The colorful festival of Rajasthan mesmerizes everyone and it is famous for it. Being part of Rajasthan, the city of Udaipur celebrates all the fairs and festivals. Each and every city of Rajasthan observes one or the other festival that is particularly associated with that city. The important fairs and festivals that are closely associated with Udaipur are Mewar Festival and the Shilpgram Fair. If you want to see how magical these festival are then celebrate it with the localites. A glimpse of their celebrations would make you dance at the tunes of their music. Mewar Festival is celebrated consequently with the celebrations of Gangaur festival in Jaipur. The festival has its own religious importance and is celebrated with enthusiasm in Udaipur. Talking about Shilpgram Fair, it is another fair that is organized to promote art and crafts of Rajasthan. If you want to be a part of these festivals, plan your trip during the gala time of Udaipur. Once seen, these fairs and festivals would become an unforgettable part of your memories.
HOLI
Holi is one of the major festival of India and is the most vibrant of all. The joys of Holi knows no bound. The festival is celebrated across the four corners of India or rather across the globe. The festival is filled with so much fun and frolic that the very mention of the word ‘Holi’ draws smile and enthusiasm amongst the people. Holi also celebrates the arrival of Spring, a season of joy and hope.
Legend of Holi Festival
Holi is one of the oldest festivals of India. There are many interesting stories associated with the festival’s origin as one moves across the different states from North to South and East to West. Paintings and scriptures depict the roots of the festival. Mythology plays a very important part in narrating the festival of Holi. The most popular stories of Holi origin relates to ‘Holika Dahan’ and Legend of Radha-Krishan.
Holi is famous as Basant Utsav in rural India. It is one of the major festivals in India and is celebrated with extreme enthusiasm and joy. Gulal, abeer and pichkaris are synonymous with the festival. Elaborate plans are made to color the loved ones. Everybody wants to be the first one to color the other. In the ensuing battle of colors, everybody is drowned not just in colors of gulal but also in love and mirth. People love to drench others and themselves in colored water. Gujiyas and other sweets are offered to everyone who comes across to color.Temples are beautifully decorated at the time of Holi. Idol of Radha is placed on swings and devotees turn the swings singing devotional Holi songs. Now-a-days small plays are organized reflecting the spirit of the festival. What is remarkably same across the country is the spirit of Holi. Fun, frolic, boisterousness to the extent of buffoonery marks this festival of colors. What more can be expected- when the people get a social sanction to get intoxicated on the bhang, open not just their hearts’ out but also their lungs. And viola, nobody is expected to take offense too, as the norm of the day is, ‘Bura na mano Holi hai’ .
Diwali
- In North India they celebrate the story of King Rama’s return to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps.
- South India celebrates it as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura.
- In western India the festival marks the day that Lord Vishnu, the Preserver (one of the main gods of the Hindu trinity) sent the demon King Bali to rule the nether world.
In all interpretations, one common thread rings true—the festival marks the victory of good over evil.
Non-Hindu communities have other reasons for celebrating the holiday:
In Jainism, it marks the nirvana or spiritual awakening of Lord Mahavira in Oct. 15, 527 B.C.
- In Sikhism it marks the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru was freed from imprisonment.
mps or diyas and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand.The third day is the main day of the festival when families gather together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi followed by mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities.The fourth day is the first day of the new year when friends and relatives visit with gifts and best wishes for the season On the last day of Diwali, brothers visit their married sisters who welcome them with love and a lavish meal.
Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated as the day where a sister ties a thread around her brother’s wrist as a symbol of protection while the he promises to protect and take care of her.Here are five more things you need to know about this auspicious occasion:1. The origin of Raksha Bandhan comes from the ancient times when Indrani tied a thread given to her by Lord Vishnu around her husband Lord Indra’s wrist to protect him from demons during the war between the Gods and demons.
2. Another story believes that demons won the war and captured heaven. Lord Indra, who was unhappy about this, complained to Brihaspati (guru of the gods), who then prepared a raksha sutra and told him to wear it for protection.
3. The promise of protection was seen in the Mahabharat too. It is believed that once Lord Krishna cut his finger and was bleeding profusely. Seeing this, Draupadi tore a part of her sari and tied it around his finger. This is believed to be the reason why he saved her during her cheerharan by Kaurava.
4. Rakhi saved Alexander The Great’s life. When he had invaded India, his wife Roxana had sent a rakhi to the Katoch King Porus and he had vowed to protect her and her husband. So, on the battlefield when he was about to kill Alexander he saw the rakhi and refrained from killing him.
5. The most significant story of the dedication of a brother’s promise if that of Emperor Humayun who went with his troops to Mewar when Rani Karnavati who ruled the region then asked for his help. Mewar had been attacked twice by Bahadur Shah and as a ray of hope she sent a letter to Humayun with a rakhi asking for his help. The emperor who was between a military campaign then left everything to go and protect her.
