Gowri / Vaina Pooja.

Wishing all my friends a very happy and pious "Gowri Pooja/Habba" 

** Gowri Pooja / Habba / Vaina Pooja as in Konkani, is also known as Hartalika / Teej elsewhere is celebrated a day before Ganesh Chaturthi. We, Konkani Saraswats celebrate it as "Vaina Pooja" where in a coconut is prepared as a face of Goddess and worshiped with certain rituals by those families wherein it is handed on through generations only. Goddess Gowri (Parvati) Lord Shiva's ardhangini (wife/better half), Mother of Lord Ganesha and Lord Subramanya is worshipped on this day for her ability to present a sweetheart’s control, strength, valour. She is the most extreme of all the Goddess and is the very incarnation of Aadhi Shakthi Mahamaya. 

** This auspicious festival is celebrated with a lot of devotion and Lord Ganesha is welcomed home the next day that is on Chaturthi. Vaina Pooja also known as Hartalika Vrat / Gowri Habba in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu is a significant festival to get the blessing of Goddess Gowri and on this day many women observe Swarna Gowri Vratha to seek blessings of Goddess Gowri for happy married life. The Pooja is observed in traditional way and many types of sweets and dishes are prepared and offered as Naivedyam / Bhog to the Goddess after which it is distributed among family and friends. 

** May Goddess Gowri (Maa Parvati) along with Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Lord Subramanya shower their choicest Blessings on all of us on this auspicious occasion ...

** Disclaimer : The Picture Credit goes to google as I found it via net source, so thanking google for the same.