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A unique blend of color,
rhythm and melody. The Camel Festival begins with a colourful
procession of bedecked camels, Ships-Of-The-Desert, in the red
sandstone backdrop of the Junagarh Fort. The festivity advances
to the open sandspreads of the Polo Grounds, followed by camel
races, camel milking, fur cutting design, the best breed
competition, camel acrobatics, camel bands and watching all this,
are the gaping spectators. The camel display amazing foot-work,
dancing gracefully to the slightest direction of their riders.
Colourful bridles, bejewelled necks, jingling anklets and long,
lanky camel shadows on dusky sands, cast a magic spell. The
jubilant, skirt-swirling Gair dancers, the awe inspiring Fire
dance, and dazzling fire-works light up the fortified desert city
of Bikaner.
The festival of Holi
symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It also marks the
advent of spring and people celebrate it joyously with a splash
of color. It is the most boisterous of all Hindu festivals,
observed all over India, especially the North. It heralds the end
of winter and the beginning of spring. The night before the full
moon, crowds of people gather together and light huge bonfires to
burn the residual dried leaves and twigs of the winter. People
throw colored water with pichkaari (a traditional device to spray
coloured water), gubbare (balloons filled with coloured water)
and gulal (colour powder) at each other and make merry. Singing
and dancing add to the gaiety of the occasion. In the northern,
western and eastern regions, Holi celebrates the joyful Raasleela
(dance) of Lord Krishna and the Gopis. Holi, also known as phag,
is a joyous celebration of the rejuvenation of nature and renewed
hope of happiness and peaceful coexistence. Especially famous is
the lathmaar Holi of Barsana and Nandgaon. In Anandpur Sahib in
Punjab, Sikhs celebrate a special festival called Hola Mohalla on
the day after Holi. It marks a display of ancient martial arts
and mock battles. Holi is also an occasion for the celebration of
the burning of Lord Kama, the Hindu equivalent of Cupid, with the
fire that emanated from Lord Shiva's third eye and also
symbolizes the burning of demoness Holika. Till date people burn
effigies of Holika.
Nagaur awakes to the
thronging of cattles, horses and camels during the time of cattle
fair, which is reputed as one of the biggest in the country. The
Nagaur bulls are renowned for their fleet-footedness and attract
buyers from all over the world. Their owners with large
moustaches and colorful costumes add a unique charm to the fair.
Renowned for trading in cows, bullocks, camels and horses Held
every year during the month of Magh (Jan-Feb) Provides an
opportunity for a shopping spree to the locals The fair comes to
an end with a series of exciting games including tug of war,
camel races and strains of ballads that create a joyful
atmosphere. Mirchi Bazaar (Red Chilly Market) is the main
attraction and wooden items, iron crafts and leather accessories
are also available in abundance during the fair.
The otherwise sleepy town of
Jaisalmer reverberates with enthusiasm and zeal during the Desert
Festival that provides it with an occasion to parade its
exuberant charm to the world. This colorful spectacle of dance
and music showcases the rhythmic dances like Ghoomar, Gangaur,
Gair, Dhap, Moria, Chari and Terahtal. The fire dancers are the
special highlights of the festival. Held in the month of
January-February the major attractions include turban-tying
competition, Gair dancers and fire-dancers presenting enchanting
displays of folk dance and music The various interesting contests
including turban tying and Mr. Desert contest, the Camel races,
acrobatics, dances and camel polo are sure to leave you
spellbound. An awe-inspiring fusion of traditional dances backed
by the folk music of the desert is sure to give you a time of
your life. The major attraction of the festival remains the music
and dance performance on the sand dunes.
The Baneshwar fair, in its
present form is actually a merger of two fairs: one which used to
be held in honour of Baneshwar Mahadev (Lord Shiva) and another
fair which started after the construction of the Vishnu temple by
Jankunwari, daughter-in-law of Mavji, a highly revered saint
considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The Baneshwar fair is predominantly a tribal fair with more than
half of the congregation consisting of Bhils. They revere
Baneshwar Mahadev as well as Mavji. The majority of the gathering
is from the Districts of Dungarpur, Udaipur and Banswara.
The temple of Baneshwar Mahadev remains open from 5.00 a.m. to
11.00 p.m. during the fair. In the morning, saffron is applied to
the Shiva Linga after it is bathed and an aarti of burning
incense is waved before it. In the evening, bhabhut (ash) is
applied to the Linga and an aarti with a fine-wick lamp is waved.
Devotees offer wheat flour, pulses, rice, jaggery, ghee, salt,
chillies, coconut and cash.
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