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Fair & Festivals in Jaipur
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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