Categories
History and Culture

14 Less Known Facts About Maharana Pratap that Will Shock You!

  • Maharana Pratap had 11 wives from which Maharani Ajabde Punwar was his favorite. With those 11 wives, he had 17 sons and 5 daughters. (Though various historical records vary the number of wives and daughters)
  • He stood at a magnificent height of 7 feet and 5 inches.
Source: Wikipedia
  • At the battlefield, he used to carry a weight of around 360 kg which included a spear weighing 80 kg, two swords weighing 208 kg and his armor was around 72 kg heavy. His own weight was more than 110 kg.

    Source: bobhata
  • He was the eldest son of Maharana Udai Singh amongst his other 32 children. Also his father – Maharana Udai Singh was the founder of Udaipur.
  • Rani Dheer Bai, the stepmother of Maharana Pratap initially wanted Kunwar Jagmal Singh to become the king of Mewar after Udai Singh was defeated by Mughal emperor Akbar. But after a long debate and conflict the court found Kunwar Jagmal to be unfit for the position and so Maharana Pratap was made the ruler.
  • Kunwar Jagmal Singh later served the Mughal emperor Akbar along with his two brothers Shakti Singh and Sagar Singh.
  • It is been said that in the battle of Haldighati, Maharana Pratap sliced one of the Mughal opponent Behlol Khan into two along with his horse into two.
Source: Quora
  • During a battle, Jhala Maan who had a close resemblance to Maharana Pratap wore the crown of Maharana Pratap and the Mughals attacked Jhala Maan misunderstanding him to be Maharana Pratap and in that battle, Jhala Maan was killed. Jhala Maan was the one himself who advised Pratap to leave the battlefield.
  • It was Akbar’s dream to capture Maharana Pratap but he couldn’t succeed in his lifetime. Even after all the Rajput dynasties which included Gogunda, and Bundi had surrendered to Akbar, Pratap never bowed to Akbar.
  • It was his dream to free Chittor and so he made a pledge that he would eat in a leaf plate and sleep on a bed of straws until he doesn’t win Chittor back. Even today some Rajputs place a leaf under their plate and straw under their bed in the honor of the legendary Maharana Pratap.
Source: Tavamithram
  • When he was struggling in the jungle, he had nothing to eat and he had rotis made from grass and one time the cat stole even the grass roti made for his daughter. Then he thought to surrender in front of Akbar and wrote a letter to him regarding the same. Akbar was very happy reading the letter and gave it to the Prithviraj who was the Rajput poet and warrior. In a poetic way, he said in his letter to Pratap to not quit or accept defeat from Akbar.
  • We all know about Chetak, the loyal horse of Maharana Pratap who sacrificed his life while saving his master after rescuing from the battle. But Maharana Pratap owned an elephant too who is said to have crushed the Mughal army in a battle. After Ramprasad, the elephant killed two war elephants, Akbar ordered his force to capture Ramprasad at any cost and for the same 7 war elephants were sent to catch Ramprasad. But its loyalty always belonged to his master, Maharana Pratap and so he didn’t eat anything nor drank any water and on the 18th day after his imprisonment, he died.
Source: Quora
  • Once Kunwar Amar Singh launched an attack on the camp of Abdur Rahim Khankhana who was the general of the Mughal army and took away his wives and women as trophy hostages. When Pratap came to know about his deed, he rebuked him and ordered to release all the women. Abdur was very thankful of the act of Maharana and pledged not to raise a single weapon against Mewar from then onwards. Abdur Rahim Khankhana is none other than the Rahim whose dohe and poems we have been reciting since our childhood.

    Source: Free Press Journal
  • He survived n number of battles in his lifetime but died of an injury from the hunting accident while tightening the string of a bow with an arrow. The news of Maharana’s death made even Akbar cry.
Source: Zee News

Do you have any feedback for the article or an interesting story you want to share with us, then write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com. 

Categories
Events

This Committee Originated from Balochistan is Organizing Ravana Dahan From Last 70 Years in Udaipur!

Dussehra is a festival which marks the victory of good over evil. There are several stories which are believed to be behind the existence of the festival all around the world. The most popular being the one of Lord Rama and Ravana. Hindu epic Ramayana says that Lord Rama who is the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu killed the ten-headed Ravana in the Sat Yuga as he had abducted Lord Rama’s wife Sita.

But did you know that the celebration of Dussehra in Udaipur gives out one more message to the people? It is the message of communal harmony and brotherhood.

Dussehra is being celebrated in the city from last 69 years. This year’s Dussehra is going to be the 70th celebration.

Who organizes the Dussehra event in Udaipur?

In the year 1947, when the country was divided into two India and Pakistan, mass migration took place in the country. During this time, many people migrated to Udaipur from Sindh, Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan. Most of these people belonged to the Sindhi community. The people from Balochistan then gathered and formed a committee known as Shree Sanatan Dharma Seva Samiti. From then on, the committee has been responsible for the entire event.

Dussehra celebration in Udaipur started as a small scale event amongst the committee members. Gurumukh Kastoori, Coordinator of Shri Sanatan Dharma Seva Samiti, says “The event was celebrated in Saletiya ground initially which is currently popular by the name ‘Town Hall’. With very few resources, the things used in the event were carried in mere sacks. There were a handful of people who used to walk to the venue from far off places to attend the event. With time many things changed.”

He further says “What started with a small event with 300 people turned out to be a major festive event in the city. Today around 30,000 people can be witnessed in the ground. These people include locals as well as people coming from the nearby villages.”

Who are the makers of the Effigies (Putle)

Initially, the people from the committee itself used to make the effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna. But from last 15-20 years, artisans from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh are called to make the Effigies. The interesting thing is all these artisans are Muslim. At moments like such, the sole purpose of a festival is fulfilled which is unity and harmony. When people from different community combine together to make a festive event successful.

Source: Patrika

It takes a period of 15-20 days for them to finish the making of these effigies. At the end of all this, Ravana’s effigy stands at a height of 70 ft. and that of the Kumbhakarana and Meghnad is 65 ft.

Several elements are used to make these effigies such as Bamboos, Clothes, rope, pipes and things like color, jewelry, etc. are used for the decoration purpose.

Source: UdaipurTimes

The event begins from a rally starting from Shree Sanatan Dharma Seva Samiti at Shaktinagar and ends at Gandhi Ground, Chetak Circle. It consists of elephants, camels beautifully decorated with jhaankis depicting scenes of Ramayana. After all the usual ceremonial proceedings, Lanka Dahan is done by Hanuman followed by Laxman who burns Meghnad and Kumbhakarna and Lord Rama burning the effigy of Ravana. The event ends with magnificent fireworks and the smiling faces of people.

Source: Patrika

Dussehra festivities around Udaipur

1) Rajsamand – Where at other places almost the same ritual is followed on the festival of Dussehra, Krishnadham Ganbhor village at Rajsamand has its own unique way of celebrating the festival. Here, a Ravana is formed but not with bamboos or clothes, but with stones and clay pots. This Ravana is then hit with stones by the villagers until it crashes down to the ground. In the beginning, the soldiers of the Devasthan shoot the Ravana with bullets followed by hitting with the stones. This ritual is followed from last 500 years. There has been a deep connection of Mewar with Ravana and characters of Ramayana. It is said that Ravana has worshipped the Kamalnath Mahadev temple situated at Jhadol.

2) Nathdwara – In Nathdwara, the Ravana Dahan is conducted on the next day of Dussehra i.e. the ‘ekadashi’ because it is believed that during the war of Ramayana, Lord Rama sent Ravana to the verge of death on Dussehra but actually killed him on the next day of Dussehra. Since Ravana was a Brahmin, Lord Rama didn’t want to kill him on Dashmi and so he killed him on the next day.

Do you have any feedback for the article or an interesting story you want to share with us, then write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com.

Categories
Places to Visit

Enjoy This Festive Season at These 5 Places in Celebration Mall

The festive season is just around the corner and during this time of vacation, all we want to do is spend some good time with our friends and family at some cozy and plush restaurant. Celebration Mall has always been the first place whenever someone thinks of a good time.
The mall has a wide range of places that can be your ideal choice for your next leisure time.

1)    Barbeque Nation – If you are one of those foodies for whom food is the most important part of your leisure time then this is the most perfect place to be. Barbeque nation has got some lip-smacking dishes both veg and non-veg where you can relish an unlimited meal including a wide range of dishes in starters, main course and dessert as well. It is the most preferred destination for all the non-veg lovers.

Source: tripadvisor

2)    Jaipur Jungle – this restaurant is the perfect combination of soothing ambiance and scrumptious food. It has impeccably incorporated the theme of a jungle which will make you feel like you are in a different world altogether. In addition to that, a plethora of mouthwatering dishes will surely add up to your quality time with friends and family.

3)    Brewz Rock Café – Stunning lights, rock music, booze, and good food, Brewz Rock Café has got everything that you need to have a rocking evening with your friends. The best time to visit the café would be during weekends when you can enjoy live concerts and hum the lyrics of your favorite song along with your friends.

Source: Justdial

4)    Hari Vedas – the most amazing amalgamation of food and a comforting environment. But beware because the wide range of exotic food items will make you cheat your diet and overeat. With all this Hari Vedas guarantees a good time with your friends and family.

Source: Forum Malls

5)    Go Foodie – Is it a cheat day for you? Then Celebration Mall has got all the brands that can make your cheat day the best day. Mc. Donalds, Dominos, Subway, Belgian waffle, Keventers, Frozen factory, you name it. You can eat at your favorite brand and if you are confused, you can probably go everywhere.

Food and festivities go hand in hand when there are so many options you can choose from then it’s just a cherry on the top, right?

Categories
Places to Visit

Planning for a trip to Udaipur? Here’s the itinerary!

Udaipur is the most sought-after destination for tourist all around the world. And why wouldn’t it be? The city is full of historical places and natural beauty. And because of the same reason, one problem that most of the traveler faces on their visit to the city is that what all places should be and can be covered on a given number of days.

And so, we present different itineraries for a different number of days so that you do not have to worry about a single thing and you can enjoy the city of lakes at its fullest.

Places to cover on a one day trip to Udaipur:

Jagdish temple – Start your day with the worship of Lord Jagannath. The historical temple will take you back in time and the beautiful architecture will allure you for real.

Time needed to explore: 1 hour

Click here for a list of prominent temples in Udaipur.

Historical places in Udaipur and the history behind them
Picture by: Anil Vohra

City Palace – One of the major palace of the city. The palace attracts numerous tourists every day. It was built over a period of 400 years back by Maharana Udai Singh II.

Timings: 9 am to 4:30 pm

Ticket: Children – 100/Adult – 300

Time needed to explore: Around 3 hours

Click here to know the historical places of Udaipur and the history behind them.

Historical places in Udaipur and the history behind them
Source: holidify

Bagore ki Haveli – the museum is full of attractive and historical items. If you happen to visit it in the evening, attend the Dharohar show at the museum. It would be something you would never forget. Click here to read more about Bagore ki haveli.

Entry ticket – 70

Dharohar show ticket – 90

Timings – 10 am to 8 pm

Show timings – 7 am to 8 pm

Time taken to explore – 1 hour and 30 minutes

Historical places in Udaipur and the history behind them
Bagore ki Haveli

Lake Pichola & Daiji footbridge – one of the prominent lakes of the city and would give a picturesque sight from Ganghaur Ghat situated just next to Baghore ki Haveli. After visiting the Ghat, go on a walk at Daiji footbridge near the Ghat and click some amazing pictures to be insta ready.

Time taken to explore – 1 hour

Source: @jake_hateley

You may also want to read: A list of the Best Hotels and Resorts of Udaipur

Ambrai ghat – Another Ghat situated in the old city. It will give a magnificent view of the palaces and the city. You absolutely cannot afford to miss the place in the city.

Time taken to explore – 30 min to an hour

Source: @kulgaurvi

Fatehsagar – the heart of the city. The place is frequently visited by not just travelers but also the locals.

Time taken to explore – 1 hour

 

Source: @theview_finder

Moti Magri – Moti Magri or pearl hill is a memorial of the great Rajput hero Maharana Pratap. The place overlooks the entire Fatehsagar Lake and gives a mesmerizing view. The place has a museum and hall of fame which can be visited. Click to read a list of museums in Udaipur.

Entry ticket – Rs. 75 for adults and Rs. 35 for children

Time taken to explore – 2 hours

Historical places in Udaipur and the history behind them
Source: Trip advisor

 

Places to cover on a two day trip:

Visit all the places above on the first day and on day 2, you can consider the options below:

Shilpgram – It contains lifestyle, history, and art of rural and tribal people of Rajasthan. One can witness various art and crafts inside. If you are here at the time of December, visit the Shilpgram Utsav.

Entry tickets: Rs. 30/- for Indians and Rs. 50/- for foreigners

Time taken to explore: 2 hours

Source: Oh My Rajasthan!

Ahar Cenotaphs and Museum – Ahar Cenotaphs are a group of cenotaphs located in about 2 km east of Udaipur. The site contains more than 250 cenotaphs of the maharajas of Mewar that were built over approximately 350 years.

Time taken to explore: Max. 1 hour

Rarely visited places in Udaipur that you need to visit right now
Picture by: maximvo

Monsoon palace – Also known as Sajjangarh, is situated at a distance of 5 km from Lake Fatehsagar. It is a huge palace overlooking the entire city.

Entry tickets: Rs. 60/-

Timings: 9 am to 6 pm

Time taken to explore: 2 hours

Source: twitter

Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary Sajjangarh Biological Park is a zoological garden with a variety of animals such as leopard, crocodile, birds etc. Click here to read a list of wildlife sanctuaries and nature parks in and around Udaipur.

Entry fees: Rs. 30 for park and 20 for the zoo

Time taken to explore: 2 hours

Karni mata temple – Begin your day 2 with a trek to Karni Mata temple. The view is simply amazing from the temple. If you do not wish to climb up, you can opt for ropeway as well. Click here to read about the history of Karni Mata temple.

Price of the ropeway: Rs. 100/-

Time taken to explore: 2 hours

 

Source: taxiudaipur

Pichola Pal – Pichola pal is situated right opposite to Dudhtalai. One can have a wonderful view of Lake Pichola. There’s also a boating point at Pichola pal.

Time taken to explore: Max. 1 hour

You may also want to read: Rarely visited places in Udaipur

 

Places to cover on a three-day trip:

On the third day of your tour, you can go to some outskirt area of the city such as –

Pratap Gaurav Kendra – Pratap Gaurav Kendra is located at a distance of 6 km at Tiger Hills. It has a huge statue of Maharana Pratap. It has an exhibition which aims at providing information about Maharana Pratap and the historical heritage of the area with the help of modern technology.

Entry ticket: 50/- for children, 100/- for adult

Time taken to explore: 2 Hrs

Source: mewarblog

Lake Badi – One of the prominent Lakes in the city at a distance of around 9 km from the city. Don’t miss the Badi hill there which will give a mind-blowing view from there.

Source: @curvywanderer

Ubeshwar Ji – Ubeshwarji is a village at a distance of 23 km from Udaipur. It has a famous temple and a major waterfall behind the temple. It looks good in monsoon and is a good picnic spot.

Peepliya Ji – Peepliya is a village situated at a distance of approx. 30 km from Udaipur. One can see the entire landscape view from here. The foggy surroundings here in monsoon is a must visit. It is a bit ahead of Ubeshwarji.

Jaisamand Lake – It is India’s second largest artificial lake also known as Dhebar Lake. It is at a distance of 58 km from Udaipur.

Source: Wikipedia

 

Eliminate the places you do not wish to visit from the itinerary with the below places:

In the city –

  • Goverdhan Sagar Lake & Panna Dhai ship
  • Saheliyon ki Badi
  • Gulab Bagh – No entry fee and visit the library there if you wish to.
  • The largest aquarium in India – Under the sun (Entry ticket: 118 inclusive of GST)

Outskirts of the city –

  • Haldighati – Haldighati is a museum of Maharana Pratap, the ruler of Mewar. It is situated at a distance of 47 km. (Entry ticket: 30/- per person)
  • Bagheri ka Naka
  • Kumbhalgarh Fort
  • Tidi Dam – Read about Tidi dam and other dams around Udaipur, here.
  • Chandni village
  • Udai Sagar Lake – One of the major 5 lakes in and around Udaipur. Its distance from Udaipur is 11 km.
  • Ekling Ji temple – It is a very old temple of the deity Ekling Ji. It is at a distance of 30 km from Udaipur.
  • Sas Bahu temple – It is situated near Eklingji. It is a remain of sahastra bahu temple. The temple is now in partial ruins but one can still marvel at their original splendor, the artisan and the perfect geometry of it.

You may also want to read: Weekend getaways near Udaipur

And even at the end of all this, go where your heart leads you to. If you are willing to stay at a place for a little long just because it soothes your soul, stay there. If you feel like talking to a complete stranger, do it. At the end of your trip, it is just these crazy experiences and memorable moments that are going to count, not the money you spend, not the places you see.

You may also want to read: Mistakes a Tourist Makes while Visiting Udaipur

If you have any feedback regarding the article, you can drop it in the comment section below or you can write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com.

Categories
Events

4th World Living Heritage Festival in Udaipur | Know Everything About it

World Living Heritage Festival (WLHF) is a 4-day mega festival which brings together a variety of artists, academicians, activists and student delegates of India as well as overseas and works as a forum of Knowledge exchange. The event is organized by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Trust (MMCF) and the venue of the same will be The City Palace.

The 4th edition of the World Living Heritage Festival is meant to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Mewar, India as well as the world. Moreover, the event will witness a variety of speakers including scholars from architecture, urban planning and heritage conversation, scholars from humanities and social sciences, representatives from Government of India, Government of Rajasthan, foreign government, and representatives from UNESCO, ICOMOS, IHCN-F, national and international institutions, organizations, and NGOs.

Source: TopYaps

The schedule of the 4-day festival beginning from 17th October will be as follows:

17th October 2018 (Day 1)

  • The event will start with Ashwa Poojan which is an old tradition for the house of Mewar and is the expression for gratitude.
  • The art and craft bazaar known as ‘Srajan’ will be inaugurated.

 

18th October 2018 (Day 2)

  • The second day of the event will include sessions – Identifying Approaches to Living Heritage, workshops with local artists and artisans, musical concerts and dance performances.

Artists: 

Mudra School of Indian Classical Dance, Ahmedabad

Jogiyaar Mahabharata / Panduan Ke Kadde, New Delhi

 

19th October 2018 (Day 3)

  • Heritage walk, sessions on temples, discussions, workshop with Sikligars and on Living Heritage documentation, concert, dance performance will be incorporated in day 3.

Artists: 

Kala Ashram College of Performing Arts, Udaipur

Nooran Sisters, Jalandhar

 

20th October 2018 (Day 4)

  • Sessions on Oral traditions, their role, and impact, Workshop on the confluence of crafts, concert and a heritage walk.

Artists: 

Bharatanatyam by Kalangan Dance Company, New Delhi
(Disciples of Guru Jamuna Krishnan and Smt. Ragini Chandershekar)

Swarathma – Indian Folk Rock Band, Bengaluru

 

To know the full detailed schedule of the event, click here.

If you have any feedback regarding the article then share with us in the comment section below or write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com.

Categories
History and Culture

Mavli: A Small Town with a Rich History of Medieval and Mughal Era

Mavli is a town situated at a distance of 26 km from Udaipur. In the history of Mewar and the prominent places in Udaipur district, Mavli town owns a significant role in the commercial as well as administrative point of view. Very few people are aware of the rich history and politics associated with the town. According to former historians, there was a pastoral land, which was won by the then Maharaja of India, Udai Singh in the battle with Banveer during the Mughal era. In the medieval period, the town was known as Maholi.

Source: India Rail Info

One of the noticeable places in the town includes a Baori (step wall) known as Baiji Raj ki Baori which has a very interesting story behind itself. The Baori was built by the mother and sister of Rana Bhim Singh Ji between the years 1772 and 1780. According to history, Maharana’s mother was Rajmata Sardar Kunwar Jhali. She belonged to the Jhala family of Gogunda and got married to Maharana Ari Singh Ji II. The only daughter of Maharana Ari Singhji-II was Baisa Chandravati Ji who got married to Maharaja Parbat Singh of Ratlam. The Baori was given in dowry to Baijiraj Chandrawatiji.

The historic ‘Bai Ji Raj Ki Baori’ and the pavilions present in the town still seem to sing the saga of Mewar’s history and bravery. As Mavli was given in dowry, many Kshatriyas of the Mewar Raj family still do not accept food and water in the town.

Source: Udaipurtimes

There are some places and temples in the town that can be visited by the travelers which include Laxmi Narayan temple, Shriramji- Seetamata- Laxmanji (Akhada), Thirthankar Chanda Prabhu Swami (Jain Temple), lok temples like Adra Bavji, Radaji Bawji and Chamunda Mata.

The town was visited by the officer of the British East India Company, Colonel James Tod in the year 1820 who writes the following about the town: Maowlee, 26th, October 1820. Seven and a half miles. — As usual, all was barren between Sunwar and Maowlee; though at each are the traces of reviving industry. This was formerly a considerable town, and rated in the books at seven thousand rupees’ annual rent, but now it yields not seven hundred. Its population consists of about eighty families of all classes, half of which have “been recalled from their long exile in Malwa and Candeish, and have already given a new aspect to Maowlee in its sugar-canes. Her Highness’ steward, however, is not

[p.629]: …one of the faithful. There is a very fine bawari, or reservoir, of course, marble, constructed by Baeji Raj, ‘ the royal mother’ of the present Rana and his sister, in whose appanage it is. — An inscription, dated S. 1737, recorded an ordinance in favor of the Jains, that “the oil-mill of Maowlee should not work on the four rainy months;” in order to lessen the destruction of animal life.

According to Veer Vinod, Maharana Udai Singh won his battle against Banbir is the Chaprada (which is currently a fair spot) of Mavli and saved the Sisodia clan. He later founded the city of Udaipur. From the time of princely era, Mavli has been the main center of transportation of Mewar. Due to the absence of traffic resources, people of the entire country used to come here including Mewar, Waagad, and Malwa. For this reason, Rabri also received fame all across the country. It is said that Maharana Bhupal Singh was fascinated with the rabri (a sweet, condensed-milk-based dish) of Mavli, hence Rabri was sent to Rajmahalas through bullock carts.

The “rabri” made here in Mavli city, keeps its unique identity from the time of Rajwadas throughout the state. Every year, on the occasion of Sharad Poornima, a fair known as ‘Chamunda Mata Pashu Mela’ is conducted which is attended by people from far-flung places for business.

Do you have any feedback regarding the article? Or have an interesting story to share with us? Write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com.

 

Source: Wikipedia
Mangal news
Jatland.com
Categories
Events

उदयपुर में यहाँ लगता है माता का 55 फीट ऊंचा पंडाल | नवरात्री स्पेशल

नवरात्री के त्यौहार पर उदयपुर के लगभग हर कोने में माता रानी के पंडाल सजाये जाते है और गरबे की धुन में सभी उदयपुरवासी झूम उठते है। लेकिन इसी शहर की एक जगह ऐसी है जहाँ पिछले 25 सालों से उदयपुर का सबसे बड़ा पंडाल सजाया जाता है। आइये जानते है की ये कौन सी जगह है।

 

उदयपुर का सबसे बड़ा पंडाल

25 सालों से सजते आ रहे इस पंडाल की शुरुआत एक सामान्य रूप में हुई थी। समय और दर्शनार्थियों की श्रद्धा के साथ इसकी लम्बाई बढ़ते बढ़ते आज तकरीबन 55 फीट है। इसके स्थापन के लिए बंगाली टीम को बुलाया जाता है। दिलचस्प बात ये है की ये पूरी बंगाली टीम मुस्लिम समुदाय की है। माता रानी के दरबार में सभी समाजों के लोग आमंत्रित रहते है। इसी वजह से हिन्दू, मुस्लिम, बोहरा आदि समाजों के लोग आप को वहां देखने को मिल जाएंगे। वहीं सजावट का काम स्थानीय लोगों के जिम्मे रहता है।

पंडाल के निर्माण की शुरुआत नवरात्री के 10 दिन पहले से हो जाती है क्योंकि इसे पूरा होने में लगभग 10 दिन लग जाते है। लोगों को माता के दर्शन में कोई तकलीफ ना आए इसके लिए मूर्ती के दोनों तरफ 55 फीट की सीढियां लगवाई जाती है जहाँ नवरात्री के पूरे 9 दिन श्रद्धालुओं की भीड़ लगी रहती है। हर साल दर्शन के लिए लगभग तीन हज़ार से ज़्यादा लोग आते है।

 

माता का श्रृंगार

Photo by: Sayyed Ahmed

नवरात्री में हर तीन दिन में माता रानी का श्रृंगार कर उन्हें एक नया रूप दिया जाता है। हर साल एक थीम को चुना जाता है और उसी के हिसाब से श्रृंगार होते है। थीम कुछ इस प्रकार होती है – मोर, राधाकृष्ण, श्रीनाथजी आदि। इस साल श्रृंगार की थीम मोर की रखी गई है। साल 2011 में नवरात्रि के आखिरी दिन माता का श्रृंगार आभूषण और फूलों के साथ नोटों की माला से हुआ था जिनका मूल्य लगभग 7 लाख था।

 

नवरात्री के कार्यक्रम

सुथारवाडा में नवरात्री के कार्यक्रम की शुरुआत आमतौर पर 21 तोपों की सलामी, ढोल नगाड़े, पटाखे और आतिशबाज़ी के साथ नवरात्री के पहले दिन होती है जिस दिन माता की मूर्ती की स्थापना होती है। रोज़ शाम 7:30 बजे और 10:30 बजे आरती होती है। इसके बीच डांडियों के कई राउंड होते है जहाँ शहर के अलग अलग हिस्सों से लोग काफी उत्साह के साथ माता के सामने नवरात्रि का जश्न मनाते है।

इन नौं दिनों में यहाँ कई तरह के कार्यक्रम होते है जिसमें डांस, डांडिये, ड्रामा शामिल है। अष्टमी के दिन यहाँ महाआरती का आयोजन होता है जिसके तुरंत बाद ही महाहोली मनाई जाती है। आम होली की तरह इसमें गुलाल का नहीं बल्कि फूलों का इस्तेमाल किया जाता है। इसमें सभी लोग माँ अम्बे के अवतार में सजी एक बालिका पर फूलों की वर्षा करते है।

9वें दिन विसर्जन का कार्यक्रम रहता है जिसमें कई मशहूर लोग अपनी कला का प्रदर्शन करने आते है। इंडियाज़ गोट टैलेंट का निशान-ए-ग्रुप, दिल्ली के मनोज डांस ग्रुप जैसे जाने माने लोगों ने भी यहाँ कई बार डांस किया है।

इन सभी कार्यक्रमों के बीच इस बात का ध्यान रखा जाता है की आने जाने वाली गाड़ियों, लोगों और दुकानदारों को कोई तकलीफ ना हो। इस पूरे कार्यक्रम का आयोजन सुथारवाडा मित्र मंडल करीब 150 वालंटियर के सहयोग से करवाते है जिनके आयोजक श्री तुलसी राम माली और सह आयोजक लक्ष्मी लाल जी माली है।

अगर आप वहां जाएंगे तो आप पाएंगे की पंडाल की आस पास की सभी बिल्डिंग और घर भी बत्तियों से जगमगा रहे होते है। इसके साथ साथ पूरे प्रांगण में CCTV कैमरों की सुविधा है जिससे कोई भी अनचाही घटना ना हो।

अगर आपको यह आर्टिकल पसंद आया या आपके पास ऐसी ही कोई दिलचस्प कहानी है जो आप हमारे साथ शेयर करना चाहते है तो मुझे लिखे juhee@udaipurblog.com पर।

Categories
Places to Visit

Delwara- The ‘Town of The Gods’ Near Udaipur

Do you know why Delwara is known as the ‘Town of the Gods’?

Not just the city of lakes is beautiful but also its surrounding area is awestriking. Located just 26 KM away from Udaipur is a small town named Delwara (not to be confused with Dilwara Temples of Mt. Abu). Delwara is quite famous because of the architecture of the monuments and buildings there but majorly it is known for being named as the ‘Town of The Gods’. Let us read why the place is known with such an unusual name.

Delwara is known as the ‘Town of The Gods’ simply because of the fact that the place has a high density of temples. It is evident that the town contains almost 2 to 3 temples in every street. Originally, it is said that Delwara had as many as a thousand temples out of which 400 were Jain Temples. Due to the same, Delwara was once known as ‘Devkul Paton Nagri’ which means the town of the gods.

There are various temples which still exist in Delwara in good condition, and are in fact great places to visit in Delwara near Udaipur.

Some of the sacred place in Delwara are enlisted below:

Palera Talab:

This Talab (small lake or pond) was built in AD 1800 by Rani Sajjan Kumari in the fond memory of her husband, the Jhala prince Mansingh, who died at a very young age. It is after his name, that the lake is also known as Mansarovar Sagar and is the major source of water of the town.

Statue of King Man Singh III:

Another thing made for the king Mansingh is this beauteous white marble statue, standing 2 meters high, in the center of Sajjan Vatika opposite the Bhagwan Vaikunthnathji temple.

Parshvanath Bhagwan Temple (Jain Derasar):

This temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Parshwanath, the 23rd Tirthankara of the Jains. One amazing feature of this temple is a chamber about 5 meters underground, which houses 13 stunning idols of Jain Tirthankaras.  The main temple has a gratifyingly carved idol of Bhagwan Parshwanath made in black marble.

Trimukhi Bawdi/Vav:

The name of this stepwell is due to the fact that it has triple entrances. It was built by the Shrimali Brahmins for performing the traditional rituals related to the temples of Vaikunthnathji and Hanumanji which are situated nearby the Vav.

Indra Kund:

Source: Trip Advisor

Indra Kund is one of the major attractions in the Delwara and was built by the king Rana Bairisalji. The kund was blessed in AD 1856 and a month-long festivity was held to the mark the blessing. The kund has stunning examples of stone carving and has a depth of 15 meters.

Shiva temple:

The temple is located close by to the Indra kund is also known as Kundeshvar Mahadev. This Shiva temple was built before the Indra kund and was under the local ruler’s terrain.  The temple has a lingam encircled by three faces of Lord Shiva covered by a cobra, the idols of his companion Parvati and the bull Nandi which was his vehicle.

Lakshmi Narayan Mandir:

According to a folktale, an idol from Dwarka flew on its own from and landed at the mandir. The shrine is said to have built here. The builder of the temple was a devotee of the lord, his was known as Shri Padmaji and has statue installed in the premises of the mandir. This temple is temple belongs to the Teli community; Shri Padmaji was also a Teli.

Other than these temples some other prominent names are:

Kasheshvar Mahadev:

It stands on a platform 16 steps high and was restored by the King of Delwara Raghodev II in the year 1927.

Kheda Mata Mandir, Bhil-Vas:

This temple is a sacred place for the Gametis which is a sub-caste of the Bhil community.

Rishabhdev Bhagwan Temple (Jain Derasar):

The temple is built in white marble and has 149 pillars and 52 shrines. The main shrine is dedicated Bhagwan Adinath, the first Tirthankara.

Source: Raas Devigarh

Another noteworthy place is the heritage hotel Raas Devigarh palace, which is the prime attraction other the temples here. Devigarh was once the residence of the kings of Delwara, from mid-18th century till mid-20th century. Delwara, the ‘Town of The Gods’, no wonder is a beautiful destination near Udaipur which is not much explored by the travelers coming to the city of lakes.

How to reach Delwara: 

You can take a public transport such as a bus from Udaipur or if you have your own vehicle, Delwara is approximately a 35-Minutes (26 KM) drive from Udaipur via NH58.


Like this story? Or have something to share?

Write to me: fouzia@udaipurblog.com

Also, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram

NEW: Click here to get awesome deals, discounts, news updates and happenings on WhatsApp!

Categories
News

Spice Jet to Start Direct Flight from Udaipur to Varanasi

November seems like the golden month for all the air travelers of the city several direct flights are getting introduced in this month. After the direct flight to Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Surat, Spice Jet is launching another direct flight to Varanasi which will be initiated from the next month. The price of the flight starts from Rs. 4,607.

 

This flight will depart at 3:35 pm from Maharana Pratap Airport and arrive at 5:25 pm at Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport. The same flight will depart from Varanasi at 5:45 pm and reach Udaipur at 8:25 pm.

So many new direct flight from Udaipur assures a happy Diwali to all the traveler Udaipurites.

If you have any feedback for the article or have any such information you want to share with us then write to me at juhee@udaipublog.com. 

Categories
Places to Visit

Ambika Mata Temple – The Khajuraho of Mewar

At a distance of around 50 km from Udaipur, rests a rarely known gem of a temple which is known as Ambika Mata temple. The village named Jagat houses the architectural temple. Ambika Devi, who is the form of Goddess Durga is the chief deity of the temple. Goddess Ambika is worshipped as goddess Shakti is believed to be the primordial source of energy. She is associated with Durga through her lion mount and is connected to the Jains when a vision from the temple advised Vimal Shah, a minister of the Chalukya King of Gujarat, Bhimdev I, about building a temple of Lord Adinath at Dilwara, Mount Abu.

Source: Astrolika

This ancient temple is said to be constructed in 961 AD, the period when Laxman Mandir at Khajuraho was being constructed. An inscription on the temple suggests that a person named Sabpura who is the son of Vellur has restored the temple in Vikram samvat 1017. The beautiful idols, the posture of the idols, ornaments and the Nagar architectural style of the temple resembles that of Khajuraho temple which is why it is also called – The Khajuraho of Mewar.

Source: Travel with sharad vyas

There are innumerable inscriptions on the pillar and the wall of the temple which charms the eyes of every visitor. The unmatched and eclectic sculptures include Mahishasurmardini, Navdurga, Veenadharini, Saraswati, Ganpati in the dancing posture, Yama, Kuber, Vayu, Indra, erotic sculptures and other figures engaged in their chores. As a Devi temple, most of the temples here represents Goddess Durga, Goddess Laxmi, Brahmani, and other goddesses.

Source: Tour My India

The temples have been perfectly preserved by the State Department of Archaeology and Museum, Rajasthan. It has a pentagonal shape with a gigantic rampart wall in its surroundings which makes it completely exhilarated. One surprising thing about the architecture of the temple is that the unique architectural style doesn’t belong to its surrounding region in any manner. There is no solid evidence of North Indian Hindu temple architectural features or any Rajasthani architectural characteristics in it. It isn’t also blended with local or regional architectural features and characteristics.

Source: Travel with sharad vyas

Apart from the beauteous architecture and sculptures the temple own, it is famous for the fair that is conducted here during the time of Navratri and other functions during Durga puja etc. Along with the religious people all around the world, the temple holds a unique significance for the people interested in archeology, sculptures, and idols.

If you any feedback regarding the article or an interesting story to share with us, then write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com