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So,
you are coming to Rajasthan and have decided on Jodhpur as a venue. It
is natural to want to know when to visit in order to get the most out of
your trip. . If you are visiting Jodhpur around the time of one of the
many festivals you can get the full effect of the local color.
Rajasthan’s love of color, spectacle, and celebration has lead to the
origination of numerous fairs and festivals. Elaborate rituals,
spectacular processions and great abandon are hallmarks of these
festivals where everyone lets their hair down and has a wonderful time.
There
are also the innumerable local and traditional fairs. In effect,
celebration is an almost all-year-round phenomenon. One of these
celebrations is a good chance for a visitor to see the life of the
people and soak themselves in the wonder of the culture and art.
Other
than the traditional fairs and festivals, some festivals have also been
recently established specially for tourists. These festivals create a
grand spectacle with elephants, camels, camel races, dance and music.
Fairs
and festivals in and around Jodhpur spring from the same rich culture
and traditions and is a good opportunity for the visitor to enjoy the
atmosphere. All of these fairs and festivals are celebrated with a
gung-ho attitude and brilliant enthusiasm. Everyone participates in and
loves the pomp and show that usually provide a platform for local
customs and art forms
Marwar Festival Jodhpur
The
most popular and well known of Jodhpur festivals is the Marwar Festival.
It is held in the memory of past heroes of Rajasthan. The Jodhpur Marwar
Festival was originally called the Maand Festival. It is held in the
Indian, Hindu month of Ashwin, which usually falls around
September-October. It takes place during the full moon of the Sharad
Poornima and goes on for about two days.
The
main attraction is folk music. This mainly consists of romantic ballads
etc that speak of the love life of famous Rajasthan rulers. The music
and dance of the Marwar region are the focus of this festival. It tells
of battles won and lost, hearts won or broken, and of heroes who live on
in local songs. Among other attractions is a camel tattoo show and games
of polo.
The
venues include the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the town of Mandore and the
Mehrangarh Fort.
Gangaur Festival
Gangaur Festivals is especially significant and observed through the
state with great devotion by the women. It is a celebration in honor of
the Hindu goddess Gauri, Shiva’s spouse and the goddess of abundance.
Young unmarried girls pray for a good husband while married women pray
for the welfare and long life of their husbands. This spring festival is
celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal all over Rajasthan. Held in
March-April, it is a spring festival of great color and pomp.
The
festival begins on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra, and
continues for some 18 days. The fair of
the 'lotias' is the most distinctive feature of the celebrations in
Jodhpur. Early morning, on the day of the fair, thousands of women,
attired in their finest, carry water and 'durva' grass to a place known
as Girdikot. The festival ends with a procession when Shiva arrives to
take home his bride. The procession is taken out by married women
carrying the images of Shiva and Gauri and ends at a tank or a well.
Songs are sung and the procession returns after the immersion of the
images in the.
The International Desert Kite Festival
The
international kite festival of Jodhpur, is one of the created festivals
and begun recently. However, it has become fairly popular in a short
time. The best kite flyers from India and the world congregate here for
the festival. The point of the various competitions is to show off kite
flying skills. It is held on the day of the Makar Sankranti, which
generally falls in the middle of January It is a three-day festival, and
held at the Jodhpur Polo Grounds.
Part
of the spectacle is the release of hundreds of kites from Air Force
helicopters and balloons, from the grounds, by schoolchildren. It is
easy to become a child again and get taken up in the excitement of the
kite matches.
Nagaur Fair
The
Jodhpur Nagaur Fair is one of the biggest fairs in India and held for
eight days. It usually takes place around January – February, at the
town of Nagaur which is some 135 kilometers from Jodhpur. It is also
known as the Cattle fair as its main focus is the trading and sale of
animals. According to estimates, approximately 70,000 animals including
bullocks, camels and horses are traded here every year. The animals are
decorated to look their best and their owners are dressed in all their
finery. Everything from sheep to Marwari horses to spices is traded at
the fair. Other attractions are the Mirchi bazaar or the
Dried-red-chilly market which is the largest of its kind in India.
Wooden items, handicrafts of iron as well as leather accessories for
camels are also available.
There
are also a lot of sporting events associated with the fair, from
tug-of-war, cock fights and camel races to the famous bullock races. The
fair is also famous for the local jugglers, puppeteers, and
storytellers, who flock to it. And, of course, there is folk music and
dance. |
