MANGALAGAURI: A Special Festival For Brides
During the first year after her marriage, every bride celebrates all the festivals in the calendar with great enthusiasm. Almost every festival sees her back with her parents to relive the joys of her childhood with her friends once again. Festive days are her chance to entertain her friends, get to know her new relatives and bring her own and her new husband's families together in an atmosphere of joy and celebration. Both her families pamper her with gifts of clothing and jewellery on the more important festivals.

One celebration which is specially designed for her is the worship of Mangalagauri, performed every Tuesday in the month of Shravan. Mangalagauri is a festive manifestation of Parvati. Women from the family get together with friends of all ages and spend the night playing games, dancing, singing and eating the feast made for the occasion. Bangles, kumkum and other adornments inseparable from such festivals, are distributed to all women. On every Tuesday of the first Shravan after her marriage, a bride worships her home by decorating its entrance with rangoli and flowers. It is a time of fun for every young girl.