Gangaur Vrat Katha

Dadi: "Guddu, do you know why your mother fasts on certain days and prays for your father?"

Guddu: "She says it brings good luck to our family. But why, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Let me tell you the story behind the Gangaur festival. It started with Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva themselves."

Guddu: "Parvati and Shiva? What happened?"

Dadi: "One spring day, Parvati asked Lord Shiva for permission to go bathe at the river. He said yes, so off she went."

Guddu: "That sounds normal."

Dadi: "Yes, but after bathing, Parvati wanted to do something special. Right there on the riverbank, she made a little Shivalinga out of sand."

Guddu: "A Shivalinga made of sand?"

Dadi: "Just sand and love, beta. She didn't have flowers or fruits or sweets to offer. So she made everything from sand - the offerings, the decorations, everything. Even the prasad was just two tiny sand particles!"

Guddu: "But that's not a real offering..."

Dadi: "*smiles* Ah, but here's the lesson. Lord Shiva was so moved by her pure devotion that he appeared right there, inside that sand Shivalinga! It wasn't about the expensive gifts - it was about the love in her heart."

Guddu: "Wow! What did Shiva say?"

Dadi: "He gave her a beautiful boon. He said, "Any woman who worships on this day and keeps this fast shall have a long-lived husband, happiness in her home, and eventually, liberation for her soul.""

Guddu: "That's why women fast!"

Dadi: "But wait, the story gets more interesting. Parvati was gone for a long time. When she finally came home, Shiva asked, "Where were you?""

Guddu: "What did she say?"

Dadi: "She didn't want to tell him about her secret worship. So she made up a story - she said she had met her brothers and in-laws at the river, and they had insisted she stay and eat milk and rice with them."

Guddu: "She told a fib!"

Dadi: "A little white lie to keep her devotion private. But Lord Shiva is no ordinary husband, beta. He said, "Oh? Milk and rice? I'm hungry too! Let's go visit your family.""

Guddu: "Uh oh! There was no family there!"

Dadi: "Parvati was stuck. But she is a goddess after all! Using her divine powers, she created a magnificent palace right there by the river, filled with her relatives!"

Guddu: "Magic!"

Dadi: "Shiva arrived and was welcomed with great hospitality. They stayed for two whole days. When it was time to leave, Shiva suddenly said, "Oh dear, I forgot my garland at your family's house. Let me send someone to get it.""

Guddu: "Was he testing her?"

Dadi: "He sent the sage Narada to fetch it. When Narada reached the spot by the river, there was no palace at all - just wild forest with animals!"

Guddu: "The illusion had disappeared!"

Dadi: "Narada was shocked. Then lightning flashed, and he saw the garland hanging from a tree. He brought it back, very confused."

Guddu: "Did Shiva get angry that Parvati had tricked him?"

Dadi: "*shakes head* Not at all! He smiled and explained to Narada, "This is Parvati's divine power. She wanted to keep her worship secret from me, so she created this whole beautiful illusion.""

Guddu: "He wasn't upset?"

Dadi: "He was proud! And Narada declared something important: "Secret worship done with a pure heart is even more powerful than ordinary worship." He blessed all women who observe this fast with long lives for their husbands and happiness in their families."

Guddu: "Is that why it's called Gangaur?"

Dadi: "Yes! "Gan" means Shiva, and "Gaur" means Parvati. The festival celebrates their love. It's celebrated for sixteen days in Rajasthan and other places."

Guddu: "Married women fast for their husbands?"

Dadi: "Yes, and unmarried girls fast too, hoping to find a good husband someday. It's about love and devotion, beta - the same love Parvati showed when she worshipped a sand Shivalinga with nothing but her heart."

Guddu: "Dadi, I think the lesson is - it doesn't matter how expensive your gift is, right?"

Dadi: "*hugs him* Exactly, my smart boy. Parvati offered sand, and Shiva was more pleased than if she had offered mountains of gold. Because love cannot be measured in money."

Guddu: "I'll remember that. When I make something for Mommy, she always loves it even if it's not perfect."

Dadi: "Because she sees the love you put into it. Just like Shiva saw Parvati's love. Now, when Gangaur comes, you'll know the beautiful story behind it."

Guddu: "Thank you, Dadi. This was a sweet story."