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- Culture of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Tourism
History of Rajasthan
The history of Rajasthan goes back 5000 years and boasts a heritage as rich
as its landscape, from the grand palaces and rugged forts to its tranquil and
camel safaris to trekking. Those looking for taste of royal lifestyle just need
to check into one of the several palace hotels or heritage hotels that will
make it possible for them to be treated like royal guests.
Whether you are visiting Rajasthan's big cities with a fast-moving westernised
lifestyle, or exploring historic towns or quaint villages, you will always find
the people warm and friendly. And if you want to move away from the regular
tourist beat, it is very easy to organise your own tour.
Accommodation could be a palace hotel, a smaller heritage hotel in the country,
a guesthouse, a tent or a village hut- the choice is yours. But whatever you
choose, you holiday in Rajasthan will be an unforgettable experience and we
hope this publication will help you make the most of your time here. Rajasthan
has a superb range of shops, catering to every taste and pocket.
It is among the richest states in the country as far as handicrafts are concerned.
The craftsmen here have been creating the most opulent and richest of treasure.
Stone, clay, leather, wood ivory, lac, glass, brass, silver, gold and textiles
are given the most brilliant forms.
Each little village had its own mohulla of craftsmen who were patronised by
the local people as well as visitors to the village. Today, the Government encourages
the local handicrafts as well as the small-scale industries and retail outlets
have been set up in the major cities. Tourists can choose from the large variety
on display, and at very reasonable prices.
About
Rajasthan
Rajasthan is where all the country's similes and metaphors appear to have come
together. Sand dunes, wooded hills and amazing lakes, palaces and rugged forts,
men and women in colorful turbans and skirts, bustling towns and quiet villages,
camels, elephants and tigers, harsh sunlight and the cool evening breeze - are
all there in abundance.
But they form only part of an intricate tapestry. Beneath the surface, expect
to find many contradictions. Where ever you travel, particularly when you escape
from the popular tourist destinations you will come across the unexpected, whether
it is a local fair or breathtaking view.
The mood and the rhythm of the country side changes from one region to another,
and from season to season. It is a land of surprises; it is a land of amazing
natural beauty that can fascinate even the most seasoned traveller.
A magical sojourn reverberating with age old culture and traditions, the state
enfolds in its lap a diverse kaleidoscope of breathtakingly beautiful and fascinating
art-de-facts. The range is unparalleled even while it is sophisticated in its
simplicity.
It has something for almost every kind of traveler, revealing a vast range of
arts and crafts, which is a treat for the visuals and are ready to be picked.
The Bazaars spill with products and there is a magnificent glow of colours all
over.
Intricate work carved on handicrafts or the wonders of gems and stones, it has
it all and even more like the colours dancing on the textiles and fabrics with
silver or gold threads settings and complimented with the variety of Silk-threads,
Beads, Gota, Zari, Zardosi, Banarasi, etc. designed by the age old families
of skilled artisans.
The amazing use of clay in the form of sculpture and decorative arts, the paintings
from different schools like Miniature, Mughal and the different Rajasthani shailis
(school of art) and more are piled up, revealing the medieval splashes and recording
historic and dramatic events. Almost capturing the senses!
The age old art of dyes and colours hold the centre of attraction.
Every part of the state, every town, every village is associated with the rich
heritage of craftsmanship so particular to Rajasthan. Entire villages practice
crafts - sometimes a vast spectrum, on other occasions just a single skill that
can range from dhurrie weaving to terracotta products.
These traditions once helped to form the different layers of a self-supporting
society in villages and towns, and it is this that has ensured their survival.
Most crafts are still practiced because they find use in local society - the
painters, for example, still do frescos on temple walls, and the village cobbler
makes thick-soled shoes for the farmers, reserving the more delicate versions
for visitors.
Today, Rajasthan's markets spill with an exciting array of goods: paintings,
jewellery, fabrics and textiles, soft-as-gossamer quilts, clay pottery and blue
pottery, dhurries and carpets, wood, metal and stone sculpture, leatherware
and terracotta...
Little bells dance in the breeze, puppets dangle from strings, embroidered footwear
brightens up stores, lights glow in huge glass candelabra and gemstones spill
across pavements: in Rajasthan's treasure-trove, you could spend days simply
exploring the world of the artisan.
Culture of Rajasthan
Rajasthan- the land of royalty is a glittering jewel set in the golden sands
of a barren deserts landscape. The light that reflects off the golden sands
engulfs a land renowned for its vibrant colors, people in bright clothes and
beautiful jewelry, living in cities dotted and dominated by towering forts and
palace that rise from the sands like mirage.
The brightness of its life, the legends of its heroism and romance are all captured
in the vibrant and evocative music of this desert land. There is a richness
and diversity in Rajasthani music which comes from a tradition that is old and
undisturbed, and from a culture that has imbibed the best from its neighboring
states of Sindh, Gujurat, Malwa, Mewar, Haryana and Punjab.
Music which rich evocative heroic plaintive and joyful governs all aspects of
Rajasthani lives. The voices both male and female are strong and powerful. The
numerous songs sang by the women reflect the various feminine moods and strong
family ties that govern their lives, Peepli and Nihalde are songs imploring
the beloved not to leave her or to return to her as soon as he can.
There are songs about the family comparing every member to the numerous ornaments
worn by women. The festivals of gangaur and teej, celebrating marital bliss
and the brief but splendid moonsoon of Rajasthan call for special songs without
which no celebration is complete.
Men and women of Rajasthan sing devotional as well as festive songs. Songs by
the saint-poets like Kabir, Meera and Malookdas are part of the folk repertoire.
They are sung all night during the raatjagas (all night soirees spent singing
devotional songs) which are held as thanks giving to a particular deity. The
resonant singing of the Rajasthani folk is accompanied by music from simple
instruments like the Baara and Algoza, that usally give a beat or a drone to
offset the poetry.
Fairs and festivals bring an even greater riot of colour and music into lives
of these desert people .Holi the festival of colours,brings forth the joyous,lively
rhythms of the change and dhamal songs Marriage ,childbirth ,the visit of the
son-in-law, all call for song and music. Even children have their own special
songs called the saanjhi and the Ghulda. Favorites that are sung at all times
are the Panihari Eendoni, the famous Kurjan Digipuri-ka-raja and the Rasiya
songs of the Braj region.
The hard life of the desert dwellers made them seek means of making life more
pleasant by developing their artistic talents. There are many traditional communities
who are professional performers and their skills are handed down from generation
to generation. The Bhat and Charans are bards, who could inspire the Rajput
warriors with accounts of heroic deeds by whipping up patriotic flavor or even
ridiculing the royal families with their satire.
The wandering balladeers, like the Bhopas who sing about the Marwar folk hero-Pabuji,
travel from village with their phad painting and rawan hahha entertaining people
with their ballad. There are many singing communities in Rajasthan known as
the Dholis.. Also known by other names like Mirasis, Dhadhis, L angas, Manganiyars,
Kalbelias, Jogis, Sargaras, Kamads, Nayaks or Thotis and the Bawaris.
Today their musician be heard all over the state and is pepular even on the
national & international circuits. The best flavor of this rich artistic
talent can be savored during various fairs & festivals of the state, especially
during the Desert Festivals (Jan-Feb), the Pushkar Fair (Oct-Nov), the Marwar
Festival (Sept-Oct) and the Camel Festival (Jan-Feb).
Rajasthan Tourism
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Rajasthan ¤
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