Kedara Gowri Vratham: women worship Shiva-Parvati on Deepavali Amavasya for marital harmony

Kedar Gauri Vrat, or Kedara Gowri Vratham, is kept by married women, mainly in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, on Deepavali Amavasya. The Skanda Purana tells that the sage Bhringi, devoted only to Shiva, circled Shiva alone and ignored Parvati. Hurt, Parvati performed a 21-day penance at Kedar (the Kedara vrat) to become inseparable from Shiva, and Shiva granted her the left half of his body, becoming Ardhanarishvara. Women keep this vrat in her memory for a harmonious married life and the wellbeing of their husbands. Many observe it for 21 days, starting on Ashwin Shukla Dashami (Vijayadashami) and ending on Deepavali Amavasya, while others keep it only on the final day. A kalash is installed, 21 knots are tied on a yellow sacred thread (nombu kayiru), and 21 varieties of offerings — adhirasam, fruits, betel leaves, and more — are made in multiples of 21. The thread is worn on the wrist after the puja. The Puranas relate that Vishnu, Brahma and even Lakshmi kept this vrat.

Women fast until the puja is complete; many take only fruits and milk.