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Rajasthan,
is a colourful desert. The unconvincing Thar Desert and with it all the barren
land of Rajasthan has much to offer through the plethora of celebrations. Festivals
and fairs, music and dances, turns the land to a creative fertile basin. Season
heralded with a festive fervour and cattle marts turn into delightful fairs.
Festivals hold an unusual lure for the Rajasthanis and they have any number
of reasons to celebrate. Pageantry is in the form of weddings or rituals, or
to promote trade. Each region has their own form of Folk entertainment, own
Traditions, own dialect adding to the Indian diversity. Pushkar Fair, Desert
festival, Elephant Festival and Camel festival are internationally famous and
are not to be missed.
These festivals born out of age-old traditions, adorns the golden land and unveils
the best with vulnerable colours. Colours that are alive and unrestricted, and
unifies each soul who visits this magic land. There's a rhythm, there's a jest,
a passion, a spirit of romance, a valour, a feel of being one with the blonde
landscape. This spirit of celebration is like Desert Rains, hidden in the Aravalli
bosom, unfolding its feather with each festival.
Gangaur Festival
(Jaipur,
MarchApril) A festival devoted to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva.
Ishar & Gangaur are the divine male and female ho embody marital love. Dedicated
to goddess Gauri (Parvati), the festival commences on Holi/ Young girls pray
for ;rooms of their choice while married women seek a long life for their husbands.
rhe ladies decorate their hands and feet )y drawing designs with Mehendi (Myrtle
Jaste). On the evening of the 7th day after -ioli, unmarried girls go around
singing songs of ghudlia (earthern pots with numerous holes all around with
a lamp lit aside) carrying the pots on their hands. )n their way they collect
small presents ,f cash, sweets, jaggery, ghee, oil etc. The women do these while
chanting hymns to the Goddess. Festivities continue for 18 days culminating
with the arrival of Lord Shiva to escort his bride home. A grand process Ion
with the ideal of Gauri in beautifully decorated gold and silver a palanquin
caparisoned elephants, camels, horses, dances, drummers & joyous children,
goes through the city streets. In Jaipur procession forms at the Palace Gate
known as T ripolia and moves on the city streets on to Talkatora. A vast gathering
of jaipurites & villagers from nearby areas witness the procession. A sweet
dish called Ghewar characteristic of the Gangaur festival is distributed among
friends & relatives. In Jodhpur early in the morning thousands of maidens,
clad in their best attire, singing melodious songs, bring water and durba grass
in silver or brass pots to a place known as Girdikot. In Udaipur the images
of Isar & Gauri are taken in a procession to the Pichola lake there after
in a boat for an hour they go around the lake and the ceremony comes to an end
with a display of fireworks on the banks. The Girasia tribe eligible boys &
girls in Sirohi, Mount Abu region during Gangaur festival select their life
partners & elope with them. This form of marriage has the sanction of the
community.
Mewar Festival
(Udaipur, MarchApril) Coinciding with the festival of Gangaur the Mewar festival
is celebrated to welcome the advent of spring. Once the religions part of the
festival is over it is time for potrayal of Rajasthani culture through songs,
dances and other programmes. The festival culminates with an impressive fire
works display.
Summer Festival
(Mt. Abu, June) The steep rocks, tranqillake, mango grooves, bauhinia trees
& thickets of wild berries cover this hilly mount. The three day festival
is a feast of folk & classical music and a window to the tribal life &
culture of Rajasthan. Cail; Choomar & Dhap folk dances enthrall the spectators.
Sporting events such as the boat race on the Nakki lake add variety to the festival.
Udaipur (185 Kms.) is the nearest airport and Abu Road (29 Kms.) is the nearest
Railway station and, there is a good network of bus services connecting Mount
Abu to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur & Ahmedabad.
Teej
Fair
(Jaipur
, July-August) The festival celebrating the reunion of Shiva & Parvati,
is celebrated at the onset of the onsoon. Teej is the festival of swings. Young
girls & women dressed in green clothes sing songs & swing in celebrating
the advent of the mansoon. An elaborate procession is taken out in Jaipur for
two consecutive days with ornately dressed elephants, horses & camels, bands,
performing artists & coluorfully dressed people Goddess Parvati is invoked
to bless her worshippers with conjugal harmony & bliss.
Pushkar Fair
(Pushkar-Ajmer,
November) Excitement, gaiety and a keen sense of competition fill the air as
the long journey to Pushkar begins. The only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma
(the creator) is located at Pushkar. The Pushkar lake is surrounded by 52 flights
of steps called ghats. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu appeared at the Varah
ghat in the form of a boar. Brahma took a bath here and performed yagna at the
Brahma Ghat accompanied by Vishnu & Mahadev. The ashes of Mahatma Gandhi
(Father of the Nation) were immersed at the Gandhi ghat. Pushkar is among the
five principal places of Hindu pilgrimage. People consider the water of the
Pushkar lake to be very sacred and the ritual of taking dips in the holy water
IS believed to bestow salvation. It I s customary to float lighted eastern lamps
ed on pattals (plates made of leaves) on the waters of lake. This creales a
spectacular view when the sacred lake takes on a mystical tint sprankled with
twinkling spots of light. In conjunction with he religious fair, a cattle fair
is also organised. The ancient town of Pushkar is transformed into a spectacular
fair ground. The fair grounds reverberate with festivity and woman folk shop
for bangles, clothes, utensils, sundry household items & leather goods.
The highlight of the Pushkar fair is the trading in camels. The camel, horse
& donkey races are events that draw huge attendance. Body tatooing is yet
another favourite activity. Come dusk, and the rich strains of haunting music
are carried across the desert sands as the merrymaking continues deep into the
night.
Camel Festival
(Bikaner,
January) A unique celebration highlighting camel & cultural heritage of
northern Rajasthan. The camel festival begins with a colourful procession of
bedecked camels against the red sandstone backdrop of the Junagarh fort, the
festivity advances to the open sand spreads of the grounds, followed by the
best breed competition, the tug of war contest, camel dances & acrobatics.
The camels dance gracefully to the slightest direction of their trainers their
bejeweled necks, jingling anklets cast a magical spell.Glorious Gorbandh dance,
local folk performs and dazzling fireworks offer a different tenor & tempo
altogether.
Nagaur Fair
(Nagaur.
Jan.-Feb.) Essentially an animal fair is one of the largest in the colmtry.
The fair is renowned for the trading in cows, bullocks, camels & horses
Mirchi Bazar is the main attraction and wooden items, iron craft & leather
accessories are available in plenty during the fair. As the Sun goes down, a
joyous atmosphere is created by the folk musicians whose voices echo far &
wide across the tranquil desert sand. Nagaur is well connected to the mal or
tourist centers of Rajasthan. The nearest airport is Jodhpur (135 Km.).
Desert Festival
(Jaisalmer,
Jan.-Feb.) A unique three day show on the sands, when the desert blooms with
the riotous colour of Rajasthan 's desert heritage. The traditional dances (famous
Gair & Fire dances) backed by high pitched music take the folk dances and
the audience on an Euphoric trip. The turban tying competition & Mr. Desert
contest coupled with camel race & acrobatics add a touch of excitement to
the celebrations. One can enjoy the pleasure of a camel ride to the sand dances
and view musicians & dancers performing.
Baneshwar Fair
(Baneshwar Dungarpur,Jan.-Feb.) A religious festival with simple & traditional
rituals. Quaint rhythms conjure up the tribal cultural identity of the Bhils
of Rajasthan, Gujarat & M.P. Baneshwar means the master of the delta and
this name was given to the Shiva linga. The Beneshwar fair is held at a small
delta formed by the river Som & Mahi & prayers are offered toLord Shiva
locally named as Baneshwar. The fair resounds with the gaeity of traditional
folk songs, folk dances, Raslila, animal show, magic shows acrobatic feats.
Adding to the excitement are me joy ride." on merygo rounds & swings.
Elephant
Festival
(Jaipur, March) A magnificent spectactle, it unveils the majesty and grandeur
of elephants celebrated around Holi. The Mahavats or owners proudly decorate
their elephants with bright colours, jhool., (saddle cloth) and heavy jewellary.
A royal procession of decorated elephants, a match of elephant polo, an elephant
race and playing Holi on elephants are main events.
Brij Festival
(Bharatpur,
March) Held on the eve of Holi in honour of Lord Krishna, this festival is marked
by verve & east Villagers, in gay, multitude attire can be seen singing
and performing the Raslila dance the immortal love story of Radha & Krishna.
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