Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Jaipur Festivals
he Pink City rejoices and celebrates the fairs and festivals with pomp and gaiety since time immemorial. These fairs and festivals reflect the rich culture and heritage of the region. Jaipur has a flair for celebrating every occasion.
ELEPHANT FESTIVAL
(March-April) 6 March, 2004, 25 March, 2005, 14 March, 2006, the elephant enthrall the spectators on the day of the Colourful festival of Holi at Chaugan stadium. Beautifully decorated elephants assemble for royal procession, Elephant polo match, races etc. & Rajasthan Folk music & dance performances are part of the festival.
The sight of mighty jumbos striding majestically is a treat to watch. The mahavats or owners proudly decorate their elephants with bright colours, jhools (saddle cloth) and heavy jewellery. Female elephants are made to wear payals or anklets which tinkle as they walk. Prizes are given for the most beautifully decorated elephant. Even more exciting is the Polo match, the Elephant race, the tug-of-war between elephant and 19 men and women. The most colourful being the playing of Holi on Elephant back.
GANGAUR
(March-April) 4-5 April, 2003, 23-24 March, 2004, 11-12 April, 2005, 1-2 April, 2006, this festival is celebrated by the maidens and married women, and is dedicated to Gauri, the incarnation of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. A Colourful procession is taken out from Zanana Deodhi of the City Palace, passing through Tripolia Bazar, Gangauri Bazar, Chaugan and converging near Talkatora for two consecutive days.
Images of Isar & Gauri are made of clay for the festival. In some families, permanent wooden images are painted afresh every year by reputed painters called Matherans on the eve of the festival. A distinct difference between the idols of Teej and Gangaur is that the idol will have a canopy during the Teej festival while the Gangaur idol would not a canopy.
The ladies decorate their hands and feet by drawing design with Mehendi (myrtle Paste). The figures drawn range from the sun, Moon and the stars to simple flowers or geometrical designs.
TEEJ
(July-August) 12 August 2003, 19-20 August, 2004, 8-9 August, 2005, 28-29 July, 2006, festival marking the advent of monsoon, swings are hung from trees and decorated with flowers. Young girls sing songs of love and about the rain. The festival is dedicated to parvati, commemorating the day when she was united with Lord Shiva, A magnificent procession is taken out from City Palace, similar to the Gangaur procession, for two consecutive days.
MAKAR SANKRANTI
celebrated on the 14th of January, every year with traditional fervour, the devotees take a holy dip in the holy tank at Galtaji, it has now also become a kite flying festival, millions of colourful kites come on the sky of Jaipur on this day.
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