Marwar Festival, Jodhpur ( OCT )
The
Marwar Festival is held every year in memory of the heroes of Rajasthan.
The festival is held in the month of Ashwin (Sept-Oct) in Jodhpur,
for two days during the full moon of Sharad Poornima.
Originally known as the Maand Festival, this festival features folk
music centred on the romantic lifestyle of Rajasthan's rulers. This
festival is devoted to the music and dance of the Marwar region
and offers a good opportunity to see the folk dancers carrying pots
on their heads and singers who assemble here and provide hours of
lively entertainment. These folk artistes provide a glimpse of the
days of yore, of battles and valiant heroes who still live on in
their songs.
Nagaur Fair, Nagaur ( JAN - FEB )
This
eight days fair held every year during the month of Jan-Feb, is
popularly known as the Cattle fair and
is
the second largest in Rajasthan. Nagaur Town is the most picturesque
of Rajput townships. Nagaur is a sea of animals, trading over 70,000
bullocks, camels and horses every year. The bullocks are known for
their fleetness. Not only are the animals lavishly decorated, even
their owners flaunt wearing colourful turbans and long moustaches.
Sports like tug-of-war, camel races, bullock races and cock fights;
jugglers; puppeteers, story-tellers; and exciting campfire evenings
are held to entertain the tourists. Folk music of the Jodhpur variation
echoes the tranquil desert sand. Nagaur is well connected to the
major cities by road and rail. Nearest airport is Jodhpur, some
135kms away.
Pushkar Fair ( JAN - FEB )
The
famous Pushkar Fair is a great tourist attraction. People from around
the globe come to the ancient
religious
town of Pushkar which is transformed into a spectacular fair ground
in the month of Kartik. People bathe, worship and delight in the
dazzling wares of roadside stalls. Camels are bought, sold, beautified,
raced and parade. Most unusual are the small groups of men and women
seen busy tattooing their hands and other parts of the body.
The fair is predominantly a rural gathering. Villagers come from
different parts of the state and bring their cattle with them. On
spectacular sanddunes camel, horse and bullock races are great crowd
pullers. All roads lead to the lake, which is flooded with pilgrims.
The movement of the crowd is like a tide of colour with currents
of crimson, yellow and turquoise.
Evenings at the Pushkar Fair have their own charm. The silent night
is pierced by calls of camels. Ballads are sung by actors in passionate
tones. Folk dramas, skits and folk dance are organised for the entertainment
of the tourists.
Teej Festival ( AUG )
Teej is the festival of swings. It marks the advent of the monsoon
month of Shravan (August). The monsoon rains fall on the parched
land and the pleasing scent of the wet soil rises into the air.
Swings are hung from trees and decorated with flowers. Young girls
and women dressed in green clothes sing songs in celebration of
the advent of the monsoon.
