Jaipur Fairs &
Festivals
Elephant Festival, Jaipur: The elephant festival gets
underway in the month of Phalgun (March) on the eve of Holi, the
festival of colours. The festival begins with a procession of
elephants, camels, horses and folk dancers. 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.
Sheetla Mata Fair, Chaksu: The Sheetla Mata Fair is held in
March-April, the month of Chaitra, in village Seel-Ki-Doongri.
Doongri is a hillock on top of which the shrine of Sheetla Mata
stands. The Fair is held in her honour every year. The fair
attracts hordes of visitors from far and wide. People believe that
epidemics spread because of the wrath of Sheetla Mata and hence
they worship her and make offerings so that she may be pacified.
The deity is represented by a red stone. It is veritable picnic
for the pilgrims attending the fair. It is customary to cook one's
own food at the site, and eat it only after it has been offered at
the shrine. A temporary market comes up at the fair and the rural
folk can been trading in wares such as shoes, clothes, food stuff,
utensils and agriculture implements. A cattle fair is also
organized during the fair. It is a small affair and lasts for
about a week. Bullocks, camels and horses are sold at the fair and
prizes are awarded to the best breeders.
Gangaur Festival: The Gangaur festival is the most
important local festival of Rajasthan and is observed throughout
the state with great fervour and devotion by womenfolk who worship
Gauri, the consort of lord Shiva. Gan is a synonym for Shiva and
Gauri which stands for Gauri or Parvati who symbolizes saubhagya
(Marital Bliss). Gauri is the embodiment of perfection and
conjugal love which is why the unmarried women worship her for
being blessed with good husbands, while married women do so for
welfare, health and long life of their spouses and a happy married
life.
The festival commences on the first day of Chaitra, the day
following Holi and continues for 18 days. For a newly-wedded girl,
it is binding to observe the full course of 18 days of the
festival that succeeds her marriage. Even unmarried girls fast for
the fully period of 18days and eat only one meal a day.
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: Teej is the festival of swings. It marks the advent
of the monsoon month of Sharvan (August). The monsoon rains fall
on the parched land and the pleasing scent of the wet soil rises
into the air. Swings are hung from trees and decorated with
flowers. Young girls and women dressed in green clothes sing songs
in celebration of the advent of the monsoon. This festival is
dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, commemorating her union with
Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvati is worshipped by seekers of conjugal
bliss and happiness. An elaborate procession is taken out in
Jaipur for two consecutive days on the festive occasion which is
watched by people in large numbers. The Teej idol is covered with
a canopy whereas the Gangaur idol is open. |