Sixteen special food items are prepared and offered to the Goddess as naivedya (sacred food offerings). These include sweet items like modak (Lord Ganesha’s favourite sweet) and kheer (sweet pudding). It is believed that the deity partakes in the essence of the food, which is then distributed to the devotees as prasad (blessed food).
A devotee in a state of trance during aarti (the ritual of waving the sacred fire in front of the deity). The aarti ceremony is a communal activity, often involving the entire neighbourhood, and performed by elder members of the family.
Goddess Gauri is associated with fertility, and the theme of abundance is recreated inside the house, with fruits and floral hangings tied with mango leaves, a symbol of fertility and prosperity.
Music forms an integral part of the rituals, from the arrival of the Goddess until the time of visarjan (immersion), when the idol is taken out to the sea.
Gauri Puja typically lasts for three days during the ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The first day marks the arrival and installation of the idol; the second day involves the main puja (prayers of devotional homage) and festivities; and the third day is for the visarjan (immersion) of the idol at sea.
Various offerings made by the family and by villagers are assembled in front of the Goddess. Some of these items, like bananas, rice grains, and coconuts, are offered for a bountiful harvest, while others, such as boxes of sweets, are given as tokens of thanksgiving for the fulfilment of a wish. Some of the offerings may be used to prepare the naivedya (sacred food offerings), which is distributed as prasad (blessed food) after the puja (prayers of devotional homage) ceremony is concluded.
Unlike Ganesh Chaturthi, which is publicly celebrated all over Mumbai on a grand scale, Gauri Puja is a modest household event, performed by families inside their homes. In coastal Maharashtra, Gauri is worshipped as a singular Goddess known as Jyeshtha Gauri (jyestha meaning the elder one or the senior). The Goddess is installed on a high platform.
The chakki (grinding stone) is used in various ceremonies to represent strength, stability, and the enduring nature of marriage. During the wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom may place their feet or stand on the grinding stone, symbolizing their firm commitment to the vows they are making.
After the conclusion of the haldi (turmeric) ceremony, the bride and groom are washed with water. Earlier in the day, women in the family collect water from a well in several pots. Before using it for this purpose, the water is consecrated through prayers and rituals.
The mama (maternal uncle) of the bride brings a mango tree cutting and ties it to the entrance. Mango leaves are regarded as symbols of purity, fertility and abundance. The presence of the mango tree is believed to bring blessings for a fruitful and prosperous married life for the newlyweds.