Rajasthan
Wood, polychromed
A graceful polychromed figured exuding feminine beauty. Such polychromed wooden figures of the goddess Gauri are venerated along with her consort Shiva during the Gangaur spring and harvest festival.
The term “Gangaur” is comprised of “Gan” and “Gaur” where the prior refers to Shiva and the latter to Gauri. The Gangaur festival marks the worship and propitiation of Gauri by the womenfolk, in various parts of Central and Western India, majorly Rajasthan. The womenfolk celebrate the festival of Gangaur with great zeal and devotion, praying to Goddess Parvati/Gauri to bless them with a bountiful spring that’s full of harvest, and also marital harmony. During the festival clay idols of Shiva-Gauri perfected by the local craftsmen are decorated and worshipped. Certain families worship traditional wooden figurines of the divine couple, which are repainted every year by Matheran (local painters) before the festival commences. These figures are then placed within baskets along with wheat grass and flowers; wheat plays an important role in the rituals as it signifies harvest.
Size (inches): 25(H) x 9.5(W) x 10(D)
Size (cms): 64(H) x 24(W) x 25(D)
