Gangaur Gauri fast is observed from Chaitra Krishna Pratipada to Chaitra Shukla Dvitiya (the first Jay of the black fortnight to second day of bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month Chaitra). Married women as well as unmarried girls observe this fast. Married women observe it to enhance love of their husbands and the unmarried with the wish of handsome husbands. Sixteen Gauri idols are prepared from the Holi ash mixed with cow dung and are worshipped with flowers, rice and grass. ·women sing songs in praise of Gauri and pray for her blessings. The idols are immersed in a river or water tank near by after the completion of the fast in the evening of last fast day (second day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month Chaitra.)
Story 1
A Mali (gardener) planted grass for his King’s horses. In spite of his best efforts the grass did not grow well. He was very much worried. One day he saw some young girls were uprooting the grass from his field. Annoyed Mali (gardener) snatched their Chunnies (mantles). The girls cleared that they were not uprooting the grass to graze their animals, but for a holy cause of worshipping Gangaur, the Goddess Gauri. The Mali (gardener) allowed them to pluck the grass after their pro1nisc of good offerings ·in the form of 1ood on the last Pooja (worship) day. On the last Pooja (worship) day, the girls brought plentiful offerings for Mali’s family. The Mali’s wife kept them in the other room. The Mali’s wife tried to open the room. It did not open. She thought that the Goddess Gauri might be displeased with them. She turned her mind toward Goddess Gauri and sprinkled Gangajal (water of Ganges) on the closed door. To her surprise the door fell open and was full of costly ornaments of diamonds an pearls. The old Mali also joined her. He knelt down before the costly items and treated them as Godly gift from the Goddess Gangaur (Gauri). Since then, women observe Gangaur fast and on the last day offer food to a Mali (Gardner).
Story 2
Once Lord Shiv visited earth planet along with Parvati and Nandi during the holy occasion of Gangaur worship days. When they entered a village, the women came to know about the presence of their favourite deity, Goddess Parvati.
The women from the poor families rushed to Goddess Parvati to seek her blessings. Parvati was pleased with -their devotion. She sprinkled Sindoor (vermilion) on them for the welfare of their husbands. The women from the rich families took a lot of time in dressing up and preparing best dishes for Parvati. Bhagwan (Lord) Shiv smiled and asked Parvati that she· had bestowed all the blessings on the women from poor families. What would she do for those who would offer best dishes to her? Paravati said that she would cut her finger and sprinkle blood upon them as her blessings. Women from rich families visited Paravati. She sprinkled blood on them from her Kanisthika (little finger). They bowed before her and went back happily.
Paravati went to take bath in a river. After taking the bath, she started to perform a secret for the welfare of Shiv. As a result of her devotion, a Shivling (emblem of Shiv) sprouted on the earth· Paravati worshipped the Shivling. She returned very late to Bhagwan (Lord) Shiv. Shiv asked Parvati “Where had she been?” and why she came so late? Parvati did not want to reveal her secret worship for the welfare because as per her believe i f the secret was revealed, it would lose its efficiency. So, she said that she met her brother sisters and enjoyed herself by having a good time with them. Bhagwan Shiv smiled and expressed his desire to enjoy the hospitality of her brothers and sisters. Paravati created a beautiful palace on the riverside. She took Shiv along with Narada to the Palace. Shiv stayed there for two days. On the third day, they returned. On the way back Shjva said that he had forgotten his Mala (rosary) in the palace and asked Parvati to go back to bring it. Paravati knew that the palace had disappeared. She suggested Bhagwan Shiv to arrange another rosary. Narada proposed that he would bring the rosary and asked them to wait there only. After reaching the riverbank Narada found no Palace there. Narada saw a rosary hanging on a _tree branch. He took the rosary and retuned. He told Bhagwan Shiv about the disappearance of the palace. Shiv told him why Paravati created the illusive palace. Paravati did want to reveal her Bhakti (devotion). Actually, luva sent Narada to show Parvati’s unchallengable power acquired by her devotion to him. She was really a devoted, faithful, and virtuous wife.
Bhagwan (Lord) Shiv said that the ladies who would observe the fast in the name of Paravati on this day would never meet widowhood. They would enjoy long and happy married life. Since then, women observe this fast in reverence of Goddess Parvati for the well being of there husbands.
Aum Namah Shivaye
Source: Book: Hindu Festivals By Shashi Kant Kaushik