special offerings or baagina are prepared. Baagina contains the following ingredients: Turmeric, bangles, black beads (used in mangalsutra), kumkum/sindoor, mirror, comb, coconut, some rice, blouse piece, jaggery, and some daal/pulses. One baagina is offered to the goddess while the rest are distributed among the married women.
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