🌺 Gowri Puja (Gauri Habba / Gouri Puja)
Devoted Worship of Goddess Parvati for Marital Bliss, Prosperity & Well-being
🕊️ About Gowri Puja
Gowri Puja, also known as Swarna Gowri Vratha, is a significant Hindu ritual observed by married women and young girls, especially in South India—notably in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated to invoke the blessings of Goddess Gowri (Parvati), the divine consort of Lord Shiva.
🗓️ When is Gowri Puja Observed?
- Celebrated on the day of Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya (3rd day of waxing moon in August/September)
- It precedes Ganesh Chaturthi and is often observed one day before it
- Known as Hartalika Teej in North India
🛕 Significance of Gowri Puja
- Celebrates the arrival of Goddess Parvati to her maternal home
- Symbolizes feminine power (Shakti), marital fidelity, and strength
- Unmarried women pray for a good husband, while married women seek the long life and well-being of their spouses
- Enhances harmony in family, removes obstacles in relationships, and brings prosperity
🪔 Puja Items (Puja Samagri)
- Gowri idol (usually clay or silver)
- Turmeric, kumkum, flowers (especially jasmine), betel leaves & nuts
- Coconut, fruits, naivedyam (payasam, obbattu, vade, etc.)
- Blouse piece, bangles, mirror, comb (for offering to the goddess)
- Kalasha (pot), mango leaves, rice, turmeric root (gouri beru)
🕉️ Gowri Puja Procedure (Vidhi)
- Sankalpa (Resolution)
- Take a vow to perform the puja with devotion and recite the purpose (e.g., health of husband/family)
- Kalasha Sthapana
- Place a kalasha filled with water, mango leaves, and a coconut—symbolizing Goddess Gowri
- Decoration
- Decorate the Gowri idol with haldi, kumkum, flowers, and jewelry
- Shodashopachara Puja (16-step Worship)
- Offer water for bathing, new clothes, turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood paste, flowers, incense, diya, and naivedyam
- Offer Mangalsutra and Mirror
- Symbolizing marital devotion; women offer sacred threads or mangalsutra to the goddess
- Gowri Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 Names)
- Chant the 108 names of Gowri Devi to seek blessings
- Arati & Prayers
- Perform arati and recite slokas or Gowri Vratha Katha, a story narrating the legend of the puja
- Tie the Sacred Thread (Gowri Dharane)
- Women tie a yellow thread (charms or 16 knots) on their wrist or neck for divine protection
📖 Gowri Puja Katha (Legend)
According to mythology, Goddess Parvati undertook penance to win Lord Shiva as her husband. Her unwavering devotion and purity impressed Shiva, who agreed to marry her. The puja celebrates this divine union and the power of devotion and determination.
✨ Benefits of Gowri Puja
- Ensures marital bliss and family prosperity
- Brings peace, patience, and positivity
- Fulfills desires of unmarried girls for a worthy life partner
- Helps eliminate negative energy and promotes harmony
