Calendar of Events – Fairs & Festivals in Rajasthan
Fair & Festival |
Place |
Vikaram Samvat |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
Camel Festival |
Bikaner |
Paush-Shuda |
13-14 Jan. |
2-3 |
21-22 |
10-11 |
31 Dec.'09- |
Alwar Festival |
Alwar |
- |
10-12 Feb. |
9-11 |
8-10 |
13-15 |
12-14 |
Nagaur Festival |
Nagaur |
Magh-s (7-10) |
4-7 |
25-28 |
13-16 |
02-05 |
22-25 |
Desert Festival |
Jaisalmer |
Magh-s (11-15) |
10-12 |
31 Jan. |
19-21 |
7-9 |
28-30 |
Baneshwar Festival |
Baneshwar |
Magh-s (11-15) |
08-12 |
29 Jan. |
17-21 |
05-09 |
26-30 |
Elephant Festival |
Jaipur |
Phalgun-s-15 |
14 Mach. |
3 March |
21 March |
10 March |
22 Feb. |
Brij Festival |
Bharatpur |
Phalg-s (11-13) |
10-12 |
27 Feb. |
17-19 |
07-09 |
25-27 |
Shitala Ashtami |
Chaksu (Jaipur) |
Chaitra-K-3 |
23 March |
12 March |
28 March |
18 March |
08 March |
Gangaur Festival |
Jaipur |
Chaitra-S (3-4) |
01-02 |
21-22 |
08-09 |
29-30 |
18-19 |
Mewar Festival |
Udaipur |
Chaitra-s(3-4) |
01-02 |
21-22 |
08-09 |
29-30 |
18-19 |
Keladevi Festival |
Karauli |
Chaitra-K(12) |
26 |
16 |
03 |
23 |
12 |
MahaveerjiFair |
Mahaveerji |
Chaitra-s(9-15) |
7-13 April |
27 Mar. |
14-20 |
03-09 |
24-30 |
Summer Festival |
Mount Abu |
Fixed Date |
11-13 |
30 April |
18-20 |
07-09 |
26-28 |
Teej Festival |
Jaipur |
Shravan-s(3-4) |
28-29 |
15-16 |
04-05 |
24-25 |
12-13 |
Kajfi Teej |
Bundi |
Bhadra-K(2-3) |
11-12 |
30-31 |
18-19 |
08-09 |
26-27 |
Ramdeora Fair |
Pokaran |
Bhadra-S(9-10) |
02-03 |
21-22 |
09-10 |
29-30 |
17-18 |
Manwar Festival |
Jodhpur |
Ashwn-S (14-15) |
06-07 |
25-26 |
13-14 |
03-04 |
21-22 |
Dussehra Festival |
Kota |
Ashwn-S (8-10) |
30Sept |
19-21 |
07-09 |
26-28 |
15-17 |
Pushkar Fair |
Pushkar |
Kartik-S-14 |
29 Oct |
17-24 Nov. |
05-13 |
25 Oct |
13-21 |
Chandrabhaga Fair |
Jhalawar |
Kartik-S-11 |
4-6 |
23-25 |
9-18 |
1-3 |
20-22 |
Kolayat Fair |
Kolayal |
Kartik-S-11 |
1-19 |
20-29 |
9-18 |
29 Oct |
17-26 |
Cuisine: Taste of Rajasthan
Each region in India has its own traditional dishes and specialties. In the royal kitchens of Rajasthan, as well as most other states, food is a very serious business and raised to the level of an art- form. Rajasthani cooking was influenced by the war -like lifestyle of its inhabitants and the availability of ingrediants in this region.
Food that could last for several days and could be eaten without heating was preferred, more out of necessity than choice. Scarcity of water, fresh green vegetables have all had their effect on the cooking. In the desert belt of Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner, cooks use the minimum of water and prefer, instead, to use more milk, buttermilk and clarified butter.
Ker-Sangri on Bajara Roti
Dried lentils, beans from indegenous plants like sangri, ker, etc are liberally used. Gram flour is a major ingrediant here and is used to make some of the delicacies like khata, gatta ki sabzi, pakodi, powdered lentils are used for mangodi, papad. The daily food in Rajasthan typically comprises unleavened bread, made of wheat, barley, millet or maize.
A soup of legumes flavored with red chili peppers, yogurt or milk and sometimes a vegetable such as okra, jackfruit, eggplant, mustard or fenugreek leaf. The wealthy can afford to eat meat regularly, but many abstain for religious reasons. Though the Rajasthani kitchen was able to create much from little, it had also to cater to different communities with their own ritual observances.
Rajasthani Dal-Bati-Churma
The Rajput warrior, for example, was not averse to shikar, killing game to put in his pot at night.The Vaishnavs, followers of Krishna, were vegetarian, and strictly so, as were the Bishnois, a community known for their passion to conserve both animal and plant life.Even amoung Rajputs, there were enough royal kitchens where nothing other than vegetarian meals were cooked.
The Marwaris , of course, were vegetarian too, but their cuisine, though not too different from the Rajputs, was richer in its method of preparation. And then there were the Jains too, who were not only vegetarians, but who would not eat after sundown, and whose food had to be devoid of garlic and onions which were, otherwise, important ingredients in the Rajasthani pot.
Mughal inspired Dishes
The Mughals influenced the eating habits of the Rajput courts. From the simple grilled meats served on leaves, the royal kitchen introduced elaborate curries, kebabs and pulao's(rice prepared with clarified butter, spices meat and vegetables) served on silver platters.
Chapatti Making - The chapatti is a flat, unleavened bread which serves almost as a spoon, for it is used as a scoop to transfer food to the mouth. It complements both the texture and flavor of the food it scoops up, absorbing runny sauces, balancing strong flavors and smoothness.
Frying Puris - Puris are delicious, fried wheat bubbles which have varied uses; as snacks, scoops for food and as a complement to hot spices. Family members typically sit on the floor and are served piping hot food by the lady of the houses.
The Indian Kitchen - The simple Indian Kitchen has a brick-and-mud fireplace. Food is usually cooked over a wood or charcoal fire,in clay,brass,or copper utensils.
Lassi -Natural yogurt is churned to remove the butter content for the making of Lassi or buttermilk a cooling summer beverage.
Desert Cooking - Very little produce grows in the desert. Daily food mainly comprises of daal-bati (cooked lentils and roasted balls of dough), accompanied by a variety of dried or pickled berries cooked in different ways.
A LAND OF ROMANCE AND ROYALITY, VALOUR AND CHIVALRY
Introduction:
It’s a magical land that springs surprises at every turn, takes your breath away at every bend, Rajasthan is a land of contrasts. When you meets its teeming friendly people, so full of joy, colors and bonhomie you wonde, it this where bloody battles raged? The land of heroism and chivalry, where”jauhar” was committed for the sake of pride, it is.
In, Rajasthan cities sprang up around citadels. They still retain their medieval flavor with forts and palaces, with havelis for people to stay, with temples and mosques for people to pray.
Vibrant bazaars, selling fabrics and jewellery, art and crafts that are millennia old. Yet here tradition goes hand in handwith the contemporary. There’s industry, commerce running hard bargain.
If you come to Rajasthan during the festive season, and we hope you do, you’ll be mesmerized by its folk dances that have a rhythm of their own. Ballads sung and the strains of melancholy melodies rent the air. Temple bells chime to declare the faith of the belivers. Pilgrims throng to dedicate their belief to the one above.
On your visit to Rajasthan, stay where Maharajas lived. A wide range of accommodation is available all over the state to suit all budgets. If you are looking for economy, check into mid-range accommodation here, comfort is the key to your room.
Rajasthan is well connected by air, rail and road with all the major cities of the country. Like, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Bangalore, Chennai (By Air and Rail)
One Small Request: - Do come with time on your hands to soak in the charms of Rajasthan. A tourist paradise that stretches to the limits of your imagination.
Land And Topography
The State has an area of 343,000 sq km. The capital city is Jaipur.
The Aravali Range runs across the state from southwest Guru Peak (Mount Abu), which is 1,722 m in height to Khetri in the northeast. This divides the state into 60% in the north west of the lines and 40% in the southeast. The northwest tract is sandy and unproductive with little water but improves gradually from desert land in the far west and northwest to comparatively fertile and habitable land towards the east. The area includes the Great Indian (Thar) Desert.
Climate
The climate of Rajasthan can be divided into four seasons: Summers, Monsoon, Post-Monsoon and winter.
Temperature & Rainfall
January to March
50F - 80F
10 degree C - 27 degree C
4MM - 7MM
April to June
75F - 105F
24 degree C - 45 degree C
11MM - 30MM
July to September
70F - 95F
21 degree C - 35 degree C
100MM - 165MM
October to December
55F - 85F
13 degree C - 30 degree C
3MM - 8MM
These are average temp and rainfall of Rajasthan, and may vary for each city. The temperature is in degrees Fahrenheit.
Dance
The Thar Desert of Rajasthan comes alive when its dancers take the center stage. Rajasthan has great variety of dances, which are simple expressions of celebration and festivity.
Ghoomar, a community dance for women performed on auspicious occasions.
Gair Ghoomar, Raika, Jhoria and Gauri are particularly of Bhil tribe. Gair is performed on Holi but only by the men folk. Chari dance, with pots on the head and a lighted lamp, is popularly performed on marriage occasions or on the birth of a male child.
Kalbelia dance is of the kalbelia tribe, the snake charmers. With numerous pots on the head, women excel the balancing act in the Matka-bhawai.
Terah taali, is a ritual for Baba Ramdev, a dance with thirteen manjiras.
Other dances are Kachhi-Ghodi, Kathputli (the puppet dance), Fire dance, drum dance and various others pertaining to the particular tribes.
Kathhak, a popular dance form being imported from Uttar Pradesh have been revived by the rajputana courts, with a style and theme of its own.
RHYTHM AND RESONANCE
Rajasthan is culturally rich and has extensive tradition in art and culture, which reflects Indian way life. The dance, music and art forms have been watchfully cultivated and patronised by the erstwhile courts. An equally rich and varied folk culture from villages is both fascinating & mesmerising. The music is of uncomplicated innocence and songs depict day-to-day relationships and chores more often focal around bring of water. Rajasthan's cultural tapestry takes in simple folk to highly cultivated classical music and dance in its own distinct style.
Music
Music sung by women is mostly about water and the style is called panihari. It depicts daily chores and is cantered around the well. In arid area like Rajasthan water is of immense significance. Some of the folk songs also talk about chance encounter with their lover. Some even have snipes at the incorrigible mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Music here, also has strong religious flavour and is sung in dedication to various deities. Some religious songs are folk idioms of Saints, Surdas, Kabirdas, Meerabai and others. These songs are mostly heard in nightlong soirées.
Music traditions are kept alive by entertainer like the Langas, Manganniyars, Mirasis and Dholis. The education in music of these groups began early and passed down from generation to generation. The folk musicians are apt in classical tradition. Songs normally began with an alap, which set the tune of the song and then recital of the couplet that is called the dooba. The songs also have the taan, the pitch and the tibias -the triplet, which lends variance to the tune.
Ballad traditions of Rajasthan are also of great attention. Here bards sing heroic tales of folk heroes like Tejaji, Gogaji and Ramdeoji. They sing and narrate heroic tales of battles and even of legendary lovers and their tragedies. To distinctive category in this tradition are the 'Phad' and the puppetry.
The accompanying instruments are of various varieties to repercussion, string and wind and even common use utilities like bells, thali (metal dishes) and earthen pots.
Safety and Security
Rajasthan is a peaceful state and its people are friendly and well meaning. This piece of an advice is meant to caution but you should not be paranoid otherwise you miss knowing about the very vibrant people and culture of Rajasthan. Like anywhere else, reasonable caution is your best weapon against theft or worse. Rajasthan is very safe and there are no civil disturbances.
Architecture:
The Architecture of Rajasthan
The mixture and brilliance of Rajasthan's architectural heritage can amaze a visitor. Majestic forts, intricately carved temples and havelis (meaning mansion) and even step well make Rajasthan a paradise for an architecture buff. The desert state of Rajasthan is a land of irony and extremes. This vibrant and striking region is the home of the Rajput warrior clans who had ruled here for many years. Rajasthan is also home to some of India's most romantic cities. The Rajputs were prolific builders and have dotted the arid Aravali landscape with their legacy of some most imposing and magnificent forts and palaces in the world. Today the structures defy time to tell the story of gallantry, courage and tragedy of the bygone era and its story of survival in the harsh Thar Desert.
Forts and Palaces
The architecture is basically secular and draws a lot on stimulation from the Mughals, while later day architecture also embraces European interiors. These structures encompass mahals (palaces), zenanas (women’s quarters), diwan-I-aam (public audiences), diwan-I-khas (private audiences), sils (galleries), mandir (temples), bagh (garden) chatris and ramparts for display and parades.
| Jaipur | - Moti Dungari - Jaigarh Fort - Nahargarh Fort - Amber - City Palace |
| Jodhpur | - Umaid Bhawan Palace - Mehrangarh Fort |
| Udaipur | - City Palace - Fateh Prakash Palace - Sajjangarh - Kumbhalgarh Fort - Chittorgarh Fort |
| Bikaner | - Junagarh Fort - Lal Garh Palace - Gajner palace |
| Ajmer | - Taragarh Fort - Man Mahal |
| Jaisalmer | - Jaisalmer Fort |
| Bundi | - Sukh Niwas Palaces - Taragarh fort |
| Mount Abu | - Achalgarh |
About Jaipur
Settled in the rugged hills of the Aravalis, Jaipur is the pristine jewel in the desert sands of Rajasthan. Jaipur is as remarkable for its marvelous architecture and town planning as it is for the lively spirit of the people who inhabit it. The city presents a unique synthesis of culture...
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