Light Show at City Palace, Jaipur

After Rajasthan’s forts being Listed in the Unesco World Heritage sites, Jaipur is now all set to witness the Unique Light Sculpture show. Starting in City Palace Museum the show will be based on the unique techniques of Laser Lights & will focus on the history of the Royal Family of Jaipur. 

World famous French Light architect Patrick Rimoux is working on this project. The authority is planning to host this show daily 3 hours which will include Dinner & Palace sightseeing also. 
The show most probably will begin in October .

I am also posting here cuttings of the news article Published in Jaipur Newspaper dated 25th July 2013.

For more information call or whatsapp me at : +91 8287455143

The Desert Festival Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

Once a year during winters, the sands around Jaisalmer come alive with the brilliant colors, music and laughter of the Desert Festival. Dressed in brilliantly hued costumes, the people of the desert dance and sing haunting ballads of valor, romance and tragedy. The fair has snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers. Camels, of course, play a stellar role in this festival, where the rich and colorful folk culture of Rajasthan is on show. The festival closes with an enchanting sound and light show amidst the sand dunes on a moonlit night.

A few days before the spring full moon according to the Hindu calendar, musicians, dancers and performers from all over Rajasthan start moving in colorful camel caravans towards the golden town of Jaisalmer, which dons a festive look. The otherwise barren landscape is splashed with vibrant colors marking the opening of the Desert Festival. The 12th century fort of Jaisalmer, built in yellow sandstone, provides a fairytale background. Over the years, the desert dwellers in their solitude have woven a fascinating tapestry with threads of music and rhythm and the Desert Festival is a celebration of their heritage. It is a chance of a lifetime to see the folk art forms against the landscape that has nurtured them for hundreds of years. With the arrival of the artists, a delightful series of programs begins in and around Jaisalmer. There is music everywhere and at every given hour. Through the winding lanes of the fortified town to the sand dunes and even the rivers of abandoned villages, the music casts a potent spell. Beginning at sunrise, it reaches its zenith under the umbrella of the star-studded sky.

Through the day, visitors can come face to face with the desert craftsmen. Exquisitely embroidered skirts, hand-woven shawls, rugs, carvings on wood and stone, camel decorations, embroidered leather bags, ethnic silver jewelry and terracotta are brought in from all over the desert. These skillfully achieved crafts are objects d'art for the handicraft buff.

Evenings are meant for the main shows of music and dance. Vibrating desert drums can be heard for miles around. Nearly all the variations of performing arts of these desert people are displayed. Continuing till late into the night, the number of spectators swells up each night and the grand finale, on the full moon night, takes place by silvery sand dunes.

The main attractions of the Desert festival are:

• Turban Tying Competition
• Mr. Desert Competition
• Rajasthani folk songs and dance
• Gair and Fire dancers
• Camel Polo

Camels are not just beasts of burden but an integral part of the desert life and the camel events confirm this fact. Special efforts go into dressing the animal for entering the spectacular competition of the best-dressed camel. Camel owners vie with each other for winning the camel races and a feeling of pride is discernible both in the eyes of the owner and his mount that wins. To add some more fun and color, the camel show has two unique events - the camel polo and the camel dance.

Although the basic design of the festival remains the same, each year there are a few new events. Some of the most spectacular and memorable shows of past festivals have been the dream-like pageant, "Blood, Blade and Romance" on the sand dunes recreating the legendary past; the camel tattoo of the Border Security Force, which has a highly trained camel corps to guard the western border; and the pulsating folk ensemble of a hundred musicians. Today, this traditional extravaganza is a coveted event for all tourists coming to India this time of the year.

Wrap up the wildlife and Rajasthan desert tour with breathtaking moments at the Taj Mahal and end the journey on a holy note at Varanasi. Contact +91 8287455143

Holi – The Festival of Colors in India

Indian Color Festival Holi‎

About Holi Festival

Holi is one of the most important festivals of Hindus which is steeped in all the colors of the rainbow. It is celebrated in India to welcome the season of spring and end of winters. It is a two-day long festival celebrated with lot of gaiety all over India. On the eve of Holi, people gather to light a huge bonfire of the dried leaves and twigs also known as Holika Dahan. On the morning of the festival, people meet each other to apply dry and wet colors each other, play with water, and eat sweets together

Holika Dahan: The Holi bonfire

The main emphasis of the festival is on the burning of the holy fire or Holika. The origin of the traditional lighting of Holi is attributed by some to the burning of demonesses like Holika, Holaka and Putana who represent evil, or to the burning of Madan according to others. Traditionally a bonfire on the day of Holi, marks the symbolic anhilation of a demoness Holika the sister of demon, Hiranyakashipu, in Hindu mythology, while trying to kill, a devotee, Bhakta Prahlad .

This is akin to other festivals where effigies are burned, like Ravana Dahan on Vijayadashami (Dusshera) day, also in many other religions across the world, signifying end of dark or demonic forces.

 

Dulhendi

The next day this victory is celebrated as the day of Dulhendi.

Principal ingredients of celebration are Abeer and Gulal, in all possible colours. Next comes squirting of coloured water using pichkaris. Coloured water is prepared using Tesu flowers, which are first gathered from the trees, dried in the sun, and then ground up, and later mixed with water to produce orange-yellow coloured water. Another traditional Holi item now rarely seen is a where a red powder enclosed in globes of Lakh, which break instantly and covering the party with the powder. Regional rituals and celebrations

People of Jaipur play this Holi festival with great zest and joy. Holi is celebrated on PhalgunPurnima or Poranmashi (full moon) in the month of March or April. In fact, the Holi played in the pink city is popularly known as Lathmar Holi. It is believed that the adorable Gopies had warned Lord Krishna and his friends not to step into the land of Barsana, their village, on Holi. But Lord Krishna did not listen to their ‘advice’ and entered the village with his friends, for this they were showered with bamboos by the Gopies. That is why Lathmar Holi is celebrated, wherein the womenfolk use bamboo sticks to hit the men. Poor men! It’s all a part of the colourful festival celebrations.

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Goa – Where Tranquility Is Always In The Air

Goa has been a lot of things to a lot of people. While some have called it the quintessential party destination of India, others have fondly named it the ‘Rome of the East’ for its architectural window to the past, and a lot many agree that it is one of those rare places where tranquillity is always in the air. Goa is all that and much more. While siestas rule noontime in this languid city, hugging the western coast of India, by evening it transforms into this big celebration, alive and kicking, with a pulse of its own.

• ·         When in Goa, forget the “Do as the Romans” rule, and simply be yourself! One of the most comforting aspects of this cosy little destination is that it is the most liberal places in India, giving you enough breathing space, as long as you stay within the law.
• ·         While you will find yourself gorging on some aptly spiced seafood, Vindaloo or Vindalho is a local delicacy you must try. Made of pork, wine and garlic, the only word of caution for this irresistible curry is the Spice Factor!
• ·         No trip to this erstwhile Portuguese outpost can be complete without a sip of ‘Feni’. One shot of this heady, cashew-palm liquor, and you will know why Goans are always so cheery.
• ·         The best time to visit would be November to March, when the weather is cooler and the rains won’t dampen your mood or plans.
• ·         No matter what your aim, take one day out to party the night away, and one to simple indulge in some “Susegad”! A term used by locals to describe their general celebration of life, characterized by simply ‘relaxing’, take a breather, kick off your shoes, find a shack or hammock, and soak in the sights and sounds of GOA!

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When the Desert is Soaked in colour – The Legendary Pushkar Camel Fair

Each year the dusty town of Pushkar comes alive in the Hindu month of Kartik, and how! Tourists and locals flock to this small town for a variety of reasons. While some are here to wash away their sins with a dip in the Holy Pushkar Lake, others are here to participate in the camel and livestock fair, and then there are those who are simply here to be a part of the celebrations and witness the various quirky competitions.

Perched on the edge of the desert, the small town of Pushkar is situated 11 kms from the city of Ajmer in Rajasthan and stands separated by the “Snake Mountain” or “Naag Pahaar” as locals call it. It stands well-connected by rail, air and road. During the five days of the fair, the town welcomes over 50,000 camels, and more than 2,00,000 tourists. The camels are brought in to be traded off or compete on the basis of their best features, beauty, speed and even tricks.

The five days between Kartik Ekadashi and Kartik Poornima is when the Pushkar Fair is held, which usually fall during the months of October – December, and are considered to be quite auspicious. Legend has it that on the day of the Kartik Poornima, a full moon night, the Hindu God Brahma created the Holy Pushkar Lake by dropping a lotus flower after the completion of a ‘Yagya’ or prayer ceremony. This also happens to be the reason why the town features the only Brahma Temple in the world and that the word Pushkar translates to lotus.

The Brahma Temple is characterized by a red spire and a Hans (goose) overlooking the entrance; the goose being the official carrier of the Hindu God. The temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Brahma, considered to be the Creator of the Universe in the Hindu Trinity of Gods. The temple of his wife, Goddess Savitri is perched on a hill top, which happens to be an hour’s trek away. The Temple of Savitri offers a breath-taking view of the Pushkar Lake as well as the surrounding dunes. The Varah Temple, also in Pushkar, is dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu, considered to be the preserver in the Holy Trinity of Hindu Gods.

Attractions at the Pushkar Fair include a good mix of competitions that range from sporty to entertaining and even downright amusing. Flocking the fairgrounds, along with an assortment of tourists, are decorated camels and livestock. 

The main competitions include a tug of war, camel race, cricket or kabbaddi between locals and random foreign tourists, puppet show, best Indian bride, longest moustache and turban tying.

The Pushkar Fair is definitely an event of a lifetime, and should be part of your holiday in India if you choose to travel during the last quarter of the year!


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Jaipur to celebrate Teej Festival on 17-18 August 2015

Teej is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of Rajasthan. Swings, traditional songs and dancing are the unique features of Teej celebrations in Rajasthan. Women perform traditional folk dance dressed in green coloured clothes and sing beautiful Teej songs while enjoying their sway on swings bedecked with flowers. Teej is celebrated with immense fun and fanfare in the capital city of Jaipur. On this day, women and young girls wear their best clothes and adorn themselves with fine jewellery. They gather at a nearby temple or a common place and offers prayers to Goddess Parvati for well being of their husbands.

On the occasion of Teej, markets in Jaipur are stocked with trendiest women accessories and clothes. Most of the fabric clothes display ‘laheria’ (tie and dye) prints. Sweetshops keep different Teej sweets but ‘Ghevar and Feeni’ is the main sweet of the season. All over Rajasthan, swings are hung from trees and decorated with fragrant flowers. Women both married and unmarried love to swing on these swings to celebrate the 'Sawan festival'.

The traditional Teej procession with all its regal pomp and pageantry, will start on 9 August in the 6 pm (time is subject to change) from the Tripoliya Gate (City Palace), winding its way through Tripolia Bazar and Chhoti Chaupar, Gangauri Bazaar to wind up at the Chaugan Stadium. The procession will also leave next day at the same time. In the procession of Goddess Teej, right in the front will be folk performances like kacchi ghodi, Kalbeliya, Algoza, Bahrupia, Gair, Bail Dance and Chakri dance, among others. In the procession the tourists and the visitors will also be able to witness a large number of bands, ornamented camels, mounted police on horses, women in traditional dress with Kalash and Dhalet Chobadars.

Sitting arrangements for tourist will be done on the terrace of Hind Hotel, opposite Tripoliya Gate on 9th and 10th August during the traditional Teej Procession in Jaipur.

If you are in Jaipur during these dates you can surely recommend then this colorful & musical extravaganza. 


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International Kite Festival and Rann Utsav in Gujarat

International Kite Festival in Gujarat – Uttarayan

Uttarayan is celebrated every year on 14th January, known as Makar Sankranti in other parts of north India, and Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and continues on the 15th.

The festival of Uttarayan is a uniquely Gujarati phenomenon, when the skies over most cities of the state fill with kites from before dawn until well after dark. The festival marks the days in the Hindu calendar when winter begins turning to summer, known as Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan. On what is usually a bright warm sunny day with brisk breezes to lift the kites aloft, across the state almost all normal activity is shut down and everyone takes to the rooftops and roadways to fly kites and compete with their neighbors.

Kites of all shapes and sizes are flown, and the main competition is to battle nearby kite-flyers to cut their strings and bring down their kites. For this, people find their favored kite-makers who prepare strong resilient kite bodies with springy bamboo frames and kite-paper stretched to exactly the right tension. Lastly, the kites are attached to a spool (or firkin) of manja, special kite-string coated with a mixture of glue and glass to be as sharp as possible for cutting strings of rival kites. Production of kites and kite supplies can be seen on the streets of Ahmedabad beginning in November, to get ready for Uttarayan, and nowhere more so than in Patang Bazaar, the special kite market that appears in the old city. For the week preceding the festival, it is open 24 hours a day for all kite lovers to stock up for the festivities.

Parents who normally find their children hard to get out of bed for school will find them setting the alarm for 5 am on 14th Jan., to get up and start flying kites in the ideal pre-dawn wind. The atmosphere is wonderfully festive, as whole families gather on the rooftop, special foods like laddoos , undhyu or surati jamun are prepared for eating over the course of the day, and friends and neighbors visit each other for group kite-flying fun. Often people look out for which of their friends has the optimum terrace for kite flying and many will congregate there. This leads to many social gatherings that would not otherwise occur, as one person's brother's friends meet their classmate's cousins, because they have all gathered on the rooftop of the same mutual friend. People often find themselves marking time by Uttarayans: "I met you three Uttarayans ago, right?" is a not uncommon phrase. At night, kite fighters send up bright white kites to be seen in the darkness, and skilled flyers will send aloft their tukkals with strings of brightly lit lanterns in a long line leading back down to the rooftop. From early morning to late at night, Uttarayan provides lots of fun and beautiful sights to remember for a long time.

Since 1989, the city of Ahmedabad has hosted the International Kite Festival as part of the official celebration of Uttarayan, bringing master kite makers and flyers from all over the world to demonstrate their unique creations and wow the crowds with highly unusual kites. In past years, master kite makers from Malaysia have brought their wau-balang kites, llayang-llayanghave come from Indonesia, kite innovators from the USA have arrived with giant banner kites, and Japanese rokkaku fighting kites have shared the skies with Italian sculptural kites, Chinese flying dragons, and the latest high-tech modern wonders. A master kite maker and famous kite flyer Rasulbhai Rahimbhai of Ahmedabad trains of up to 500 kites on a single string have come to be a classic attraction. Almost every known variety of kite can be seen in the skies over Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, from box kites to high-speed sport kites, from windsocs and spinsocs to hand-painted artistic kites.

Rann Utsav

A plethora of varied hues, profusion of design, superfluity of culture, cornucopia of music and dance, all together in the arid lands of Kutch creates a mosaic of exquisiteness which reflects the identity and spirit of the region. Kutch, one of the most ecologically and ethnically diverse district of the state is a celebratory land of art, crafts, music, dance, people and nature. During the full moon night of the winters amid the awe-inspiring and contrasting landscape each year a three day festive extravaganza brimming with hospitality, vigor and traditional flavor of the area is hosted and known as the Kutch or Rann Mahotsav.

This month long carnival organized at the various locales within Kutch takes one around the natural grandiose while introducing the visitor to the indigenous cultural and ethnical flavor of the people. Semi parched Grasslands of the Banni hosts the most magnificent display of vernacular architecture as the exhibition platform for the varied range of arts and crafts of the region. While an array of folk music and dance performances organized in the shimmering moonlit landscape provides the most enchanting experience. The colorful fairs held near the beach or the banks of a lake swings one with the spirit of festivity, fervor and flamboyancy while the organized tour around Kutch is an ideal occasion to be part of the region and experience the zeal and uniqueness of the people through a celebration of life!

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