मंगळागौरी व्रत

मंगळागौरी, नववधूने सुखी संसारासाठी करावयाचे पार्वतीचे व्रत आहे.

लग्न झाल्यावर सासरी नववधू पहिल्या श्रावण महिन्यात प्रत्येक मंगळवारी हे मंगळागौरीचे व्रत भक्तिभावाने करते. हे पार्वतीचे व्रत आहे. या दिवशी घरासमोर रांगोळी काढतात, दाराला तोरण बांधतात. कुटुंबातील स्त्रिया, नातेवाईक मैत्रीणी एकत्र जमून देवीची पूजा करून, रात्रभर खेळ खेळतात, गाणी म्हणतात, स्वादिष्ट भोजन करतात. नववधू सुहासिनींना सौभाग्यालंकार वाटते. या समारंभामुळे नववधूला सासरकडील नवीन नातेवाईक, इतरजनांची ओळख होते. या पूजेत सासर माहेरकडील सर्व मंडळी नातेवाईक, स्त्रिया भाग घेतात.

MANGALAGAURI: A festival of newly married girl
During the first year after her marriage, every bride celebrates all the festivals in the calendar with great enthusiasm. Almost every festival sees her back with her parents to relive the joys of her childhood with her friends once again. Festive days are her chance to entertain her friends, get to know her new relatives and bring her own and her new husband's families together in an atmosphere of joy and celebration. Both her families pamper her with gifts of clothing and jewellery on the more important festivals.

Mangalagauri pooia, which is specially designed for every newly married bride is the worship of Mangalagauri, performed every Tuesday in the month of Shravan. Mangalagauri is a festive manifestation of Parvati. Women from the family get together with friends of all ages and spend the night playing games, dancing, singing and eating the feast made for the occasion. Saubhagyalankar, like bangles, kumkum and other adornments inseparable from such festivals, are distributed to all women. On every Tuesday of the first Shravan after her marriage, a bride worships her home by decorating its entrance with rangoli and flowers. It is a time of fun for every young girl. A woman's presence in a house is considered auspicious.