ADVERTISEMENTs
Bhartiya Temple hosts 18th Gangaur Festival in Pennsylvania
Gangaur, a major festival in Rajasthan, which honors Goddess Gauri and is celebrated for prosperity and marital well-being.
18th Annual Gangaur Festival / PARAM
Bhartiya Temple and Cultural Center hosted its 18th Annual Gangaur Festival in Montgomery Township, Pennsylvania on March 22.
The event held in association with the Philadelphia Rajasthani Mandal (PARAM), celebrated Rajasthan’s cultural heritage with traditional rituals, folk performances, and community participation.
Also Read: Philadelphia’s Rajasthani community celebrates Gangaur
Women celebrating the festival / PARAMSeveral officials attended the event, including Montgomery County commissioner Neil Makhija, Montgomery Township supervisor Tanya Bamford, Montgomery Township board of supervisors member Beth Staab, and Montgomery Township auditor Eric Pelletier.
Guests at the event / PARAM
Special guests included Prem Bhandari, founder of the Global Alliance of Rajasthani Community (GARC), chairperson of Jaipur Foot USA and president of the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA); Ravi Sharma, co-founder of GARC; and Vishal Mehta, co-founder of GARC from Tampa, Florida.
Performances at the event / PARAMThe highlight of the event was the Gaur-Isar Puja, a sacred ritual dedicated to Goddess Gauri and Lord Isar, that celebrates martial well-being. The festival also featured Kalbelia dance, a traditional Rajasthani folk performance, along with a folk song presentation accompanied by dhol.
Other performances included Ishar Gaur, a symbolic representation of the festival’s essence, and Kachhi Ghodi, a high-energy dance depicting Rajasthani storytelling and rhythmic beats.
Gaur-Isar Puja / PARAMDuring the festival, young advocates Diya Mundhra, Svar Kanungo, and Ansh Amit Vyas displayed posters showcasing Rajasthan’s culture, cuisine, and heritage while advocating for the inclusion of Rajasthani as an official language in the Indian Constitution. Prem Bhandari awarded them a monetary prize in recognition of their efforts.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login