Kolhapur: People gear up to welcome Gauri in an all-women affair at homes

KOLHAPUR: The fourth day of Ganesh festival will mark the arrival of Gauri in the homes, adding to the festive mood around the city.
Women thronged markets on Wednesday looking for the perfect idols, jewellery and sarees to adorn the idol. The twin Gauri idols will be installed on Thursday and will be immersed on Saturday.
Vaishnavi Shinde, resident of Mangalwar Peth said, the ceremony is an all-women affair.“We carry the mukhota (mask) into the homes by singing traditional songs. After their arrival, the Gauris are offered prasad of bhaji-bhakari. We stay awake all night to sign songs, play traditional games to entertain the Gauris, who are guests for two days,” she said.
The masks are designed intricately and convey the happiness of Gauris coming home. The idols are decorated with jewellery and the famous Kolhapur Saaz, a necklace that is unique to the city. The women spend hours in the markets finding right garments and jewellery for the idols.
Many decorate the idols in a traditional attire, while some think out of the box. For instance, a family from Mangalwar Peth had decorated the idols as riding a bike some years back.
“The first day is known as Gauri avahan or the day of arrival. On this day, simple homely food is offered. The next day, there is an elaborate pooja and feast for Gauri. The women also engage in haldi, kum-kum offerings to each other on this day. On the third day, we bid farewell to Gauris,” said Shinde.
The evening games are called ‘mangala-gauri’ which are popular in this region played by women clad in traditional nine-yard sarees. They play games and sing songs in celebration.