Elephant Festival

A festival celebrated around Holi, great occasions for the visitor, to watch several elephant sports and enjoy the festival of colours. A magnificent spectacle, it unveils the majesty and grandeur of elephants. A royal procession of sixty elephants in their best finery, a match of elephant polo and an elephant race are main events of the festival.

Staged at Jaipur Chaugan Stadium elephants put up a variety programme and the arena is brought alive with musician and dancer. The crowd, which includes sizable presences of foreign and Indian tourist, electrify the atmosphere. The festival starts with an impressive procession of the majestic animals lovingly painted and tastefully attired with glittering ornaments and embroidered velvets. There are deadly and fierce elephant fights.

The Elephant Festival is an inimitable event held annually in Jaipur. Groomed flawlessly, rows of elephants do a catwalk before an enthralled audience liked best fashion models to make this festival an amazing one. The elephants move with poise in pageant, run races, play the reDecorated elephantsgal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time with elephants typically celebrated one day before the Holi, Indian festival of colors.

Gangaur

This spring festival is held in honour of Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva, the goddess of abundance. During the festival young girls dress up in their finest wardrobe and pray for grooms of their choice and the married women do the same for the well-being of their husbands. Though celebrated throughout Rajasthan, in Jaipur it has its own charm and attraction. Girls worship the goddess throughout the preceding fortnight. Colourful images of Gauri are taken out in procession with the town band.

Ishar and Gangaur are the divine male and female who embody marital love. Dedicated to Goddess Gauri (Parvati), the festival commences on Holi. Young girls pray for grooms of their choice while married women seek a long life for their husbands. Primarily a festival for women, the celebrations include flower gathering and drawing water from selected wells. The women do these while chanting hymns to the Goddess. Festivities continue for 18 days culminating with the arrival of Lord Shiva to escort his bride home. A grand procession, with the idol of Gauri in beautifully decorated gold and silver palanquin, caparisoned elephants, camels, horses, dancers, drummers and joyous children goes through the city street.

Makar Sankranti

The festival is celebrated on the 14th of January every year. This has now become the festival of kite-flying which does not spare the soaring spirits of anyone in Jaipur. The devoted ones, however, take a holy dip in the kund at Galtaji. The traditional sweet associated with it is Phirni, made in abundance by the halwais of Jaipur.

On Makar sankranti In Jaipur Kites virtually blot out the sky. Everyone joins in this riotous celebration and shouts of " Woh Kata Hai ! " reverberate from rooftops to the accompaniment of drums as adversary's kites are cut down. And everyone's an adversary! Any kite in the sky is fair game !

Its been five years that this Desert Kite Festival is held. Kite makers flaunt kites sized as big as 1.5km of various shapes and Designs. Some carrying messages, some depicting social issues, some as caricatures of politicians. Its been the most popular event recently, even tourists can take part in various kite flying competitions. The colours that flaunt in the blue sky mesmerises the viewers.

Diwali

Celebrated every year in October- November, Diwali is perhaps the most popular of all Indian festivals. The origin of this festival can be traced back to the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, when Lord Rama returend to this kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.

Jaipur Fair And Festivals

The Jaipur love for color and joyous celebrations, music, dance and festivals makes it one of the most colorful desert in the world. We have numerous fairs and festivals of the region. In addition to the festivals celebrated by the Hindus, Muslims and others, there are also the traditional fairs.

Jaipur have all sorts of fair and festivals like animal fairs, religious fairs and there are fairs to mark the changing seasons. In fact, celebrations occur almost round the year and are a splendid opportunity for you to gain an insight into the life of the Rajasthani. Other than the traditional fairs, recently established festivals which involve elephants, camel races, dance and music have been specially organized for the tourists. I recommend you to plan your tour in a way that you are a part of any of the following fairs and festival to truly know the rich heritage and culture of Rajasthan.

Around Jaipur

Some important places around Jaipur include Sanganer, Kaurali, Samode, Bagru, Balaji, Ramgarh, Chomun, Galta and Gaitor. Sanganer and Bagru are famous for the crafts produced in these regions. These regions are producers of fine hand made paper and block printing.

Kaurali and Balaji arre famous for their temples. Kaurali houses many Krishna temples whereas Balaji is known for its temple and exorcism.

Ramgarh has many tourist attractions some of which include Ramgarh Lake, polo ground and an ancient Durga Temple.

Samode provides the ground for beautiful Samode Palace. The palce is a twin sister of Samode Haveli with rich mirror works and piantings.

Galta has the famous sun god temple on a hill that provides a picturesque view of the surrounding plains. At Gaitor there are cenotaphs of the maharanis of Jaipur.

The place is in the vicinity of yet another attraction which is Jal Mahal.

Chomun or Chaumu as the place is known is an important industrial estate around Jaipur.

Jawahar Kala Kendra

Jawahar Kala Kendra is an arts and crafts centre located in the city of Jaipur. The centre is important not because of the nomenclature but its close association with the city of Jaipur itself. The centre was built in the year 1986 and the constuction completed in 1991. The centre was launched by the state government to provide space to the cultural and spiritual values of India and display the rich craft heritage. The centre is dedicated to the late prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. The centre has been constructed in a manner so as to reveal the ideology of the ex-prime minister and Maharaja Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur city. Like Jaipur the structure is built based upon ancient hindu treatise that is Shilpa Shastra. The centre in contemoprary times is also a venue of theatricaland musical performances. The centre has been made in eight blocks housing museums, theatres, library, arts display room, cafeteria, hostel and studio.The centre is frequently occupied with artists and arts loving people. Many exhibitions and performances by local artists are displayed at the centre. The annual festivals of classical dance and music are held in the centre. The centre hosts many workshops of dance and music. The centre also maintains records of cultural events and information. The information can at ant time be accessed.The Jawahar Kala Kendra has also an area known as Shilpgram area having huts of important regions of Rajasthan. Location: Jawahar Kala Kendra is located in Jaipur city in the state of Rajasthan. The centre is situated on Jawaharlal Marg opposite to Rajasthan Commerce College. Visiting Hours: The centre remains open throughout week from 10.00 a.m to 6.00 p.m. Accessibility: The centre is located in the region of Bapu Nagar which is well connected with the rest of the Jaipur city. The region lies south of the walled city of Jaipur.