Devpodhi Agiaras marks the beginning of the Chaturmas and Gaurivrat for Hindus. According to the beliefs, marriages and other auspicious family occasions are not carried out during the four months between Aashadh Sud Agiaras(Gujarat month Ashadh’s 11th day) to Kartak Sud Ekadashi(Gujarati month Kartak’s first day). These four months comprise of fast and other religious activities.

These months have a significant importance of food, religious ceremonies and fasts as well. The Hindus consider Agiaras very holy and thus today Puja is carried out in temples in a special way.

On the other hand Gaurivrat, a fast observed by young girls also starts along with Chaturmas. The fast is observed with a belief of getting a good husband in the future. The young girls sow jawara five days before the fast. In the villages it is still carried out according to the cultural rituals. The girls sow 5 or 7 types of crops like Wheat, Jau, and Jowar. They consume food without salt during their lunch and in the rest of the day they can consume things like Kokdi, Mukti, dry fruits and Luni Ni Bhaji.

The rituals carried out by the aborigines of the tribal districts involve putting of Mehndi on hands. During the fast the girls are free to wear colored clothes instead of uniform in schools and are also forgiven if they arrive late.

Compared to the villages the rituals carried out by the people living in the city are totally different. The girls do not sow jawara but buy them from vendors on the streets. Especially the girls studying in English medium schools are not given permission to wear colored clothes and they are bound to time. There is also no provision for ‘Sangeet’ for the girls. The girls who go to schools with morning hours either do the Puja of Jowar in a hurry or this process is carried out by their parents. And due to the busy schedule of the city dwellers they consume Alunu (food without salt) for 3 days instead of five days. The worst part is that due to the cut throat competition in studies the girls living in the city do not have time to go out in the evening.