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There is no such diverse country like India where 4000 plus communities reside having different tradition, culture and even languages. It is said that in India in every 50km the language varies, so true it is because 20000 small and native languages are spoken by the Indians. And so many festivals associated with different community in India. This Blog will make you Experience the enchanting tapestry of traditions through the vibrant festivals of Udaipur.
From the busy schedule people get only festive season off from their schools and offices to celebrate the culture.
Known by the city of lakes and the venice of east, the beautiful city has mesmerising views and forts, palaces for tourists to offer. Additionally the hospitality of the udaipuri people is remarkable.
Lets explore some of the festivals of Udaipur, what preparations those people do and why they get together and cherish the festive vibes together. This would help in knowing the city and people of Udaipur in a better way:
From ancient times specifically from 4th Century CE it is known to be celebrated with the message- “good over evil”. Also it marks the beginning of spring after the end of winters.
The epic says there was a king named Hiranyakashyap, the Asur king, his son Prahlada was a devotee of the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu. king didn’t liked it and plotted with his sister, Holika, to kill his son. Holika, who was immune to fire, tricked Prahlada to sit in a pyre with her. When the pyre was lit, the boy’s devotion to Lord Vishnu helped him walk away unscathed while Holika, was burned to death despite her immunity. Which correctly convey the message of victory of good over evil in any case.
The Indians have rituals in holi to play with colors, earlier it was played with natural flower colors, now-a-days readymade colors are used. Streets during holi are colored with various colors and water. A day before the celebration the large pyre is burnt to signify the burning of evil spirits also sweets, dishes are shared between neighbours and friends.
The royal family participate in all functions & rituals. From Holika Dahan and fireworks to spread colors. Celebrating Holi in Udaipur starts with Holika Dahan, a day before Holi known as Mewar Holika Dahan also the bonfire happens near to City Palace. The king’s family starts the occasion by lighting the Holi pyre, while the locals performs a folk dance-Gair around the bonfire.
Udaipur’s Holika Dahan is followed by a large rally long with royal family members sitting on decorated camels, elephants and horses plus a music band is played in that rally. This royal fest starts from Shambhu Niwas Palace and moves up to Manek Chowk royal residence.
Finally, the cocktail and dinner is served at the royal palace and the celebration ends with vibrant fireworks. On holi day, locals and tourists celebrate holi throughout the city. In several parts of old Udaipur, locals play with colours, water guns and balloons also they dance and sing folk songs.
Events are organised in holika dahan mohatsav in Jagdish chowk and Malla Talai area where several thoudands people gather and dances, sing and enjoy folk artists performance
Some of the Holi events organized in Udaipur like- Lotus Country Rang Raas, Bindass Rangothon 4.0,Rang de Udaipur.
Food is the ultimate spirit in any festival occasion and in Holi special dishes are made such as- Gujiya and.Mathi by Udaipur people
Gujiya: there is a tradition in every household to make gujiyas at home for holi and the process is little complicated. Shape is like a crescent filled with sweetened khoya and mawa (milk solids) and nuts. Mostly in North India it is cooked
Generally the Hindu married women celebrate the festival by taking a day long nirjala fast and putting mehandi on their hand and praying for their better marriage life ahead. Generally in the month of sawan and bhado. teej is celebrated and there are 3 main teej-Hariyali Teej, Hartalika Teej, and Kajri Teej.
In rajasthan 2 teej festives are celebrated Hariyali teej and Kajri teej and the Hartalika is celebrated in other parts of India.
As per the epic, In Hariyali Teej (sawan teej) celebrated on full moon of shravan
The Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati’s marriage. it is the day when Lord Shiva accepted Maa Parvati as his wife after the goddess spent 107 births in penance. Devi Parvati won him over and then called as Teej Maata.
During Kajri teej or say Badi teej celebrated on 3rd day of bhadrapada hindu month. . On Badi Teej, women observing fast for entire day break their fast with Sattu, but only after worshipping the moon.
This sawan ki teej is celebrated by applying mehandi on hands of women and wear generally green color traditional dress. A day before the main festival day, is said –Sinjara and spent in preparation of fest only by visiting markets to buy sweets and decorating mandaps for god.
Ghevar: a traditional sweet of Rajasthan
The best is the indian desert name Ghevar, it is prepared with ghee, maida and milk.
Sattu: A traditional dish,It is prepared from various flours – Wheat, Rice and Gram Flour and consumed during teej festival.
Kheer:
Teej is not complete without this special sweet. Prepared with milk, saffron, soaked rice and nuts for garnishing. By telling its ingredients craving of kheer may happen.
It is the Hindu festival mainly commemorate in the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, UP and MP. This festival is for the godess shakti (Gauri) so womens celebrate this auspicious festive with great zeal during month of chairta (March-April)
As per the epic The story of Gangaur revolves around Maa Parvati being escorted by Lord Shiva from her parental home. As Maa Parvati had performed severe penance for days to persuade Lord Shiva to have her as his wife. That is being reflected in this festival of Ganguar by women taking fast and praying to get a husband.
Starts after holi and continue for 16 days. Womens pray to Goddess Parvati/Gauri to bless them with good harvest, and also marital peace also their husbands with good health and long life. The unmarried girls are also seen taking part so that they are blessed with a good husband.
The clay idols of Gauri-Shiva made by the local craftsmen are decorated and worshiped during the festival. Some Rajput families worship traditional wooden figurines of the divine couple, which are painted before the festival starts. The idols of shiva-gauri are brought to ganguar ghat and immersed in the lake.
Womens put Mehandi on their hands and feet and make special dishes for family to commemorate the Ganguar
In food the wheat plays an important role in the rituals as it denotes harvest. People also buy earthen pots and decorate them in a traditional Rajasthani painting style.
This is remarkable festive and celebrated in India only by the Hindu family. In this festive the sisters tie a ‘RAKHI’ on hands of their brothers and do pooja for them so that the relation lives as long as they are living. The brother promises the sister to protect from anything in the world. Also brothers give present to the sister after sister ties the rakhi knot.
In Udaipur, womens have small business of making handmade rakhis having rajasthani culture depicting their art and tradition. Some are resin made rakhis and purely handcrafted with love.
The meaning of term ‘Shilpgram’ is the village of artisans. Shilpgram is the museum of traditional Rajasthani arts and best platform to present rajasthani folk dance and crafts skills.
The Shilpgram Festival is organized every year from 20 December till 31 December. The fair Shilpgram Mela, is organized and it becomes a one stop destination for hand woven clothes, handlooms and handicrafts. The fair encourages the potters, artists and designers and the cottage industry of Rajasthan to showcase their stuffs. The Festival provides opportunities for learning the craft skills through various workshops as well. The Cultural programmes makes tourist enjoy and learn about the delicacy of Rajasthan culture.
Shilpgram is situated in the western Udaipur, and is spread around 70 acres of land with a village theme as the name gram denotes. Foreigners prefer to visit there to learn about rural life of India. Really much to learn here!
One of the unique festive in udaipur is this Bird festival.
The festival is set to occur from January 11 to January 14, 2024. To coordinate these efforts.
Registration of bird festival and site visit is there in government website and they are not regular birds they are migratory group of birds coming from different parts of world and resting in these sites. Many photographers and birds enthusiast come and see the glory.
The festival Diwali is performed by hindus majorly, It is not just a festival of 1 day but series of festival like Dhanteras is performed then Goverdhan puja followed by choti deepawali and main diwali & next day Bhai Dooj is celebrated by sisters for their brothers.
In deepawali the lightning of diyas takes place and people in their vaarandah make beautiful Rangolis with colors and at evening time worship godess lakshmi for prosperous life ahead.
The Udiapur lantern festival is unique thing that happens during Diwali time in udiapur
unique festive for sure that’s why udaipur attracts thousands of tourist during this time especially.
Generally the entry fee in lantern fest is INR 800-1200. Games and musical fest is organized there many sufi singers and instrumental music lightens the mood. Also fame bollywood singers also come and make the night memorable
The Udaipur Lantern Festival celebrates the festival of lights, people gather together to celebrate Diwali at a commonplace, lit lanterns into the sky and enjoy music and concerts with food, dance and other fun activities.
It is an eco-friendly festival as no crackers are burst into the atmosphere.
Fitters: famously taken on diwali with green pudina chutney
Dal batti churma: A rajasthani cuisine, In streets of Udaipur it is eaten near streets of lake pichola
Sweets: neighbours exchange sweets and fitters during diwali, few sweets famous consumed during this period are: gulab jamun, soan papdi, moti chur laddu, kaju katli, gajar halwa, falooda
Goddess sheetala is worshipped on the 8th day (Asthami) after holi, she is the incarnation of Maa Durga and people believe by worshipping sheeta mata the outbreak of many disease such as- chicken pox, measles and small poxes remain in control.
The picture of mata is pictured as siting on Donkey, holding pot and a silver broom in her hands for cleaning of the viruses and germs and kalash/pot on other hand for purification.
As per the tradition, the festival is marked the beginning of summer season. The devotee wake up early and go to sheetla mata temple there offer a diya made from wheat flour dough but do not lit it. Moreover offers sindoor, mehndi, bindi and chuddi, flowers and sweets to goddess after offering womens chant mantra
Tradition is the devotee do not lit fire and cook so eat previous day food and drink sugarcane juice.
A festival that showcase the Rajputana tradition and their role in historical events that has shaped today’s living condition.
This Mewar festival, held every year in the month of March and April in the city of Udaipur during the Ganguar festival time, Women dressed in traditional attire comes to ganguar ghat at lake pichola and perform rituals to goddess gauri. When the religious part is over its time for cultural events and shows so there puppet shows, rajasthani dance and latter fireworks happens.
womens of udaipur celebrate for 16 days almost, they put rajputi poshak (dress) go to gangaur ghat to perform the famous ghoomar dance and puja ceremony of idols .
The uniqueness about the Mewar Festival in Udaipur is the ceremonies and the rituals associated with the Royal House of Mewar from 75 years.
The city itself is ironic as it has great importance since the time of history and many great kingdoms ruled here and established systems which are in use nowadays as well. The royal family of Maharana Udai singh who established the city long back. The whole state is known as land of Rajputs. So everywhere the culture is preserved by rajasthani peoples. ___________________________________
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