|
On the occasion of Holi in
Jaipur, this festival of pachyderms includes several interesting
attractions including elephant polo. The caparisoned elephants,
their bodies painted with floral decorations by the mahouts, are
a sight to behold.
The most important local
festival in Rajasthan, Gangaur is held about a fortnight after
Holi and the celebrations go on for eighteen days. The festival
is held in honor of Gauri, a manifestation of goddess Parvati,
the wife of Lord Shiva. The festival is celebrated by girls and
married women throughout Rajasthan. Images of Gauri are
ornamented and offerings are made. This is also an auspicious
time for young people to select their life partners. Colorful
processions with the town band, horses, and elaborate palanquins
make it a fascinating spectacle. The Gangaur festival is
celebrated throughout Rajasthan with great enthusiasm but the
celebrations in Jaipur and Udaipur have their own special charm.
The festival is also celebrated with great pomp and show in
Bikaner, Jodhpur, Marathwara and Jaisalmer. Girls worship the
goddess throughout the fortnight. Colorful images of Gauri,
beautifully dressed and bejeweled, are taken out in a procession
accompanied by the town band. A boat procession is taken out on
the Pichola Lake in Udaipur. Women balancing several brass
pitchers on their heads add to the gaiety of the Udaipur
celebrations. Thousands of people from the countryside come to
take part in the procession of Gangaur, which goes around from
village to village. Tribal men and women get the opportunity to
meet and interact freely and during this time, they select
partners and elope to marry. An unusual, romantic custom
sanctioned by the community, it helps many young people find
their life partner.
The festival is celebrated
in the Hindu month of Ashwin (Sept-Oct) in Jodhpur, the former
capital of Marwar Province. The festival has on display the music
and dance of the Marwar region. The spirited folk dancers
assembled here, perform with gusto and entertain the audience
with Rajasthani folklore. These folk artists bring to life the
myth and legends of the area and sing songs in memory of the
brave heroes. Other attractions include of the festival include
horse riding and horse polo. Various other competitions are also
held during the festival.
Summer Festival, held every
year in the month of June. The three-day festival is a feast of
folk and classical music and a window to the tribal life and
culture of Rajasthan.
The festival begins with the singing of a ballad which is
followed by folk dances which enthral the spectators. Sporting
events such as the boat race on the Nakki lake add variety to the
festival.
The Sham-e-Qawwali is a much-awaited musical extravaganza, as
renowned qawwals from all over the country can be heard regaling
the audience. The grand finale of the festival is a display of
dazzling fireworks which adds to the tourist's delight.
The celebrations of the
fesitval are different than the usual Teej festivities. Unlike
Teej, which is celebrated on the third day of the month of
Shravana, Kajli Teej is celebrated on the third day of the month
of Bhadra. An exuberant procession of Teej in a decorated
palanquin, starts from the beautiful Naval Sagar and culminates
at the Azad Park. Cultural performances by the local artistes as
well as by artistes from Hadoti region are part of the
celebrations. Though the Teej procession is carried out for only
two days, the festivities continue till the eighth day, finnally
ending on Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna.
It is the nine days
festival, which signifies the victory of Good over Evil. As
diverse as India is, it is but natural that Good and Evil take
various forms in different parts of the country. Central and
North India celebrate Lord Ramas victory over the ten-headed
Ravana. In the East, in west Bengal, this festival marks the
victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. In the state
of Himachal, a week long fair at Kullu is a part of the Dussehra
celebrations. From the little temples in the hills, deities are
brought in procession to the Kullu Fair ground with a lot of
gaiety, music and colour. Down South in the city of Mysore, the
exotic and colourful celebration of Dussehra leaves many a
visitor enthralled.
|
