Gauri Puja
festivalsAlso known as: Gauri 3, Gauri Tritiya
Quick Overview
- Date in 2026
- Saturday, March 21, 2026
- Tithi
- Chaitra Shukla Tritiya (Purnimanta)
- Tithi begins / ends
- 02:31 AM, Mar 21 to 11:57 PM, Mar 21
- Lunar month
- Chaitra · Shukla Paksha
- Also on this tithi
- Gangaur
Gauri Puja
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Lunar Month: Chaitra
Gauri Puja at a Glance
Gauri Puja is fixed by the lunar calendar to Chaitra Shukla Tritiya, the 3rd tithi of the waxing (Shukla) fortnight of Chaitra.
- Tithi rule
- Chaitra Shukla Tritiya (Purnimanta)Shukla TritiyaChaitra month
- Tithi swami and group
- Gauri · Jaya Tithi
- Also on this tithi
- Gangaur
Panchanga on This Day
Gauri Puja · Mar 21, 2026
About Gauri Puja
Gauri Puja, also called Gauri Tritiya, is observed on the Shukla Paksha Tritiya of the Chaitra month. It is dedicated to Goddess Gauri, the gentle and benevolent form of Parvati, and is celebrated with particular enthusiasm by women and young girls in southern, western, and central India.
Unmarried women perform the rituals to pray for an ideal husband and a harmonious married life, while married women seek the health and prosperity of their spouses. The festival is closely associated with sowing barley or wheat seeds in small baskets, which sprout over the following days as a symbol of fertility and new beginnings.
The idols of Gauri are adorned with jewellery and clothing, and the home is filled with the scent of incense and fresh flowers. The atmosphere is one of joy, sisterhood, and devotion to the divine feminine.
Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules
Gauri Puja is observed by sowing ceremonial seeds, fasting, and worshipping Goddess Gauri with flowers and sacred chants.
- Prepare small baskets or pots filled with soil and sow barley or wheat seeds a few days in advance; water them daily so they sprout by the festival.
- Bathe, wear clean clothes, and set up an altar with a Gauri idol or image decorated with turmeric, kumkum, and flowers.
- Observe a fast from grains until the evening puja; eat fruits, milk, or satvik food if needed.
- Offer red hibiscus or jasmine flowers, incense, a lamp, and sweetened rice to Goddess Gauri.
- Recite the Gauri Katha, Lalita Sahasranama, or Parvati Stotram with family members.
- On the concluding day, perform a farewell puja and, in some traditions, immerse the Gauri idol in water.
Vrat Katha: Parvati's Penance to Win Shiva
Goddess Parvati desired to marry Lord Shiva, but the great ascetic was deep in meditation and unaware of Her love.
Undeterred, Parvati performed severe penance in the Himalayas. She ate only leaves, then gave up even those, enduring heat, cold, and rain while chanting Shiva's name.
Her devotion was so profound that even the gods were moved. Lord Shiva eventually appeared before Her and accepted Her as His consort. In Her grace and beauty, Parvati came to be worshipped as Gauri.
Gauri Puja commemorates Her determination and the blessings She bestows upon women seeking a virtuous spouse and a blessed household.
Gauri Puja: Frequently Asked Questions
Chaitra Shukla Tritiya; its swami is Gauri, a Jaya Tithi.
Shukla Tritiya: 02:31 AM, Sat, Mar 21, 2026 to 11:57 PM, Sat, Mar 21, 2026 (IST).
Gangaur, also on Chaitra Shukla Tritiya.
The sprouting grains symbolise fertility, prosperity, and the renewal of life, reflecting the goddess's nurturing energy.
No, unmarried girls also observe it to pray for a good husband, while married women pray for their spouse's well-being.
Festivals in the Same Lunar Month
Chaitra
Note: times are shown with their date; a Panchang day runs from sunrise to sunrise.
Recommended Pages
Comprehensive annual Hindu calendar with tithis and festivals.
Detailed month-wise view of lunar tithis and celestial events.
Marathi Panchang and festive dates for the year.
Gujarati Vikram Samvat calendar and festivals.
Telugu calendar and festive Panchangam details.
Tamil solar calendar dates and monthly Panchangam.