The Gowri festival, which falls on the eve of the Chaturthi of Bhadrapada month, is a festival that gives good luck to everyone. This festival is celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The festival is celebrated in different states under different names and in North India, it is known as Hartalika.
As per Puranas, Goddess Gowri, mother of Lord Ganesha and Lord Subrahmanya comes from Kailasaa to Earth on thirteenth day Thadige of the month of Bhadrapada. The next day, her son Lord Ganesha comes as if to take her back to Kailasaa. The Swarna Gowri Vratha is performed on the occasion to appease the goddess.
What is Gowri Festival:
Gowri festival is especially the festival of women. The Gowri idol is brought home on the day before the festival and it is decorated with turmeric, kumkum, and flowers. They have to chant the mantras of the goddess and the goddess is then placed in a cup of a mound made of rice and grain.
The Ladies get 'gowridhara' (16 knotted sacred thread) to symbolize the blessings of Goddess Gowri. Then, as a deity's offering, the desi sweets are kept in the temple/Mandals and the idol is worshipped for one, three, nine, or eleven days and then dissolved in water.
What is Bagina given at this festival?
There is a tradition of giving Bagina on the Gowri festival. In this festival, which has a strong bond with the mother, the parents or cousins offer gifts to married or unmarried daughters. The Swarna Gowri festival is a special occasion to offer Bagina. They clean mora (winnow painted with turmeric) and apply turmeric, kumkum, and put grains, coconuts, mirrors, bangles, 5 fruits, blouse cloth piece, and placed in front of Gowri. Then it is given to married women who participated in the puja.
It is believed that if Shakti Devi Gowri is worshipped with devotion, she will fulfill the wishes and bring happiness and peace to the family.
