The Bikaner Camel Festival
This is a grand spectacle and celebrates the importance of the camel in the lives of the people of Rajasthan. The Camel Festival of Bikaner is celebrated on a grand scale in Rajasthan. Every year in the month of January, Bikaner comes alive with this grand celebration. It should not be missed if you are traveling in India in January. The Tourism Department of Rajasthan Government organizes it.
The festival opens with a procession of beautifully decorated camels against the backdrop of the imposing Junagarh Fort. After the procession there are many competitions such as camel dances, best-of-breed and more.
The camel dance is the most popular event of this festival. Skillfully trained, the enthralling synchronization of footwork by the camels, leaves everyone clapping in joy ! To see camels dancing together to drumbeats and music is truly an awe-inspiring spectacle against the backdrop of the golden desert and the setting sun. One of the most popular and sought after events of Rajasthan, the Camel Festival attracts visitors from all over the world. There are also handicrafts and curio stalls for avid shoppers to take back souvenirs as a reminder.
Desert Festival
One of the most famous and colourful festivals of Rajasthan is the Desert Festival which highlights the rich culture of Rajasthan. Jaisalmer, the venue of the festival, comes alive for three days in January or February. The festival ends on the night of the full moon or Poornima.
The people of Rajasthan dress in their most colourful clothes and sing local folk songs that tell the tales of the lives of the local heroes of the state. The main attractions of the festival are the folk dancers in their vibrant costumes. who perform some very traditional dances that are exclusive to the state of Rajasthan. The dancers perform some very thrilling acts like fire dance and stunning near-impossible acrobatic stunts. There are other performances as well.
Known as the Ship of the Desert, camels are an integral part of any fair and festival of Rajasthan. The camels are decorated beautifully and many contests like camel dance and camel polo are also held.
The most fun activity is the turban tying competition. The people of Rajasthan are known for their colorful turbans that are tied in a very unique fashion. There is a also a contest to judge the best-dressed and best-looking Rajasthani. The winner is declared Mr. Desert. All this looks amazingly grand with the desert backdrop and the magnificent Jaisalmer Fort in the background!
Gangaur Festival
The Gangaur Festival is exclusive to the state of Rajasthan and celebrated in different styles in different parts of the state with much enthusiasm and fervour. Dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, the goddess of abundance, it is celebrated by the young girls and women of Rajasthan. The festival is celebrated for a period of 18 days and young newly married girls fast for 18 days, eating only one meal per day and pray for the well-being of their husbands. Even unmarried girls keep fasts to get a good spouse. For young girls it is a time for dress up, mehndi and The Gangaur festival of Rajasthan is also celebrated to mark the end of winter and the onset of spring.
The idols of Gan and Gaur (Lord Shiva and Parvati) are worshipped and processions of beautifully decorated elephants, camels, palanquins, chariots and local performers are taken out making it a magnificent spectacle.
Marwar Festival
Celebrated during the months of September-October, the Marwar Festival in Jodhpur is dedicated to the folk heroes of Rajasthan. The entire city of Jodhpur comes alive during the two days of this festival. The auspicious day for this festival is the full moon of the Hindu month of Sharad Poornima. It is a good time to be a visitor to these parts and this is a not to be missed festival!
The highlight of the Marwar Festival are the classical folk music programmes sung by various traditional musicians and local artists. The music is in typical Rajasthani style beautifully recounting the adventurous exploits of the rulers of Rajasthan in bygone days. The Marwar Festival is also known as the Maand Festival as the music is known as Maand.
The folk dances are exclusive to the state of Rajasthan. The dances are breathtakingly daring and difficult and the dancers never fail to enthrall spectators balancing seven to nine pots on their heads and balancing themselves on the edge of a sword!
Mewar Festival
The best time to visit Udaipur is during March-April. This is the time the Mewar Festival of Udaipur takes place to mark the advent of Spring . The whole city of Udaipur is beautifully decorated and adorned and one can feel that a grand celebration is just around the corner. The highlight of this festival is the grand procession that takes place carrying the idols of Isar and Gangaur through the city. Women are the main organizers of this procession and it is their job to decorate the idols.
The festival comes to an end when the idols are taken to Lake Pichola and the idols are transferred onto a specially decorated boat. The highlight of the festival are the fireworks that mark the end of the three-day celebrations.
The Mewar festival is one of the most important celebrations and presents the rich culture of Rajasthan at it’s best …. another not to be missed event for visitors to this spectacular state !
Teej Festival
The Teej Festival of Rajasthan is one of the most important and the most widely celebrated festivals of India. Teej is also known as the ‘Festival of Swings’ as women tie swings onto the branches of trees and enjoy swinging on them. Teej Festival is celebrated by all women irrespective of their caste and creed. The Teej Festival is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. It is believed that the Goddess was united with Lord Shiva after many years of tough penance on the auspicious day of Teej. The festival of Teej is basically a womens’ festival …. young women dress up beautifully and sing songs about their lovers and husbands while swinging on the swings and also pray for the well-being of their husbands.
Rajasthan comes alive during the occasion of the Teej Festival. The markets are crowded with young women buying colourful bangles, jewellery and other knick-knacks. In the capital city of Jaipur, Teej is celebrated with much fanfare and enthusiasm. The whole of Jaipur is decorated with colorful festoons and streamers. The markets are buzzing and the atmosphere is amazing.
The idol of Goddess Parvati is decorated beautifully and is taken on a grand procession. The music and dance that follows the procession adds life and grandeur to the whole celebration. This is done for two consecutive days. The Festival is attended by thousands of people from not only Rajasthan but also many other parts of India. Tourists throng the festival to soak themselves in the rich traditions of the state and witness a grand cultural spectacle. The Teej Festival is celebrated during the advent of monsoons in the months of July-August.
