Festival Calendar of Jaipur
The 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.
¤ SHITLA ASHTAMI - (March-April) this festival is locally called as
Basoda, is celebrated to ward off the dreaded disease of small pox.
The most famous fair is held at the Shitla Mata temple in Chaksu (on
the Jaipur Kota Road), people gather here to pray and celebrate.
¤ DONKEY FAIR - (Khalkani Mata Mela) (October) the donkeys day at
Looniyawas near Sanganer, Thousands of donkeys from all over north
India are brought here for buying and selling. The donkey races and
sports are organised for the merriment of people. A rare sight indeed
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