I stay in Seattle, USA and this is my way of staying connected to my roots and in fact I enjoy, celebrating these festivals. It brings memories untold from your motherland.:) I am making a record of these, for people who wish to celebrate and stay connected with their roots.This festival is celebrated mostly in North Karnataka. In 2016 Ele Ashtami Gowri begins on Sept 9th and ends on Sept 10th.You need a shravana Lakshmi pot for this.
Observing Ele Ashtami Gowri festival
You make two 16 strands of thread, the length should go around your neck,
one 8 strand, and one 5 strand. And then depending on the number of people in your family, you make 16 strand for married women.
And then in a silver katora take some milk and add some turmeric and dip these strands in the katora, keep it inside the pot and cover it. And on top of the plate you do laxmi avahana, by offering haldi-kumkum, akshata and flowers.
Next day, After taking shower, take the strands and make as many knots in the strands as the number of strands, for eg, if you have the 16 strand thread, you need to make 16 knots,
so make sure you have taken enough length of thread, because after 16 knots the strand gets smaller.
While making the knots, keep adding the flowers and gejjevastra(cotton garland) in between.
Once you have done making the knots in all the strands, you need to tie it to each family member their respective strand and also tie it around your neck.
Enjoy!
Happy Worshiping!
Wow..nice to know people are there to do all this even today.my mother’s side they had this Pooja and I have heard about this from my mother.Keep writing.
Thanks Subha :), this is actually celebtrated widely in North Karnataka, well am from southern part of Karnataka, Bangalore.I came to know about this festival and started celebrating after wedding. All Credits to my mother-in-law!
Hi Rashmi. I was searching for this. My mom and I did this every year but she passed away last year. From then I was thinking it would be good if had some reference to make the gouridhara. Thanks a ton for this
Hi Namrata, glad to know it helped