Mangala Gowri Vratham

Dear Swarnalakshmi,

This Vrath is called Mangala Gour in Maharashtra & Mangala Gowri Vratha in Karnataka. It is the worship of Devi Parvatiji.

The day to be done is Tuesday hence the name Mangala Gour. The month is Shravan Maas. You need to start right from the first Tuesday of Shravan.

It is a very powerful vrath which is done by newly married & some married ladies . Normally newly married ladies do it for 5 years. At the end, they give a gift to their mothers. Other married ladies just do it once a week every Shravan. In case, you miss a tuesday, do it on the friday .

It is very beautiful & the unique aspect in this vrath is getting the Kaajal on the steel spatula while reading/listening the story. The blouse pieces used in the Alankar is to be folded in a triangle shape representing planet venus.

I can see you are in India. I am sure you will get a cassette/panditji who can guide you. Or the best person would be Chithraji.

The Procedure depends on your family's traditions. Hence please speak to the elders in the family too.

I did this vrath for 5 years & used a cassette. I got the cassette from Giri Traders in Matunga in Mumbai.

It is a good oppurtunity as we women got together in the evenings for some fun & games. Lunch is unique on this day. You sit down to lunch with your friends/relatives/invitees & the meal is eaten in complete silence.

Hope I have been of help.

Regards,

Corallux

 

Dear Swarna,
Corallux has given you a beautiful synopsis about Mangala Gowri Vrath already.My inlaws family does the mangala gowri pooja.This is going to be my 3rd year.As corallux has told, its perfomed on Tuesday on Shravana maasam.It will be somewhere in august.Will take a look at the almanac and let you know the exact date tomm.

In Our family,this is what we do:-

We make 5 Gowri's (3 days before the pooja day) out of wheat flour by mixing milk in right quantity along with haldi.( you have to make like Ganesha - cone shaped). The gowri's thus made will be dried in air(just place it in pooja room).No need to dry it in sun.Its enough if you make the Gowri's once for all the 5 weeks(tuesdays) pooja.You have to use the same gowri's for all the pooja.

On Pooja Day:-

Do a kolam (Rangola) and place the Gowri's on a metal plate(if possible silverplate).I have a mantap, so i keep them in a small silver plate and place them in the mantap.You will need 3 blouse bits for this pooja. 2 blouse bits will be folded in triangular shape and one laid in the mantap to place the gowri's.Behind the Gowri's place a bigger mirror.If you can, decorate the mantaps using flowers(optional).
On both sides of the mantap, place a set of comb,mirror, haldi,kumkum,betelleaves and bettel nuts.If possible you can place karumani too or they call it as "kadolai -karumani" in tamil.

The Pooja:-

In our house we are supposed to were a yellow coloured saree(family tradition).The pooja is performed with offering haldi/kumkum/chandan to all the 5 gowri's offering flowers etc.We chant the slokas/songs (sample of song likeooja madonna bannerae gowramma) for mangala gowri vrath(available in net and in form of books/CD's).We then perform a event called "Mai kootudhal" (in tamil) .Mai is kajal.

Nievedhiyam:-
In our house, we normally prepare a payasam( dhal+rice payasam) and rice+dhal along with fruits/dry fruits.It varies in every house.

Mangala gowri pooja story:-
The very important aspect of the entire pooja is to read this story at the end of the pooja.The story emphasizes the importance of performing the Gowri pooja.While reading the story the event of mai koothudhal is done.The procedure is rub a ladle with betel leaves.Then hold it on the flame of the lamp.The flame will leave a black patch(kajal like) on the ladle.It is then applied to the Gowri's and we are supposed to sport the kajal.

You can invite any sumangali and give them this kajal first and offer betel leaves etc.If possible you can also feed them.

This pooja is performed for first 5 years of marriage and then a gifitng to mother( Muravayanam - in tamil) is given to the girl's mother.

Swarna, i will attach photos of my last years pooja, tomm. so that you can get a glimpse of what i have explained.If any thing left out i will include it too.

Hope this has been of some help to you.

 

The cassette tells you everything Swarnalakshmi.

Aishu has given her family procedure in a very precise mannerBow. In my family, we make 1 cone of Maa & 1 cone for Ganeshji. It is made outof Haldi (tumuric) powder.

It is good for you & your family. Gives a lot of positive vibes when done properly

Regards,

Corallux

 

Dear Swarna&Lakshmi(Corallux),
I have attached the foto's of my Mangala Gowri Vratham performed last year.Hope this gives you an idea.

 

Beaut photos Aishu22,

I do not hve any from my Vrath....

Too bad this too is now becoming commercialised in the name od modernisation...

Regards,

Corallux

 

Dear Aishu22 and Corallux,

I read your posts and found them very informative.

As I am also following it every year, I wanted to know at the end of the 5th year what are things that has to be given to the mother as gifts as part of this tradition.

I would really appreciate if you can give me some pointers on this !

Thanks !

 

Dear Lakshmi,
Thanks.. Did u mean 'Too bad this too is now becoming commercialised in the name od modernisation" - for me posting fotos ?? I just gave them here for the benefit of swarna. Also, when i did this pooja , my DH was out of town and cudnt see it.. that y i took these 3 fotos.
Please clarify your point here dear...im Witsend

 

Dear Starshine,
Please bear with me for a day or two. I will talk to my grandma -in law and will let you know about it correctly.She's the one who guides me on this.