Rajasthan is considered to be the land of Maharajas. This Indian state has a rich heritage of architecture, art, culture and history. This north-western state of India is surrounded by Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. Pakistan also shares its borders with Rajasthan. Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan. The total area that is covered by the state of Rajasthan is 342,239 square kilometer.
When you think about Rajasthan, all the things that come to your mind are highly cultured and chivalrous people, exciting historical events, vibrant crafts and handiworks, rich cuisine and culture, arid and dry climatic conditions, parched landscapes and glistening golden sand dunes and deserts. One can truly understand the colorful and rich culture of the state of Rajasthan only if he/she is able to witness the festivities that are celebrated in the region. Rajasthan’s desert landscape is not colorful and seems highly monotonous. But the moment any festival is celebrated in Rajasthan, the entire desert landscape is transformed tremendously.
The festivals of Rajasthan add color and joy to the lives of the Rajasthani people because they usually live a life that is marked with lots of hardships. Majority of the festivals celebrated in Rajasthan are traditional festivals only. But more recently, the tourism department of Rajasthan has been introducing several other festivals so that Rajasthan’s invaluable and rich culture can be protected and promoted efficiently. Many folk singers and dancers get the ultimate opportunity to exhibit their talent during the festivities celebrated in Rajasthan.
Anyone can easily capture a glimpse of Rajasthan’s ancient tradition in almost all the festivals of Rajasthan which are dazzlingly lively and theatrical most of the time. Folk song and dance performances are the essential ingredients of Rajasthani festivals without which they are absolutely incomplete. People belonging to the different religious groups, caste groups, professional groups etc. show great enthusiasm while they participate in the festivals of Rajasthan.
Here is a brief on some of the well-known Rajasthani festivals
Desert Festival
Every year the Desert Festival is organized in Jaisalmer and during this festival the deserts of Rajasthan literally come to life with vibrant and bright colors. The Desert Festival is a three daylong festival that is held in February every year. If one wants to witness the folk culture of Rajasthan in its truest form then he/she should make it a point to visit Rajasthan in February to attend the Desert Festival. A lot of competitions are held during this festival such as longest moustaches contest, folk dance contest, amazing puppet shows, camel dance, camel polo and so on. The light and sound show that takes place during the Desert Festival is something that no person should miss at any cost.
Bikaner Festival
Also known as the Camel Festival, the Bikaner Festival begins with the procession of camels which are bedecked magnificently and colorfully. In order to appreciate the usefulness and recognize the significance of camels, this festival is held in January every year in the Junagarh Fort (Bikaner). Dance competitions among the camels, tug-o-war competitions, best breed contests etc are some of the events that take place during the Camel Festival.
Gangaur
This festival is one of the most celebrated local festivals of Rajasthan which is celebrated for about eighteen days in the month of April. Gangaur celebrations are associated with Goddess Gauri and young girls and women mainly participate in the Gangaur ceremony.
Elephant Festival
It is surely an enthralling spectacle to witness elephants engaging in activities such as playing polo, participating in races and processions etc. during the Elephant Festival which is held in the month of March in Jaipur.
Mewar Festival
In order to welcome the season of spring, the Mewar Festival takes place in the months of March-April.
Urs Festival
A significant Muslim festival that is held in Ajmer during the month of May is the Urs Festival. This festival is celebrated to honor Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti (famous Sufi Saint).
Summer Festival, Teej, Marwar Festival, Brij Festival etc are some other Rajasthani festivals that are popular.