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The capital city of Jaipur hosts some of the most captivating and colorful festivals in Rajasthan. Fairs and Festivals are inseparable element of the cultural identity of this city. The Jaipur love for color and joyous celebrations, music, dance and festivals makes it one of the most colorful desert in the world.
This royal city has all sorts of fair and festivals like animal fairs, religious fairs and there are fairs to mark the changing seasons. In fact, celebrations occur almost round the year
This royal city celebrates each and every festival with full delight and passion. The colorful city gets brighter during the celebration of special festivals. Different fairs and festivals have their own significance and offer a pleasurable break from the tight schedules of life, thus giving us an opportunity to forget all our tensions and worries for some time and add much needed energy to our life. Festivals are the occasions that add color to life of Jaipurites and offer a wonderful opportunity to tourists to enjoy cultural festivity in the dessert state of Rajasthan.
The fairs and festivals which are worth mentioning are Elephant festival, Teej festival, Kite festival and Gangaur festival.
Teej is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of Rajasthan. Swings, traditional songs and dancing are the unique features of Teej celebrations in Rajasthan. Women perform traditional folk dance dressed in green colored clothes and sing beautiful Teej songs while enjoying their sway on swings bedecked with flowers. celebrations are held all over the state, it is particularly colorful in Jaipur where a procession winds its way for two days through the Old City.The Teej idol is covered with a canopy whereas the Gangaur idol is open.
Held during the monsoons, July-August Teej is also dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati and this time it is married women who pray for a happy and long married life. According to Hindu mythology, on the 3rd day (teej) after the new moon in the month of Shravan Goddess Parvati went to the house of lord Shiva, her husband and was united with him. This day is celebrated as Teej all over India and especially so in Rajasthan. Apart from its mythological origins this festival also heralds the arrival of the rainy season. In the month of Shravan the long awaited monsoon finally arrives in Rajasthan bringing relief to the parched land. Like a magic wand it transforms the hot, dusty and barren summer landscape of Rajasthan into the fertile green beehive of activity. The Teej festivities also celebrate this rejuvenation.
India is the original homeland of the Asiatic Elephant. Its association with the gods and king goes back to the dawn of history. India the King of Gods, rides on a white elephant, Airavata. The elephant is also associated with the Lord Buddha, and Jainism. The colossal size of the animal evokes awe but its docile nature, its graceful movements and its doleful eyes have always fascinated man. Its majestic presence has been associated with regal splendor and the elephant has always remained as the most important paraphernalia of the king.
The Elephant Festival is an inimitable event held annually in Jaipur. Huge mountain-like male elephant chosen for their size and beauty of trunk, tusks tail and ears, were procured for the exclusive use of the Maharaja. In royal processions the Maharaja sat on a gold and silver ‘howda’ placed on the back of the most favorite elephant. Scores of others tastefully decorated with dazzling ornaments and gold embroidered velvet Jhalars followed the royal elephant.
Groomed flawlessly, rows of elephants do a catwalk before an enthralled audience liked best fashion models to make this festival an amazing one. The elephants move with poise in pageant, run races, play the regal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time with elephants typically celebrated one day before the Holi, Indian festival of colours.
Staged at Jaipur Chaugan Stadium elephants put up a variety programme and the arena is brought alive with musician and dancer. The crowd, which includes sizable presences of foreign and Indian tourist, electrifies the atmosphere. The festival starts with an impressive procession of the majestic animals lovingly painted and tastefully attired with glittering ornaments and embroidered velvets. There are deadly and fierce elephant fights.
Holi is a festival of colour & is celebrated all over India. It is also celebrated by Indians residing out of India. This festival comes on the full moon day of Phagan - a Hindu month. This festival brings new hope for all the people as it marks the end of chilled winter days and the beginning of the summer. People forget their enmity and throw away their worries. Every nook and corner presents atypically colourful sight. Holi is associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha
The colourful state of Rajasthan plays Holi much the same way as Mathura. A 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 coloured water and powders (gulal and kumkum) at each other and make merry. Singing, dancing and the traditional beats of dhol add to the gaiety of the occasion.
In short the celebration of Holi bears witness to a feeling of oneness and sense of brother-hood and creates a colourful atmosphere.
Dussehra is one of the significant Hindu festivals celebrated with much joy and happiness in India. This day is also known as Vijayadashmi, or the Victory Tenth, because of the conquest of Ram over Ravana, the victory of good over evil. Dussehra means the Tenth Day, being the 10th day of the bright half of Ashwin, as Dussehra is preceded by the Navratri or the nine days of the worship of Goddess Durga, rituals related to the Goddess are also carried out that day. The rituals of Durga Puja involve the usual puja of goddess Durga along with Lord Ram.
This festival is celebrated with complete enthusiasm and festivities as it also marks the beginning of the winter season after the long, unbearable, hot summer. Dussehra marks the triumph of Ram over the demon king Ravana, and the rescue of his consort Sita. In north India, enormous effigies of the ten-headed Ravana and his brothers are placed in vast open spaces and are set aflame amidst bursting of crackers. Fairs are usually held on this occasion with lots to eat, buy and enjoy.
On this day in Satyug, Ram (the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), killed the great demon and king of Lanka, Ravan, who had abducted Ram's wife Sita. Ram, along, with his brother Lakshman, follower Hanuman, and an army of monkeys fought a great battle for ten days to rescue his wife Sita.
This is also the day to worship the weapons. According to legend, Arjuna, one of the Pandav princes, hid his weapons in a Shami tree when the Pandavs were banished into the forests. After one year he returned from the forest and on the day of Dussehra, he retrieved his weapons and worshipped them along with the Shami tree. Hence the custom of worshipping weapons on this day started.
Jaipur is the land of festivals and fairs. People here in this colorful city look for any excuse to assemble together in celebration and take a break from their otherwise rugged, tough lives. And when one thinks about festivals, the festival that instantly comes to mind is DIWALI. This festival brings excitement and joy to the hearts of people even before it arrives.
Many gods preside over this festival. But Diwali is considered the festival of Laxmi, the Goddess of prosperity and wealth. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi brings peace and prosperity to all. Diwali is the corrupted version of Deepawali, which in Sanskrit means 'Rows of Lighted Lamps'.
According to the beliefs of the people in north India, the festival is celebrated the return of Ram back to his kingdom, Ayodhya after an exile of 14 years in the forests. According to the epic Ramayana, all the nooks and corners of the city of Ayodhya were lighted with diyas on the return of Ram with his brother Lakshman and wife Sita.
The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, truth over falsehood and light over darkness. But besides celebrating the victory of good over evil and light over darkness, the little flickering lights also provide refuge and solace in the face of winter's coming onslaught.
The festival of Diwali is celebrated for a period of 5 days in the month of Ashwin (a month of Hindu calendar) which falls somewhere in the month of October and November.
First Day:Dhanteras, Dhantheran, Dhanatrayodashi
Second Day:Choti Diwali, Roop Chaturdashi, Kali Choudas
Third Day: Laxmi Pujan, Chopda Pujan, Deva Diwali
Fourth Day: Goverdhan puja, Annakoot Diwas
Fifth Day:Bhai Dooj
Two days prior to Diwali is celebrated as Dhanteras, when people generally buy some utensils for their household. On this day all the shops remain open the whole night through.
The next day is celebrated as chhoti Diwali or small Diwali. It is celebrate just like Diwali but on a small scale.
The preparations for Diwali begin well in advance. There is a belief among the general population of India that Lakshmi make visits into the houses of people but only those which are clean. So people start decorating their homes, preparing sweets and farsans and buy new clothes & jewelry all this to welcome the Goddess into their homes who comes to bless all. To welcome Lord Laxmi people keep the doors and windows open the whole night long. Along with goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha is also worshipped on Diwali.
For Hindu business communities, Diwali marks the beginning of the New Year. On this day they do puja of Account books and start writing their new accounts. This is called as "CHOPDA PUJAN" meaning puja of account books.
Diwali give people a chance to take time off from their daily routine to gather together and enjoy the festivities. Special food, naturally, is very high on the agenda, keeping in mind the occasion. Some of the notable fares that are on offer during Deepavali are Mawa Kachori, Gonth ke Laddu, Til Ke Laddo, Piste ke Launj, Pheeni, Sohan Papdi, Moti Pak, Besan Barfi, Shakarpara and Jalebi.
On Diwali, houses all over Rajasthan shine with the twinkle of innumerable candles, diyas and electric lights. The doorways of many houses are also decorated with marigolds and torans of mango leaves. Beautiful Rangolis are drawn using different colored powders at the home's entrance in order to welcome guests. Burning crackers and other fireworks is also an integral part of Deepavali. The night sky on Diwali is illuminated with the glowing lights of fireworks, thereby creating magnificent kaleidoscopic designs on the black canvas of the sky. Indeed, Diwali in Rajasthan is celebrated in a way that's full of enthusiasm and passion.
The celebration of Diwali can be viewed in its entire grandeur at night when all the homes are lit up. Diwali is incomplete without its fireworks. People especially children burst crackers of all variety - Sparkles, Flower Pots, Rockets, from the fancy ones to the loud noise making Bombs.
During the Diwali celebration decoration and lighting is done throughout the walled Pink City, with every market competing with the others to pick-up the best decorated market award. There are special prizes for the best decorated individual buildings as well. Most people prefer walking through the step to enjoy this dazzling extravaganza. And if one has to see, the illuminated city of Jaipur during Diwali, one must have a stay at Nahargarh. The view of illuminated Jaipur City can equal to a Bride.
The day after Diwali is celebrated as Govardhan Puja. It is associated with the legend of Lord Krishna. On this day, Lord Krishna had lifted the Mount Govardhan to protect the people and cattle from heavy storm and rainfall.
The final day is celebrated as Bhai Dooj mostly in northern India. On this day, sisters apply sandalwood tikka on the forehead of their brothers and pray for their long life. In return, the brother presents the sister with some gift.
Diwali in Jaipur is enjoyed equally by both the young ones and the grown ups. The celebration of Diwali can be viewed in its entire splendor at night when all the homes are lit up. Every one wears new clothes.
The enthusiasm with which Jaipur celebrates Deepawali or Diwali - the Festival of Lights - has to be seen and experienced to be believed!!
The Gangaur Festival is a colourful and one of the most important local festivals of Rajasthan and is observed throughout the State with great fervor and devotion by womenfolk who worship Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva
Gangaur is celebrated on Chet Sudi-3 (Mar-Apr). Idols of Ishar and Gangore are taken out in procession and songs in their praise are sung till they are immersed into water. This spring festival is held in honor of Gauri, the goddess of abundance.
The festival commences on the first day of Chaitra, the day following Holi and continues for 18 days. For a newly-wedded girl, it is binding to observe the full course of 18 days of the festival that succeeds her marriage. Even unmarried girls fast for the full period of 18 days and eat only one meal a day.
The ladies decorate their hands and feet by drawing designs with mehendi (myrtle paste). The figures drawn range from the Sun, Moon and the stars to simple flowers or geometrical designs. Ghudlias are earthen pots with numerous holes all around and a lamp lit inside them. On the evening of the 7th day after Holi, unmarried girls go around singing songs of ghudlia carrying the pots with a burning lamp inside, on their heads. On their way, they collect small presents of cash, sweets, jaggery, ghee, oil etc. This continues for 10 days i.e. upto the conclusion of the Gangaur Festival when the girls break their pots and throw the debris into a well or a tank and enjoy a feast with the collections made.