Colors of the handmade khadi, radiance of the silky banarasi, Dazzle of the mirrored Khachhiwar, spicy smack of the Punjabi chaat and parathas, the original taste of the sour and salty makki ki raab, sweetness of the American corn, chhaach, lassi and almond milk in kulhad, the hand crafted pots, the embellishing articles of mud, frames, antiques and god idols made of wood, the classy bags, baskets and wall hanging articles of the jute, the heritage embroidered jackets and leather jutiyas, the colorful paper lamps and mashy pots, the paintings of brain teasing’s gods and the riddles, the ancient clocks, swords and armor, the ancestral songs, nukkads, kal beliya, gair and ghoomar, the caricatures and portraits of highly skilled artists, the block printed and bright cotton kurtas, the handmade clothes, flowers and bouquets, the brick and sand streets, the museum of the finest and delicate paintings from all over the country.
If you find yourself standing in the middle of all of these, then you are in one of the best fair festival of India, The Craftsmen Heaven, Rajasthan’s pride Shilpgram. Spread in area of 70 acres, Shilpgram is located 3kms to the west of the city of Udaipur near Hawala Village and makes the scene every year end since 1985. This roaring and hustling carnival is gifted by the West Zone Cultural Centre to enhance and aid the talent, skill and hard work of a craftsman not just from Rajasthan but from all 28 states of India. To reach the masquerade, you can easily find buses, auto rickshaws, carts etc that will directly take to the main archway of shilpgram. A low cost ticket or a pass will allow you open to whole of the fair till the day’s end.
At the main entrance, you will find a stage set for your welcome, where some traditional dances like kachi ghodhi, ghumar and gavri will flabbergast you. You may find numerous and diverse stalls to make you lick your fingers but you will also find a 365 days open restaurant not so far from the main archway where you will find almost every Indian exotic and scrumptious meal like daal baati, makki and bajre ki roti, raab, kadhi, besan gatta etc to overflow your belly with nourishment.
The Shilpgram Festival will mainly pledge you in hand loom clothes, ornaments and handicrafts carved of infinite materials. You may grease your hands all day in small emporiums which will never stop to delight you and force you to spend your money but at the end of the day, the festival will come to life to rejuvenate you with some never-before-seen performances and put you on your toes before you leave to put the day at rest. These astonishing and breath-taking performances start at 6p.m. to 8.30pm.
The inaugural day is known as The Welcome day where the chief guest commences the main stage ceremony and welcome performances are produced. Then after, the rest of the evenings are named after the theme and affair of the day. The show consists of folks and dances of different states, carried and executed by the residents of the particular state of which the folk is of. The festival lasts usually for 10 days till the last date of the year. For the year 2012, the carnival starts from 21st December 2012. Being a part of this lovely culture, one should definitely visit this festival and get memories of lifetime. This will surely rejuvenate the cultural spirit in oneself and make it a worthy experience.
“Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha,
Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva, Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa”
Lord Ganesh, the elephant headed God, the son of Shiva and Parvati, invoked at every beginning and every start.
He is the god of Prosperity, Fortune and Wisdom and today is his day. He rides on his vehicle, a mouse, and is well known for fulfilling the wishes and desires of his devotees. Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganeshotsava aka ‘Vinayak Chaturthi’, is a great Ganesha festival. It is the spiritual and joyful journey of 10 days, which is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha in the Bhaadrapada month of Hindu Calendar.
This festival of Ganpati Bappa got major exposure by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the great Maratha ruler, who promoted this festival in order to promote culture and nationalism. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, played a major role in its revival too; he promoted and encouraged Ganesh Chaturthi in order to spread the message of freedom struggle and to defy the Britishers who had banned public assemblies. In addition to celebration across the whole country, it is marked as a full day celebration in the calendars of houses even outside India. The grandest festivity can be witnessed in the western state of Maharashtra where this ‘utsav’ lasts for 10 days, ending on the day of ‘Ananta Chaturdashi’.
This huge festival starts with the Pranpratishtha (installation) of beautifully designed and decorated idols of Ganesha, made of Plaster of Paris or clay, with chanting of mantras. The idols may vary in size, suitable for both, houses and community Pandals. The pandals are specially decorated for this festival. And for the next 10 days, there is a joyful sequence of Ganesh Vandana, Aarti and Puja, done both in morning and evening. The most popular sweet dish during this festival includes the modak (A dumpling prepared from rice or wheat flour stuffed with fresh or dry-grated coconut, jaggery, dry fruits and other condiments).These Modaks or Modakam are either steam-cooked or fried. Another popular sweet dish includes Karanji which is quite similar to the modak in taste but it has a semicircular shape.
Photo Courtesy : Chakali.blogspot.in
On the 11th day, the Ganesh Murti is taken to a river, lake, sea or pond for submersion, amongst a huge crowd of merry people, singing, dancing and chanting all together; “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Agle Baras Tu Jaldi Aaa”. This event of utmost enthusiasm, merry making and bidding farewell to the Lord is called Visarjan, which is a symbol of Ganesh Ji taking all the sins,pain and mistakes of his devotees with him.
Stay connected for regular updates of Ganesh Chaturthi in udaipur.
Dainik Bhaskar – Miraj Lakecity Carnival united the whole city with the purpose of getting all the craziness out of youth this sunday(15th January, 2012). Another energetic celebration of music, dance and exhibitions in City of Lakes. Reciprocating the success of last year celebration this Carnival began from Town Hall and ended at Fatehsagar Lake.
In order to make this carnival one of the most exuberant carnivals it took many weeks of hard work, an energetic approach, lots of creativity and patience. From Townhall to Fatehsagar people were in full swing celebrating the festivities with all the happiness and good fortune.
Udaipies are known for loving the city wholeheartedly and discovering the fullness of life in the hills and lakes that adds sparkles to Udaipur 🙂
Lakecity carnival began with lots of enthusiasm; students from schools, colleges were dressed up in awesome costumes, various artists mesmerized people with their dazzling performances. There were 36 floats and 50+ performances in total displaying various art forms, dance and activities.
This carnival proved to be a dynamic tool for self exploration and to develop new forms tourism in our Udaipur.
The power of creativity that underlies these performances did transform lives of many. People gathered in groups at the squares to celebrate colors of this fantastic carnival. The Competitions held at the lakeside attracted large crowds and ended with the judgments which made this carnival memorable for the participants .
We at UB believe that such activities are very helpful in promoting a new culture in our City and promoting tourism in our City. 🙂
Article by : Chani Soni || Contribution by : Sanjit Chohan
Here are some Great Clicks by Our Team Photographers : Mujtaba R.G. and Gaurav Bhattacharya
Finally, the festive season has begun and after the monsoon greenery, its time to see the festive colors all around. The market is lad in colors and is ready to welcome you with every possible thing which makes your festival a complete one.
India is considered rich in culture not only because we have so many festivals marked in our calendar, but because here every relation is a festival in itself. It s not about celebrating these festivals but it is about thanking God for each and every relationship He’s bestowed us with.
The forthcoming and the most awaited festival RAKHI is on its way to start with the spat of Indian festivals. It is considered as one of the most beautiful relationship in this world- a relationship of a brother and a sister. The endless small fights and the never ending love between a brother and a sister makes it pure as an elixir. You find a care of a father, a scolding of a mother and an advice of a friend in this relationship.
Thanks to UB that I got a chance to write something on this heavenly festival which means more then a world to me.
This RAKHI is very special to me as after this my bro will not be with me for the next four years. Bro no matter how much the distance between us, but I know you’ll be there with me as always whenever I’ll need you. I’ll miss you a lot and this was the best possible way I could express my love for you. It is an unconditional bond of love. The essence it carries and the aroma it creates is like a meditation to the soul. No matter what happens, no matter how badly you get into trouble, you know that your bro or sis will be always there to stand by you. You can share all your secrets with them , of course, with a little tension that they might come out of their mouth if you happen to fight with them but still with a trust that they won’t let it out.
Cheers to such a crazy, funny and a lovely relationship of a bro and a sis. I feel blessed to be a part of it. Thank you God and thanks mum and dad for this precious and ever-lasting gift. I still remember how badly I used to crave for it above all my dolls n toys.
A very Happy Rakshabandhan to all the Udaipies.
Enjoy and have fun and a special note for every sis- Don’t leave your brother without the gifts. 🙂
10th October 2010 (10.10.10): a remarkable date once in many years & also a significant day in the history of Lakecity !! Now if u’ll ask why ?? Then I’ll be glad and at the same time surprised to tell u that it was the first time that Udaipur had a Carnival !!! Oh sorry, not just a carnival a Huge Carnival yeah !! Hope everyone will be Familiar with the Carnival that occurred yesterday in the city for the very first time. Truly, if you missed the carnival then you actually missed something really magnificent and breathtaking !!! oh it was so astonishing to watch, the whole city celebrating the joy of god’s grace of greenery, overflowing lakes and promising the increase in No. of tourists with hundreds of ingeniously designed floats representing science, art, culture, dance, drama, music, television, sports, history, heritage, statehood, nationality, folklore, custom, traditions and various other aspects of life with heart exhilarating fireworks and thousands of audience!!!! Really marvelous
So the entire thing started at 5.00 p.m evening, Town hall. Crowd in Thousands searching for joy & entertainment, waiting for the first ever carnival to narrate a mesmerizing history forever. The moment just came and finally Mr. and Mrs. Gattani (head of Oriental Palace Resorts & main sponsor’s of the carnival) revealed the flag and all started!!! Fun and entertainment unlimited…
The crowd in thousand’s kept moving on and on to almost half of the city celebrating the merriment with full enthusiasm and zeal. Everyone lost in fun and entertainment of various unique performances by different groups representing their floats, dancing, singing and bustling with full security, moving towards the final destination to The Heart of Udaipur, none other than The Fatehsagar Lake. A stage set up and final performance segment was deliberated at the pall of Fatehsagar Lake for the audience who were unable to watch the performances all the way. Every performance was devotedly observed by the honorable judges and guests Mr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar (HRH group), Mr. Hemant Gera (collector, city Udaipur),T.L Meena (I.G , Udaipur ), Mrs. Rajni Dangi ( Unit head, Nagar Parishad), Mr. Rajeev Sharma (Lic head, Udaipur), Mr. K.G Gattani (head, Oriental Resorts), Mr. V.S shekhawat (Unit head, Dainik Bhaskar Udaipur) and many other renowned personalities from Udaipur & outside For awarding the prizes. Winners will be announced in Dainik Bhaskar’s 12th October Edition & on Facebook page of Udaipurblog.
Some of the most entertaining and interesting performances were prepared by West Zone Culture, Narayan Seva Sansthan ,Diva’s group, Girish & Party, Susheel Parihar & Party (Badmer), Matrix Dance Academy , CPS School, Dolphin Recreation, Pacific College, Vishveshvarya college, Sunrise Group of colleges and St. Paul’s school etc.
Being the Online supporter of the Lakecity Carnival we wanna thank Everyone Organizers ( Dainik Bhaskar & Oriental Resorts specially) , Performers , Sponsors , Creative team, Udaipur administration, Security Team, Police, other supporters last but not the least audience and every Udaipur Citizen for making the Event Successful…
A Symbol Of Wisdom and A Bringer of Good Luck who remains with us everyday in all parts of our existence, whether it’s an occasion, merriment, Good or Bad. He is ourTrue Almighty Guardian. Everyone of us lovesone of the most admired LORD GANESH also known as Avneesh (Lord of the whole world ), Gajanana (Elephant-Faced lord ), Ganpati (Lord of all Gods), Lambodar (The huge bellied lord), Shubhan(All auspicious lord ) , Siddhidata (Bestowed of success and accomplishments ), Vignaharta (Demolisher of obstacles), Vinayaka (Lord of all) and many more with a total of 108 names. Devotees of Ganesh are known as ‘Ganapatyas’, and the festival to celebrate and glorify him is called Ganesh Chaturthi.
Story behind the birth of Lord Ganesh:
Goddess PARVATI wanted Lord SHIVA to father a child. But Lord SHIVA refused it. An exasperated PARVATI created a child of her own. The child was called GANESH. PARVATI asked her son to guard the entrance to her bath and not let anyone in. GANESH obeyed, blocking even SHIVA’s entry, not knowing he was his mother’s consort. An otherwise detached SHIVA lost his cool, raised his trident and beheaded and stubborn lad. PARVATI was inconsolable in her grief and threatened to transform from gouri, the life-giving goddess, to kali, the life making goddess, if her son was not resurrected. SHIVA therefore ordered his followers, the ganas, to fetch him the head of the first living being they encountered. They brought back the head of an elephant, which SHIVA placed on the severed neck of PARVATI’s son and restored him to life. By giving him life, SHIVA became the boy’s Father. He Acknowledge his fatherhood by naming the lad Ganpati, Lord of Ganas.
Vinayaka stirs emotions of jealousy in SHIVA, and provokes him into violence. The action leads to reaction a series of events which culminates in the beheading of the child. PARVATI’s fury at the death of her child forces SHIVA to act. When he resurrects her creation and appoints him leader of his followers, he consciously becomes father and thus part of the material world. The resurrected Ganpati with a body created by the goddess and ahead given by God represents the transformation of SHIVA the hermit into SHIVA the householder.
So GANESH is the scholar son of SHIVA. Ganesh is born from PARVATI’s body. Ganesh is associated with feminine symbols like water, elephant, serpents and banana plant. Ganpati is rasa. Through this son of Shakti as PARVATI is known for, the grace of god (SHIVA) and goddess (PARVATI) reaches humanity. GANESH is full of wealth and wisdom. GANESH is scribe of Rishis.
SO,
The choice of an elephant’s head for GANESHA is interesting. In Hindu Symbolism, The elephant is the symbol of material abundance. Indra, King of the gods, rides an elephant. Elephants flank LAKSHMI (The goddess of Wealth and Prosperity). SHIVA, who rejects material pleasures, is described as Gajantaka- he who flays the elephant and uses its thick skin as his upper garment. By using the elephant’s head to resurrect the child of his consort, SHIVA in effect demonstrates his participation in the world of rasa. He uses the power of tapa to bring to life the child he killed.
GANPATI’s head represents tapa; his body represents Rasa. He reconciles God and Goddess. He becomes the doorway through which SHIVA enters World.
GANESHA has an elephant’s head, a corpulent body and a serpent tied round his stomach. Elephant pot belly and serpent are material symbols. That the upper part of his body is created by SHIVA and the lower part by Shakti makes him a luminal deity who brings together God and Goddess, Soul and substance, spiritual bliss and material delights. GANESHA is the lord of thresholds, sitting between yoga and bhoga, discipline and indulgence, monastic orders and fertility rites, Vedic speculation and Tantrik rituals. In some scriptures, Riddhi and Siddhi, Wealth and Wisdom, are his wives. Subha and Labha auspiciousness and profit are his sons. Santoshi, Satisfaction is his daughter. His rat represents the unmanageable, stubborn problems of like that he keeps at bay. GANESHA is thus the god of the present, sitting between the past and the future, removing all obstacles, ensuring the realization of every dream.
ALSO,
GANESH is the First lord according to Tantra. Tantra seeks the truth through the goddess. GANESH is lord of First Chakra. Since the participation of SHIVA is necessary to create GANESH, the first flower of Tantra blooms only after the first contact with SHIVA, the realization that life is not just the outer ever-changing world perceived by that senses; there is more, within, unchanging and still, beyond the reach of the senses.
GANESH CHATURTHI:
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with impressive processions, lots of sweets and huge idols of Lord Ganesh in our Udaipur City. The Preparations for Ganesh Utsav starts many days before the Ganesh Chaturthi clay idols of Ganesh in varying sizes are made and sold. These idols are purchased and brought up home by the city people on the day before Ganesh Chaturthi, which is also the day of Hartalik (when women keep fast and invoke the blessings of goddess Parvati, who is Ganesh’s mother). There are numerous other GANESH festivals that are celebrated in the Temple premises but one of them which is most prominent is the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration. It is celebrated during the month of Magh known as Maghi Ganesh Utsav (the birth month of Ganesh). Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the fourth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (around August-September) so for this year 2010 it is on 11 September. The festival as always will be celebrated in the major temple Bohra Ganesh Ji including various Ganesh temples of the Udaipur City. All the Arrangements and Preparations are over and hence Festival will be celebrated today in the city premises as always there will be a Fair at Bohra Ganesh Ji temple together with many sorts of custom and entertaining proceedings. Ganesh Chaturthi is glowingly celebrated in all the parts of city with full liveliness and sacredness.
Ganesh Temple Udaipur
ANANT CHATURTHI:
ANANT CHATURTHI (a.k.a Anant Chaturdashi) is the last day of the “Ganesh festival”. On the day of Anant Chaturdashi, the idols of Lord GANESH installed at home and various “Mandaps” (a.k.a display places) are taken to the nearby Lakes of the City like Pichola or to the ghats like Gangaur Ghat in great procession with slogans like: “Agle Baras tu Jaldi aa”(Come Soon Next Year) etc. On this day, people travel to the water front with the idols, big or small, dancing and singing in large procession. The 10 day long festival comes to an end after the immersion ceremony is over.
One should always recite the most prominent mantras dedicated to GANESH (as follows):
“Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha,
Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva, Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa”
Which contains the names of Lord GANESHA with its Meanings:
Ø Vakratunda curved trunk
Ø Mahakaaya large bodied
Ø Surya kotee million suns
Ø Sama Prabha with the brilliance of
Ø Nirvighnam free of obstacles
Ø Kuru Make
Ø Mey My
Ø Deva Lord
Ø Sarva Kaaryeshu in all work
Ø Sarvada always.
May Lord GANESH of Large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns, make all our work free of obstacles always..
Have a great weekend through enchanting celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi with loads of Sweets and Blessings of Lord Ganesh.
Ganpati Bappa Morya !!!
Author’s Note: Here I shared a note on mystery behind the birth of Lord GANESHA, and his powers. Hope you all will like this. I shared this with you, by my little knowledge of reading Vedic Grantham and other sources. I tried my level best to share the acknowledged information in an appropriate manner but still in case someone finds any imprecision please do share.
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