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Colourful Rajasthan promises a lifetime of enjoyment

     Jaipur: Rajasthan, a land of festivals, colours and vibrancy, where people rejoice everyday in sparkling ways of their culture, is celebrating the "Rajashthan Day Festival" from March 21 to 30 with a promise to "experience a lifetime of enjoyment in just 10 days". The Chief Minister of the state, Vasundhera Raje, inaugurated the festival to celebrate the Foundation Day of Rajasthan on Monday in a function attended by the Olympian from Rajasthan, Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore. "It is important to make everyone realise the pride of Rajasthan. That's why we'll be displaying things that represent the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan in the celebrations to commemorate the formation of the state of Rajasthan on March 30. While we try to project the state, outside the country through this festival, we hope everyone will be enjoying these ten days," said Raje, after the inauguration. Fifty-six years ago, on 30th March 1949, Rajasthan was created as a state of the Union of India through the grand unification of the erstwhile princely states of Rajputana. Since then, 30th March is celebrated as Rajasthan Diwas every year. The festival organised by Rajasthan's Tourism Department has been designed to give a push to tourism in the state by portraying the states cultural heritage, traditional sports, regional cuisines, folk art, craft, dance and music. These celebrations will witness a large range of participation across the state as sports and cultural competitions will be organised at levels of districts and divisions culminating to state-level finals in the state capital. Craft-Bazaar, Food Festival, Night Bazaar, Sports competitions, spectacular fire- works, Mega Cultural Concerts, and competitions for school students are but a few events planned by the state government for the master celebration. "We started our rehearsal three days back. There are folk performers from 10 districts of the state. We are presenting various folk songs, traditional dances and playing instruments.

    These tell the tales about Rajasthan, about its rich heritage," said Gazi Khan, a folk artist participating in the celebrations. "Run for Rajasthan" would be held in which internationally and nationally famed sportspersons of Rajasthan would participate in the relay. Apart from organising the Craft Bazaar, awareness- seminars and design workshops would also be organised to benefit the talented craftsmen. Puppet shows and folk performances by Kalbelia, Manganiyars, Garasias, Sahariya, Bheels and other tribes every evening in Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur have been planned as added attraction for the visitors to Craft Bazaar. There would be tasty, mouth-watering recipes too with Marwari, Mewari, Hadoti, Dundhari, Brij and Punjabi delicacies on the menu at the Food festival. One of the most unique features of these celebrations would be the Night Bazaar. This bazaar would be open till midnight and will showcase shoppers' items ranging from handicrafts, clothes, potteries, carpets, internationally renowned quilts, blankets & jewellery to day-today household commodities. Colourful fireworks to spark the sky of the pink-city are also on the agenda. Grand cultural shows and live concerts every evening in the ambience of majestic Albert Hall, Amer Fort and other equally eye-arresting venues have been planned to entertain people throughout the celebrations. A variety of programmes ranging from Classical Music & dance performances, Ghazal Evening, Bollywood Celebrity Evening to Nritya Natika, Natya Sandhya etc. would also be held during the celebrations. The grand finale of the celebrations would see a royal procession comprising of caparisoned elephants, decorated camels & horses, arresting tableaux of 32 districts, winners of various sports & cultural competitions, time tested vintage cars, sprightly performances of Millitary Band, Police-Band, BSF Camel mounted Band and NCC Bands, troupes of Kalbelia, Gair, Kutchi-Ghori, and other folk dance performers who would appease the eyes of people and display culture, heritage, custom, and resources of Rajasthan at its best. Rajasthan, with its rich culture and heritage, continues to be one of the most preferred tourism destinations in the world, witnessing a growth of more than fifty per cent in foreign tourists in-flow in the past ten years.
-Mar 22, 2005