Gauri Vrat 2024: Date, Puja Vidhi and Significance

Gauri vrat 2024: Girls performing Gauri Vrat rituals for blessings and a good husband. [Image: Canva]

Gauri Vrat is a significant fasting period dedicated to Goddess Parvati, predominantly observed in Gujarat. This year, Gauri Vrat will commence on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, and end on Sunday, July 21, 2024.

Gauri Vrat spans five days in the month of Ashadha, starting on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi and concluding on the full moon day, Purnima, which coincides with Guru Purnima. This auspicious observance is primarily undertaken by unmarried girls who seek blessings for a good husband.

Gauri Vrat 2024 Date

The rituals associated with Gauri Vrat are deeply symbolic and spiritually enriching. Here’s a detailed look at the practices followed during these five days:

1. Day 1 - Ekadashi: The first day begins with a purification bath, followed by the installation of a clay idol of Goddess Gauri, a manifestation of Parvati. Devotees decorate the idol with flowers, turmeric, and vermilion. A sacred lamp is lit, and prayers are offered.
2. Daily Fasting and Puja: Each day, the girls observing the fast refrain from consuming grains and opt for a simple diet, typically fruits and milk. They perform Gauri Puja twice a day, morning and evening, chanting mantras and hymns dedicated to the goddess.
3. Katha or Storytelling: Listening to the stories of Goddess Parvati's devotion and her union with Lord Shiva is an integral part of the vrat. These stories are narrated by elders or priests, imparting valuable lessons on devotion and patience.
4. Community Participation: Unmarried girls often come together in groups to perform the rituals, enhancing the sense of community and shared spirituality. They sing devotional songs and participate in group prayers.
5. Day 5 - Purnima: On the final day, which is also Guru Purnima, special prayers are offered. The fast is concluded with an elaborate puja, where the idol of Goddess Gauri is immersed in a water body, signifying the end of the vrat. Devotees seek blessings from elders and partake in a community feast.

Gauri Vrat holds immense significance in the lives of young girls. By observing this vrat, they invoke the blessings of Goddess Parvati, who epitomizes marital bliss and devotion. The vrat is believed to ensure that the girls find a suitable and loving husband, much like Parvati's unwavering devotion led to her union with Lord Shiva.

Apart from the primary objective of seeking a good spouse, Gauri Vrat instills discipline, patience, and devotion in the young practitioners. It is a period of introspection, spiritual growth, and communal harmony, as girls come together to perform the rituals and share their faith.