Jyeshta Gauri Puja Procedure | How to perform Jyeshta Gowri Pujan
Jyeshta Gauri Pujan, one of the popular vratas observed in Bhadrapada month in Maharashtra as per Marathi calendar. It is observed during Jyeshta nakshatra hence known as Jyeshta Gauri vrata. This three-day puja usually starts on the sixth day of Bhadrapad month and ends on the eighth day of the month.
Married women perform Haldi-kumkum celebrations and distribute several types of offerings among them. The procedure of puja may differ from caste to caste and region to region.
Generally, Goddess Gauri is offered special prayers and after the puja the idol is immersed in water. This vratha is also known as Shodash Uma Vrat as the number ‘16’ has special significance in this puja. Gauri is referred to as Mahalakshmi in some households of Marathi regions. Devotees bring Jyeshta Gauri to their homes in pairs such as Jyeshtha – Kanishtha, Sakhi – Parvati etc. Devotees place the Goddess in various forms like pebbles, masks, decorations, haldi, or clay idols.
Terda plants are used to place the mask of Gauri upon it. Pebbles (5 or 7) are also used to symbolize the Goddess. 16 types of special recipes, and Aarti with 16 lamps are offered to Gauri Mata. Jyeshta Gauri Vrat katha is associated with the demolition of a demon in the hands of the Goddess. The story is recited during the puja. On the third day, Jyeshta Gauri idol is immersed in water bodies.
The first day of the puja is known as Jyeshta Gauri Avahan or Sthapana (15 September 2018), the second day as Jyeshta Gowri pujan (16 September 2018), and the third day is referred to as Jyeshta Gouri Udwasan or Visarjan (17 September 2018).
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Jyeshtha Gauri Pujan - 2
Jyestha Gauri Puja is one of the most popular vrats observed in bhadrapada month in Maharashtra as per Marathi calendar. It is known as jyestha nakshatra; hence know as jyeshtha gauri vrata.Jyeshtha gauri puja is a three day vrata puja performed by married women, Special decorations are done and married women invite their relatives and neighbours’ to participate. In the puja haldi kumkum ceremony is an important event on that day. After haldi kum kum, they distribute several types of offering among themselves
In 2015, Gauri Avahan in on September 19, Gowri Puja is on September 20 and Gouri Visarjan is on September 21, 2015. Goddess Gauri or Gowri is another name for Goddess Parvati, the mother of Ganesha. But in Gauri Puja during Vinayaka Chaturthi in certain parts of Maharashtra, especially in Pune, Goddess Gauri is the sister of Ganapati. Arrival of Goddess Gauri in homes is said to bring health,
Legend has it those two sisters follow ganesha to the homes. Gauri puja is also considered as upasana of goddess lakshmi, in some regions.
In most households, they do not immerse idols in the water as they use re-usable murtis.
They do very nice shringar on those gauri idols with real gold jewelry.
It is said that, jyeshtha gauri who comes in search of lord ganesha is believed to bring auspiciousness and prosperity. Jyeshtha gauri puja avahan involves bringing of two idols of ganesha and a special puja is performed on that day, to welcome gauri and the puja is supposed to be held on the next day.It is believed that goddess gauri is another name of goddess parvati, the mother of ganesha.
Some households also call it as Mahalaxmi. Godess gauri is worshiped and offered food consisting of sixteen types of vegetable dishes, sweets, rice preparations and fruits. Jyestha Gauri are brought into the house in pairs: Jyeshtha and Kanishtha,
The idols of Gauri are brought usually two days after the beginning of Ganesh Chaturthi. It is placed for three days – first day is the avahana, next day it is Satyanarayan puja and on the third day Gauri is immersed in water.
This puja is performed as per the tradition of a particular family, hence there are different ways to perform the rituals.
Gauri Avhan Welcoming of Gauri:
Two married women bring these two gauris home, one enter from the forntide of the house and the other one enters from the back side, they draw the footprints of the gauri with rangoli and when they bring the idol , they put the idol on each footstep drawing and offer haldi-kumkum and akshata and chant welcome mantras as you would do for a special guest.
Gauri Pujan:
The next day is gauri pujan , they do this puja alongwith Ganesh puja. There is a tradition to prepare 16 vegetables, swwets, puran-poli as grand meal to offer Gauri. They invite married women for haldi-kumkum in the evening.
Visarjan :
If they brought the clay idol they supposed to immerse in water, and if they are doing puja on reusable idols, they just ofeer Dahi – bhat [ yogurt –rice] naivedya to conclude this puja and take down the idols.
Legend has it that the two sisters follow Ganesha to the homes.They bring prosperity and good fortune to the household. The popular belief is that Goddess Gauri / Mahalaxmi visit and resides in homes during the period. Therefore the houses are kept clean and new decorations are added to welcome the Goddess. I enjoyed doing lavsh shringar with real jewelry on the idols.
Special food is also prepared during the period.
There is a traditon to offer 16 dish meal that includes puran poli on the pujan day .
Gauri Puja is also considered as Upasana of Goddess Lakshmi in some regions.
