Kedara Gowri or Deepavali Nomulu Festival

Kedareshwara or Kedara Gowri is celebrated all over India. This is one of the performed by devotees of Shiva irrespective of their caste, creed or social status. There is a legend behind the Kedara. Once, a spiritual follower of Lord Shiva, Pramatha Gana performed his pradakshina, excluding Goddess Parvathi. This infuriated Goddess Parvathi and then Lord Shiva explained that since she had no powers she was not included in the pradakshina. Displeased by the explanation, Goddess Parvathi approached sage Gauthama and asked for a means to become a part of Lord Shiva’s body. He then asked her to observe this Kedara . Goddess Parvathi then observed the with full devotion. Lord Shiva granted his left part. This form of Shiva was since then worshipped as ‘Ardhanaareeshwara’. Since then this came to be known as Kedara Gowri . Kedara Gowri Vratha is celebrated on Ashweeja amavasya. This Vratha is performed by a married couple.

Kedara Gowri Vratha is celebrated on Ashweeja amavasya. This Vratha is performed by a married couple.

Kedara Gowri Vratha

A silver Kalasha is decorated with turmeric and kunkum. The vessel filled with water has kunkum, turmeric, akshathe coin added to it. The inner rim of Kalasha is decorated with betel leaves. A coconut is smeared with turmeric and kunkum on the mouth of the pot. Rangoli is drawn before placing the Kalasha on a plate or tray which has uncooked rice spread on it. The goddess ’arishinadagauri’ is mounted in a plate decorated with flowers, and couple get their ‘Kedaragauridaara’ (a sacred thread with 21 knots). Tie the thread after pooja and female should put it to neck with the help of her husband and male need to tie it to right hand with the help of their wife. As is customary, we first worship the Ganesha idol before strat of any other pooja. For kedara Gowri, we start with kedara Gowri ashtotthara, offer 21 layered gejje vastra to god , do the ‘Mangalrathri’ and take the blessings of kedara Gowri.In this festival all things they offer should be in the count of 21. The fruits they offer are 5 types of fruits,21 beetle leaves, 21 beetle nuts should be kept during pooja

Kedara Gowri Food Menu Items

Kedara Gowri Food Menu Items - The food to be offered to god during pooja are kajjayya(21 deep fried in ghee), Chitra anna ,kosmbri ,palya and later it can be served as prasadam to family members.

Kedara Gowri Visarjane

Kedara Gowri Visarjane - The next day need to tell visarjane manthra and then take the kalsha believing that god is no more in that kalsha. After taking that prepare some sweet in that coconut used for Kalsha.