Gangaur, festival of women of Rajasthan

€750 per person

A colourful photo-tour during one of the most colourful and photogenic festivals of Rajasthan

Gangaur is one of the most famous festivals of Rajasthan. It is celebrated primarily by women in the spring of each year. The word ‘Gangaur’ is the combination of the names of Shiva and Parvati. ‘Gan’ is synonymous with the god Shiva and ‘Gaur’ represents the goddess Gauri or Parvati. This festival honours mainly Gauri, the wife of Shiva who symbolises marital happiness. Unmarried young women worship Gauri to find a suitable husband, while married women pray for a happy married life.

The festivities differ according to the regions of Rajasthan. We will focus on Udaipur, which offers the most photogenic show. Moreover, in this city of lakes, Gangaur coincides with the ‘Mewar festival’, which includes various cultural programs, showcasing the culture of Rajasthan.

We will especially attend the last day of the festival, which is the climax of Gangaur when women go in procession carrying the wooden effigies of Gangaur and Shiva on their heads. The other days will be spent visiting the city and its surroundings.

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Day 1

Arrival in Udaipur

Namaste. We welcome you warmly at Udaipur Airport and we drive you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we will wander on the ghats (shores of the lake) of Udaipur. Overnight in a heritage hotel on the shores of the Pichola Lake.

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Day 3

The 'bazars' of Udaipur

We will start the day on the shores of the Fateh Sagar Lake and then we'll visit typical villages around. After lunch, we will stroll through several bazars in the city. Udaipur, as in most Indian cities, is organised by business: Around the 'Clock Tower' there are the jewellers bearing the last name 'Soni', in a street further there are the boilermakers at work. The chourias (bangles) and saris streets are often very busy especially during the wedding season and offer a beautiful feast of colours. Overnight in a heritage hotel on the shores of the Pichola Lake.

Day 4

Procession of Women

This day is the culmination of the Gangaur festivities. The women and girls dressed in their best finery wander through the old city, carrying the wooden effigies of Shiva and Parvati to Lake Pichola. The statues are then placed on the shores of the Pichola lake at Gangaur Ghat where the women make offerings. Overnight in a heritage hotel on the shores of Lake Pichola.

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Jaisamand Lake and surroundings

We leave for Jaisamand, one of the largest lakes around Udaipur inhabited by several indigenous peoples. En route, we will make several stops to visit typical villages. In the evening, in Udaipur, we will attend the performances of the 'Mewar Festival', showcase of the Rajasthan culture.

Day 6

Departure

End of this journey. Looking forward to meeting you again. Namaste.