Culture of
Rajasthan
Like
the topographical variation of the land, the culture of Rajasthan is
a wide spectrum of brilliant hues caressed by waves of settlers
ranging from ancient Indus Valley urbanites to pastoral Aryan
herdsmen, Bhil forest dwellers, Jain merchant princes, Jat and
Gujjar cultivators, Muslim craftsmen, and the Rajput warrior
aristocracy. All shaped this region called the land of kings.
Colorful costumes, festivals and customs relieve the tedium of
coping with a harsh, demanding land. People travel to Rajasthan to
savor its splendors and imbibe its enviable heritage. Discover it
all in the fairs and festivals, folk music, Rajasthani cuisine and
crafts of Rajasthan.
Fairs and Festivals of Rajasthan
The Desert Jewel of India, Rajasthan shimmers with even more
vibrancy during the time of its colourful fairs and festivals. The
desert glitters with the colors of joyous celebration and gay
abandon with every fair and festival of Rajasthan. There is a
celebration for every religious occasion, every change of season and
every harvest, all invariably a reflection of the genius of their
arts and crafts and their ascetic refinement. In fact, celebrations
occur almost round the year and are a splendid opportunity for
tourists to gain an insight into the life of the Rajasthan during
their travel.
Folk Dance and Music of Rajasthan
The folk dance and music of Rajasthan are lively, exhilarating,
hypnotic and compelling. A part of the eternal appeal of this
strange and wondrous land, Rajasthan folk dance and music is a part
of life in Rajasthan. Indeed Rajasthan has a very vibrant, highly
evolved tradition of performing arts carefully nurtured and
sustained over the centuries.
Rajasthan cuisine
Referred to as 'the land of Kings', Rajasthan boasts of many a fine
kitchen - both within the palaces and outside. Princely kitchens
have produced many an incomparable and exotic delicacy of shikar
(game) meat. The smoked Rajasthani kebab - sule - is bare-be-cued in
about a dozen different ways. At the other extreme is Maheshwari
Cuisine or the vegetarian cuisine of the Maheshwars of the Marwar or
the Jodhpur area.
Arts and Crafts of Rajasthan
The patronage for artisans of the state was extended by the kings
and rulers who turned to them to embellish their zenanas, the
women's wings of the palaces, and the durbar or courts. Ateliers
were created where artists were treated with due respect and
paintings, jewellery and pottery, stone and wood carving, textile
and rug weaving, was accorded due place. Major craft traditions in
Rajasthan include Tie-and-Dye Textiles, Hand block Printing,
Quilting, Jewellery, Gems and Stones, Blue Pottery, Leather Craft,
Woodcarving, and local Painting traditions. |