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The Rajasthani’s love for colour and joyous celebrations is proved by the elaborate rituals and the gay abandon with which he surrenders himself to the numerous fairs and festivals of the region. In addition, to the festivals celebrated by the Hindus, Muslims, and others, there are also the traditional fairs.
There are animal fair there are religious fairs and there are fairs to mark the changing seasons. In fact, celebrations occur almost round the year and are a splendid opportunity for the visitor to gain an insight into the life of the Rajasthani. Other than the traditional fairs, recently established festivals which involve elephants, camel races, dance and music have been specially organised for the tourists. Among the better known fairs of Rajasthan are:
Nagaur Fair, Nagaur (January-February): Essentially an animal fair, it provided an opportunity to participate in some of the local sports.
Desert Festival, Jaisalmer (January-February): One of the most popular of all festivals, it is a journey into the heart of the desert, the golden city of Jaisalmer that has a charm of its own. A true show on the sands which attracts even the much travelled visitor.
Baneshwar Fair, Baneshwar (January-February): A religious festival with simple and traditional rituals. This fair is the center of attraction of a large number of tribals from the neighbouring states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat who join their brethren from Rajasthan in offering prayers to Lord Shiva.
Gangaur, Jaipur (March-April): A festival devoted to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. It is time for young girls to dress up in their finery and pray for grooms of their choice while the married women pray for the well being of their husbands. This 18-days festival is laced with various activities and culminates in a grand procession marking the arrival of Shiva to escort his bride home.
Mewar Festival, Udaipur (March-April): A festival to welcome the spring season. There is song, dance, processions, devotional music and fireworks where almost everybody participates.
Elephant Festival, Jaipur (March-April): A festival to celebrate Holi, this is a great occasion for the visitor to watch several elephant sports and also play this festival of colours. A show is organised with the elephants turning out in their best finery.
Urs Ajmer Sharif, Ajmer
(According to Lunar Calendar): Held in the memory of the revered Sufi saint Khwaja Moinudin Chisti, it is an occasion for thousands if believers to congregate at the shrine and offer their prayers. All of Ajmer seems to take on a festival air and several programmes are organised to mark the festivals.
Summer Festival, Mt. Abu (June): Organised in the only hill station of Rajasthan, this is the coldest place at this time of the year. Folk dance and a general atmosphere of gaiety prevail in this tiny hill resort and the tourist has ample time to relax and enjoy himself.
Teej, Jaipur (July-August): A festival of mark the advent of monsoon. Processions, women dressed in bright colours and a lot of merriment prevails during Teej. Essentially a women’s festival, it is interesting to watch them enjoying in groups and at various bazaars where they turn up to shop in all their finery.
Marwar Festival, Jodhpur (October) : A festival devoted mainly to the music and dance of the Marwar region. This is a festival that allows the visitor to understand and enjoy the folk traditions of this part of the state.
Pushkar Fair, Ajmer (November): The well known and marked with largest participation of all the festivals of Rajasthan. Pushkar is an important pilgrimage as well as the venue of a mammoth cattle fair. Bazaars, auctions, music and sports are highlight of this event.
Camel Festival, Bikaner (January): An enchanting desert city which comes alive with music and dance. It is fast gaining popularity as the visitor finds an opportunity to see some unusual folk performances, camel race, camel dance etc. here.
Folk Music and Dance :-
The people of Rajasthan live life to the hilt. After hard work in the harsh desert sun and the rocky terrain whenever they take time off they let themselves go in gay abandon. There is dancing, singing, drama, devotional music and puppets shows and other community festivities which transform the hardworking Rajasthani into a fun-loving and carefree individual. Each region has its own folk entertainment, the dance styles differ as do the songs. Interestingly enough, even the musical instruments are different.
Some of the better known forms of entertainment are :
Ghoomar Dance: This is basically a community dance for women and performed on auspicious occasions.
Derived from the word ghoomna, piroutte, this is a very simple dance where the ladies move gently, gracefully in circle.
Gair Ghoomar: This is one of the many dance-form of the Bhil tribals. Performed during Holi festival, this is among a few performances where both men and women dance together.
Gair: Another Holi dance but performed by only men. This becomes Dandia Gair in Jodhpur and Geendad in Shekhawati.
Chari Dance: This is popular in the kishengarh region and involves dancing with a chari, or pot, on one’s head. A lighted lamp is then placed on the pot.
Kachhi Ghodi: This is a dance performed on dummy horses. Men in elaborate costumes ride the equally well decorated dummy horses. Holding naked swords, these dancers move rhythmically to the beating of drums and fifes. A singer narrates the exploits of Bavaria bandits of Shekhawati.
Fire Dance:
The jasnathis of Bikaner and churu are renowned for their tantric power and this dance is in keeping with their lifestyle. A large ground is prepared with live woodand charcoal where the Jasnathi men and boys jump on to the fire to the accompanient of drum beats. The music gradually rises in tempo and reaches a crescendo, the dancers seem to be in a trance like state.
Drum Dance: This is a professional dance- form from Jaolre. Five men with huge drums round their necks, some with huge cymbals accompany a dancer who holds a naked sword in his mouth and performs vigorously by twirling three painted sticks.
Teerah Taali: The kamad community of Pokhran and Deedwana perform this dance in honour of their deity, Baba Ramdeo. A rather unusual performance where the men play a four-stringed instrument called a chau-tara and the women sit with dozens od manjeers, or cymbals, tied on all over their bodies and strike them with the ones they hold n their hands. Sometimes, the women also hold a sword between their teeth or place pots with lighted lamps on their heads.
Kathputli: Puppet plays based on popular legends are performed by skilled puppeteers. Displaying his skill in making the puppet’s act and dance, the puppeteer is accompanied by a woman, usually his wife, who plays the dholak, or drum and sings the ballad.
Papuji ki Phad: A 14th century folk hero, Papuji is revered by the Bhopa community. The phad, or scroll, which is about 10 meters long, highlights the life and heroic deed of Pabuji. The Bhopas are invited by villagers to perform in their areas during times of sickness and misfortune. The ballad is sung by the Bhopa as he plays the Ravan-hattya and he is joined by his wife who holds a lamp and immuminates the relevant portions at appropriate points.
Maand: Rajasthan’s most sophisticated style of folk music and has come a long way from the time it was only sung in royal courts, in praise of the Rajput rulers.
Professional singers still sing the haunting ballads of Moomal- Mahendra, Dhola-Maru and other legendary lovers and heroes.
List of singers and performers also included the Mirasis and Jogis of Mewat, Manganiyars and Langas, Kanjars, Banjaras, and Dholies. Performances like the Kuchamani Khayal, Macch, Tamasha, Rammat, Nautanki and Raasleela are no less popular. The musicial instruments of Rajasthan are simple but quite unusual. Handcrafted by the musicians themselves they are rather unique and include instruments like the Morchang, Naad, Sarangi, Kamayacha, Rawanhatta, Algoza,Khartal, Poongi,Bankia and Daf. There are dozens of other instruments which are exlusive to Rajasthan only.
It is a rather difficult task to list all the different types of music, dance and entertainment that can be found in Rajasthan. The range is mindboggling.
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