The biggest festival of Malwa is the "Simhastha mela", held every 12 years, in which more than 40 million pilgrims take a holy dip in river Shipra. The festival of "Gana-gour" is celebrated in honour of Shiva and Parvati. The history of the festival goes back to "Rano Bai", whose parental home was in Malwa, but who was married in Rajasthan. Rano Bai was strongly attached to Malwa, and did not want to stay in Rajasthan. After marriage, she was allowed to visit Malwa only once a year; "Gana-gour" symbolises these annual return visits. The festival is observed by women in the region once in the month of "Chaitra" (mid-March) and "Bhadra" (mid-August). The "Ghadlya" (earthen pot) festival is celebrated by the girls of the region, who gather to visit every house in their village in the evenings, carrying earthen pots with holes for the light from oil lamps inside to escape. In front of every house, the girls recite songs connected with the Ghadlya and receive food or money in return. The "Gordhan" festival is celebrated on the 16th day in the month of Kartika. The Bhils of the region sing "Heeda", anecdotal songs to the cattle, while the women sing the "Chandrawali" song, associated with Krishna's romance.