Popularly known as the Pink city, Jaipur is known for its colors and vibrancy. It remains on top of the list of tourist destinations in India mainly because of its enigmatic and beautiful heritage. The people of Jaipur are enthusiastic and lively, bringing the city to life by celebrations of various festivals all year long. During these festivals, all the establishments in this city—from roadside dhabas to 5-star hotels in the Pink City, the likes of The Lalit—have schemes and deals in celebration of the festivities.
The state Rajasthan has myriad forms of folk entertainment, traditions, and customs, which vary from one region to the next. This makes it diverse and united at the same time. The one thing that keeps people together despite their varying traditions is the fact that they do it together, with joy and a keen interest to keep the age-old traditions afloat in this contemporary world. As festivals are the perfect way to enhance the bonds between people with different roots, the various festivals celebrated in Jaipur help people from different regions, caste and creed come together and appreciate each other.
Here are some famous festivals celebrated with immense glory and merriment in the Pink City:
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Elephant Festival
Celebrated in the month of February and March, the Elephant Festival is held on the full moon day of ‘Phalgun Purnima’. The highlights of this interesting festival are the elephant polo and elephant dances that are truly grand and mesmerizing. There are processions of bedecked elephants that are dressed in vibrant colors, bright saddle cloth, jewelry, etc. Colored powder or ‘gulaal’ is also sprinkled on these glorious elephants. These processions are truly a sight to behold. Along with this tradition, there are other activities as well, like a tug-o-war between the elephants and the people.
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Teej
An important festival in many parts of the country, Teej involves women dressing up in beautiful outfits and jewelry and applying henna on their hands. People gather in temples and Goddess Parvati is worshipped. Many folk dances, traditional songs, and fun-filled activities are also organized.
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Jaipur Literary Festival
A personal favorite, this exquisite and educative festival is held in January for five days every year. Started in 2006, it has now become the largest literary festival in the Asia Pacific. People from around the world come to Jaipur to attend this festival. National, as well as foreign authors, grace this festival with their presence and many discussions on relevant issues, are held. Along with sessions, there is a wide range of handicrafts and food items in the festival, along with performances by local bands in the evening. Many good restaurants in Jaipur have their stalls in this festival, giving rise to a mela-like atmosphere abound with food, books, and enlightening conversations.
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Kite Festival
Held on 14 January, this festival is responsible for the colorful sky that Jaipur witnesses on this day. The view is breathtaking as towards dusk, the sky is full of millions of kites, lamps, and fireworks. Many kite-flying competitions also take place on this day, and it is worth visiting Jaipur during this festival. This unique festival marks the transition of the sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn.
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Gangaur Festival
Known for its colors and vibrancy, Gangaur is an important festival of Rajasthan. It is celebrated from March to April. Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri are worshipped during this festival and it is marked by the carving of magnificent clay idols of the gods and goddesses. Multiple hues can be witnessed during this occasion in which women pray for the long lives of their husbands.
A city is not just defined by its infrastructure and roads, it is also identified by the cultures and traditions its people follow, and what better way to gauge the ethos of the people than the festivals they observe and celebrate?