Mangala Gauri Vrat (Shravan Tuesday)
मंगला गौरी व्रत (श्रावण मंगलवार)
The Mangala Gauri Vrat (मंगला गौरी व्रत) is kept on the Tuesdays of the holy month of Shravan in honour of Goddess Mangala Gauri — a form of Parvati (Gauri), the divine consort of Shiva. It is observed by newly married women for the long life and well-being of their husband and marital happiness, and by unmarried girls praying for a good spouse. Parvati herself won Shiva through penance, making Gauri the ideal deity for matters of marriage and devotion.
Fasting Rules & Vidhi
Keep the vrat on each Tuesday of Shravan; newly married women traditionally observe it for the first five years of marriage.
Bathe in the morning, wear clean festive clothes and (for married women) full shringar, and take a Sankalp.
Set up an idol or image of Mangala Gauri / Parvati with Shiva; offer 16 (solah) items — flowers, fruits, bangles, kumkum, mehndi, sixteen types of grains and sweets.
Keep a fast through the day — fruits and milk, or one meal without salt, as your tradition prescribes.
Read or listen to the Mangala Gauri Vrat Katha, recite the Gauri/Durga Chalisa, and chant "Om Gauryai Namah" or "Om Namah Shivaya" 108 times.
Perform the evening aarti and break the fast with the prasad. On completion (after the vow's years), do the Udyapan with a havan and by gifting the 16 items to a married woman or Brahmin.
Significance & Story
Gauri (Parvati) is the supreme example of devoted love: she undertook severe penance to win Lord Shiva as her husband, and so she is invoked for everything concerning marriage — a good spouse, marital harmony, progeny and the long life of one's partner. Observing her vrat through Shravan, the month most sacred to Shiva-Parvati, is held to bless the household with saubhagya (marital good fortune). The offering of sixteen items (solah shringar and sixteen of each article) reflects the completeness and auspiciousness that Gauri bestows.