Gangaur fast 2026: Every year the fast of Gangaur is observed on the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. This year this fast will be observed on 21st March. Gangaur is made up of two words Gan and Gaur. Gana means Lord Shiva and Gaur means Mother Parvati. This fast has been dedicated to Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. Married women observe Gangaur fast. Gangaur Vrat is mainly observed in North Indian states including Rajasthan and Haryana.
Hindu belief is that by observing the fast of Gangaur and worshiping Shiva and Parvati as per the rituals, the husband’s life is long and marital life remains happy. Unmarried girls also observe Gangaur fast. It is also believed that by observing this fast one gets the desired groom, but let us know what result did Mother Parvati get by observing the fast of Gangaur? Also let us know the story of this fast.
Parvati meets Shiva
According to mythological beliefs, Goddess Parvati had observed Gangaur fast. She had performed rigorous penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Along with penance, he also observed this fast. Since then the tradition of observing Gangaur fast has been going on. It is believed that as a result of Gangaur fast, Lord Mahadev got Goddess Parvati as her husband.
Story of Gangaur Vrat (Gangaur Vrat Katha)
According to the legend, once Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati went on a trip with Narada Muni. While walking, they reached a village on the day of Chaitra Shukla Tritiya. The poor women there worshiped Goddess Parvati with devotion. Mother Parvati was pleased with his devotion and worship and blessed him with eternal good fortune. After this, the rich women of the village brought dishes in gold and silver plates.
At that time, Mother Goddess was pleased with those women and sprinkled a few drops of her blood on them with her finger and blessed them to become as fortunate as herself. After this Parvati ji went to take bath in the river. There he made the idol of Lord Shiva from sand and worshiped it. Then Lord Shiva appeared and told Mother Parvati that the woman who worships me and fasts like you on this day, her husband will have a long life.
Mother Parvati got delayed in coming while performing puja. When she reached Lord Shiva, she asked the mother the reason for the delay. On this, Mother Parvati told that she found her brother and sister-in-law and gave them milk and rice to eat, which took time. Hearing this, Shiv ji also felt like going there. Then Parvati ji prayed to Lord Shiva in her mind to save her honour.
After this, when they reached the river bank, an illusive palace was seen there. Shiva and Parvati were greatly respected there. He stayed in the palace for three days. Shiv ji wanted to stay in the palace, but when Parvati ji left, he too had to follow his mother. On the way, Lord Shiva remembered that he had forgotten his garland in the palace. He sent Narad ji to bring the garland.
Narad ji went there and saw that there was no palace. There was just a garland hanging on the tree. Narad ji was surprised to see this. Then Narad ji went to Lord Shiva with the garland. After giving the garland, he said to Lord Shiva that Lord, what kind of illusion is this? When I went to get the garland, there was no building there. Shiva Parvati smiled at this and said that all this was the illusion of Goddess Parvati.
On this Goddess Parvati said that it was not mine but Bholenath’s illusion. After this Narad ji said that no one else except you can understand the illusion of both of you. The one who worships both of you with devotion, love will remain in his life like you.
Also read: Chaitra Navratri 2026: Shailputri is worshiped on the first day of Navratri, know who this mother is.
Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and general information. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.