 Mewar
Festival:
About the Fair
Spring-time celebrations in the 'City of Lakes' are marked by religious
rituals, songs, dances and boat-rides on Pichola lake.Fireworks
and recreations along the lake shore are truely memorable against
the backdrop of the City Palace.
Activities
The festival is celebrated mainly by the women
folk of Rajasthan. Married women who idolize Parvati for her devotion
to her husband Shiva celebrate Teej. The festivity revolves around
singing and dancing in praise of Parvati. The rituals allow the
women to pamper and enjoy themselves, to feast, to dress in the
best of cloths, finery and jewellery, in fact to look the stunning
best.
All over Rajasthan, even in remote villages, Jhoolas
are hung from trees and decorated with leaves and flowers. Ladies
and girls can be seen enjoying on these swings, playing games, singing
folk songs and applying Mehandi on their palms. In Jaipur an idol
of Goddess Parvati is taken out in a royal procession from the city
palace so that the general public can have a chance to pay homage
to the Goddess. Antique gilt palanquins, bullock carts pulling cannons,
chariots, gaily decorated elephants with silver haodas, horses,
camels, brass bands, and group of dances all form a part of this
grand spectacle. The Palanquin of Goddess Paravati is carried by
8 men dressed in red color. This kilometer long procession winds
its way through the lanes of the old city. Local people come in
huge numbers, dress in their best traditional clothes. Space is
at a premium as people perch on top of building, windows even trees
to catch a glimpse of Goddess. A huge band of urchins follows the
Palanquin to grab these offerings.
A lot of merriment prevails during this procession.
Groups of men and women can be seen singing dancing and playing
musical instruments. Men and women dressed as gods and Goddess also
join in the procession.
History
Udiapur is the jewel of Mewar kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty
for 1200 Years. The foundation of the city has an interesting legend
associated with it. According to it, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder,
was hunting one day when he met a holy man meditations on a hill
overlooking the Lake Pichhola.The hermit blessed the Maharana and
advised him to build a palace at this favorable located spot with
a fertile valley watered by the stream, a lake, an agreeable altitude
and an amphitheater of low mountains. Maharana followed the advise
of the hermit and founded the city in 1559 A.D.
Places to see
Udaipur is famous for City Palaces, Saheliyon-ki-Bari, The Suraj
Gokhada, Pratap Memorial and many more.
Getting there
By Air
Udaipur is well connected to all the major cities which includes
Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Jodhpur, Jaipur.
By Road
Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable deluxe & air conditioned
buses from Jaipur, Delhi, Ahmedabad to Udaipur. The roads are very
good, and it takes around 8-9 hr. from Jaipur. You can also come
by taxi from Jaipur and Ahmedabad.
By Rail
Udaipur is connected to many major cities of India. There are daily
trains from Delhi, Jaipur.The best train between Delhi and Udaipur,
the daily Chetak Express. Trains take around 12 Hrs from Jaipur
to Udaipur.
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