Fairs
and Festivals of Jaipur, Rajasthan (2014-2015)
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Kite
Festival, Jaipur
Jaipur is the land of fairs and festivals. Always dipped in
the colours of festival, this place enchants anyone who experiences
the glory of fests. Festival of every religion is celebrated
with same zeal and gusto. Each festival has its importance,
be it welcoming a season, bidding adieu to a season, wishing
long life and good health of the spouse, praise the Lord, worship
trees and animals in the form of God. These festivals are integral
part of the lives of people of Jaipur. One can not only feel
the liveliness of people during these festivals, but can even
get a wide exposure of culture of Rajasthan. These fairs and
festival offer you with a holistic view of the heritage and
art of Rajasthan. A prominent one out of the festivals of Rajasthan
is the Kite Festival. Certainly, it's a festival that is unique
in its own way. The colourful kites hovering over whole of Rajasthan
brighten up the skies. This festival is largely celebrated in
Jaipur and Jodhpur. The kites-with-lights flown add to the fancy
of the festival. If you like kite flying, this is the festival
for you. How about visiting Jaipur during this festival? Know
more about this festival before you catch up with the delight
of this festival in Jaipur |
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Significance
Kite festival of Jaipur is observed on the day of Makar Sankranti
or Uttarayan. Celebrated on 14th of January to mark the transition
of the sun from dhanu rashi (Sagittarius) to makara rashi
(Capricorn), the day is considered auspicious. It is said
that Uttarayan or northward journey of the sun begins on the
day of Makar Sankranti.
Rituals
And Celebrations The people of Jaipur, on this day take a
holy dip in Galtaji, an important pilgrimage in Jaipur. They
pray to sun god to bless them with good health, wealth and
good crop. On this occasion, the pink city turns all colourful
with the beautiful kites in the sky. Makar Sankranti is a
government holiday in Jaipur, and it undoubtedly increases
the pleasure of the festivities. Shopkeepers keep their shops
shut, banks remain closed and everybody gets engrossed in
kite flying on this day. Various kite flying competitions
are also organised by numerous Kite Clubs in the month of
January. State government even organises "International Kite
Festival" in Jaipur for a stretch of three days wherein kite
lovers from all over the world come and participate.
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| Elephant
Festival, Jaipur |
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| Rajasthan
is famous for its rich heritage and unique appearance in every
matter of each festival, this goes well with the elephant festival
as well. Elephant festival is considered as one grand festival
of Jaipur which is organized on the full moon day of Phalgun
Purnima which coincides with Holika Dahan festival.Jaipur elephant
Festival is celebrated by parade (marathon) of elephants where
the elephants of Rajasthan are decorated and apparelled with
beautiful and colourful clothes symbolizing the Rajasthani Traditions.
The apparel of the elephants does not only include clothes,
rather the jewellery and large elephant size anklets are the
part of the same beautifying the natural appearance of the elephant.
During this festival, different types of entertainment mode
are being played which includes Rajasthani folk dances, playing
nagada (Drums), horse riding that ensures the celebration of
the presence of the legendary demons in the form of elephant. |
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| Gangaur
Festival, Jaipur |
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| Gangaur
is a festival celebrated in the Indian state of Rajasthan and
some parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Gangaur is the colourful
and the one of the most important festivals of people of Rajasthan
and is observed throughout the state with great fervour and
devotion by womenfolk who worship Gauri, the consort of Lord
Shiva during MarchApril. It is the celebration of spring, harvest
and marital fidelity. Gana is a synonym for Lord Shiva and Gaur
which stands for Gauri or Parvati who symbolizes Saubhagya (marital
bliss). The unmarried women worship her for being blessed good
husband, while married women do so for the welfare, health and
long life of their husbands and happy married life. The Gangaur
of Jaipur is famous in all over the world. In Jaipur, a sweet
dish called a ghewar is characteristic of the Gangaur festival.
People buy ghewar to eat and distribute it among their friends
and relatives. A procession, with the image of Gauri,commences
from the Zanani-Deodhi of the City Palace.It then passes through
Tripolia Bazaar, Chhoti Chaupar, |
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Gangauri Bazaar, Chaugan stadium and finally converge near the
Talkatora. People from all walks of life come to witness the
procession. |
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| Teej
Festival, Jaipur |
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| 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. Teej is celebrated with immense fun and fanfare in
the capital city of Jaipur. On this day, women and young girls
wear their best clothes and adorn themselves with fine jewellery.
They gather at a nearby temple or a common place and offers
prayers to Goddess Parvati for well being of their husbands.On
the occasion of Teej, markets in Jaipur are stocked with trendiest
women accessories and clothes. Most of the fabric clothes display
laheria (tie and dye) prints. Sweetshops keep different Teej
sweets but Ghevar and Feeni is the main sweet of the season.
All over Rajasthan, swings are hung from trees and decorated
with fragrant flowers. Women both married and unmarried love
to swing on these swings to celebrate the 'Sawan festival'. |
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