Every ritual in Andhra Pradesh weddings has a story behind it. For example, the Gauri Pooja is said to be related to the birth of Ganesha. According to the myths, the Goddess Gauri was once bathing and using turmeric paste on herself. Longing for a child, she made a statue of a boy from the turmeric paste and brought it to life. She named her newborn baby Ganesh, and kept him under her protection.

While she bathed, Gauri instructed Ganesha to keep watch. In the meantime, Lord Shiva arrived and demanded to see his wife. The little boy, diligent as ever, refused to let him in. Shiva got angry and in his rage, cut off the boy’s head, not knowing his true identity. When Gauri found out, she pleaded with her husband to revive her son. Shiva did so by attaching an elephant’s head to the boy’s body and blessing him. This story is celebrated during Gauri Pooja.

There are several other stories about Gauri Pooja as well. According to Hindu scriptures, Sita performed Gauri Pooja to seek the blessings of the goddess so she could marry Lord Ram. This gave rise to the tradition that Gauri Pooja helps ensure a harmonious marriage. Women pray to the goddess so that she may protect their husbands from danger and guard their families from harm. 

Gauri Pooja is also believed to cleanse devotees of their sins and harmful deeds. When praying to the goddess, people ask for peace, prosperity, and lasting relationships. In all, Gauri is a symbol of family well-being, making her an important figure in wedding rituals.

During Gauri Pooja, men usually wear traditional kurtas with dhotis or lungis. Owing to the weather in South India, the dhotis and lungis are often made of cotton or silk in neutral colours of white and beige. Men can also wear shirts instead of a kurta. They can complete their looks with sandals or chappals. For a more traditional look, they can wear a pair of juttis or mojdis.

The brides and married women wear traditional silk sarees. They can choose from a variety of classic weaves, such as Pochampally Ikkat sarees, Venkatagiri sarees, and Kalamkari sarees.  Girls and young women wear Langa Voni – a silk skirt and blouse, complete with a diagonally draped dupatta.