Mangalore: Swarna Gauri Habba or Swarna Gowri Vrata is an observance performed on the day before Ganesh Chaturthi and falls on September 10 this year. As it suggests, Swarna Gauri Habba is dedicated to Goddess Gauri, the wife of Lord Shiva.
Swarna Gouri Vratha falls on the third day in Bhadrapada masam or on Bhadrapad Shukla Tadige. Women observe Swarna Gouri vrata for wellness of their husbands and their families.
On this day, Gouri is worshiped throughout India for her ability to bestow upon her devotees courage & power.
On this day, married women, after bath, wear new grand clothes. Then they do the ‘sthapana’ of gauri. These days beautifully painted and decorated clay idols of Goddess Gowri can be bought at the local market. The goddess’ idol is mounted in a plate, with a cereal (rice or wheat) in it. Asthis puje is to be performed with ‘suchi’ (cleanliness) and ‘shraddhe’ (dedication), the ladies go to temples or to another person’s house, where the puja is performed according to set procedures or do the puje in their own homes. The most interesting part of the festival is probably offering the bagina. At least 5 baginas are prepared as part of the vratha. Each baagina usually contains a packet of arshina (turmeric), kumkuma, black bangles, black beads (used in the mangalsutra), a comb, a small mirror, coconut, blouse piece and sugarcane pieces. Every married woman in Mangalore and other city follow this system every year without fail.