A Rajasthan travel is a sensory overload for many sightseers. Vibrant colors, bright sun, regal attire, friendly people and sweet tinkle of music and dance greet travelers as they set foot on the Rajasthani soil. It is these that mark the culture of Rajasthan and infuse it with liveliness. The various aspects of Rajasthan culture are:
Language: Even though Hindi is widely spoken about all over Rajasthan, the region has also maintained its dialects that remain in use even today such as Dundhari, Mewati, Merwari, Hadoti and Marwari. Theses Indo-Aryan languages are collectively known as 'Rajasthani' language
Music: Folk music is an integral part of the Rajasthani culture. Traditionally performed at the courts of Kings in Rajasthan, Rajasthani music has both historical and aesthetic value. The "Rasos" sung by traditional bards, which have been passed down for generations, relate tales of the Kings of earlier times and their legendary exploits, the most famous being the Prithiviraj Raso. In today's times, Rajasthani music is accompanied by percussion instruments such as dholaks and ektaras.
Dance: Rajasthani dance is highly rhythmic and folk based. Famous amongst them are the Ghoomar, Kalbeliya, and Gir that are highly entertaining. Ghoomar is basically performed by women during sacred festivals such as Navratra. The most striking feature about Rajasthani folk dances are is bright colorful garments that are embellished with embroidery and mirror work
Puppetry: An ever-popular art form in Rajasthan puppetry has been performed here for centuries. The traditional stories, legends and moral fables are related through the colorful puppets: of Rajasthan in a cultural tradition that goes back in time.
Cultural Festivals of Rajasthan
Rajasthan has many colorful festivals that occur around the year. Each of the festivals of Rajasthan is a reflection of the culture of Rajasthan and the shared sense of community of the Rajasthani people. Some of the prominent festivals of Rajasthan that you are sure to encounter during your travel to Rajasthan are:
Teej Festival: A festival celebrated by women who pray to Shiva and his consort Parvati for a happy married life, Teej is a joyous occasion when all the women come out in their best attire and carry an idol of the Goddess Parvati through the streets of Jaipur.
Gangaur Festival : The Gangaur Festival is celebrated in honor of Isar and Gauri incarnations of Shiva and Parvati who are worshipped as the perfect couple. The festival is marked by a colorful procession in Jaipur accompanied by dances, music and cultural performances.
Urs at Ajmer Sharif: This annual event is held in the memory of the Sufi saint Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti, at his tomb in Ajmer, Rajasthan. Pilgrims from all over the world, including world-renowned Sufi performers sing at the cultural events that are held at the holy shrine.
Pushkar Mela: An annual religious festival held at Karthik Purnima in November at the holy town of Pushkar, this is a unique cultural attraction in Rajasthan. Pilgrims take a ritual bath in the holy Pushkar Lake and pray at the only Brahma Temple in India during their travel to Pushkar. The camel fair is a colorful event with camel races, cultural performances and even a camel beauty pageant in Pushkar.
Desert Festival: The Desert Festival held at the Sam sand dunes outside Jaisalmer is a sight to be seen. Rajasthani dancers, singers, puppeteers and camels converge on this region of undulating sand dunes in a riot of color.
