Introduction: Rajasthan has a rich heritage of its peculiar Art Culture & Architecture. Many of these art forms have survived through ages and are even part of present culture of Rajasthan. The architectural beauty of Rajasthan is world renowned, forts, palaces, havelis, tombs, cenotaph and sculptures present across the geography of state, reveal the blend of multiple dynasties that ruled the ancient lands. The glittering jewellery and attractive handicrafts of Rajasthan have caught the fantasy of the people around the world. Rajasthan has a tradition of highly cultivated music & dance forms. The music is uncomplicated, raw and songs depict daily chores. The Kalbelia dance of Jaisalmer and Ghoomar dance from Udaipur have gained recognition internationally. Folk music is an integral part of Rajasthani culture. Ballads, Bhopas relate heroic deeds, love stories through folk songs. Rajasthan is also famous for textiles, semi-precious stone work and its traditional & colorful handicrafts. Rajasthan is also one of the cultural centres for miniature painting art with its unique Rajasthani or Rajputana School of painting. Fair and Festival Rajasthan is a land of fairs & festivals, but before we can get understanding of these it is essential to learn the names of Indian Seasons & months, as the India festivals & fairs are organized based on Hindi calendar, which is LUNAR. In Hindu calendar, year begins with 1- Chaitra:
First day after new moon (Amavsya) New Year of Vikram Samvat (2073 in 2016) New Year of Saka Samvat (Official Government calendar) 1 Chaitra = 22 march (Normal year) & 21 March (Leap year) Chaitra = 30 days (normal year) & 31 days (Leap year) Festivals and Fairs of Rajasthan in Chaitra Festival: Gangor Worship of Eser ji & Gauri ji made of clay. 16 days festival, Main Celebration: Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota Colonel Todd described Gangor of Udaipur Fairs: Karni Mata Mela (I) Bada in Nokha, Bikaner from Shukla 1st -10th Lakhi Mela at Mahavir Ji, Sawai madhopur from Chaitra Shuka 1st Vaisakha Krishna 3rd Kaila Devi Mela at Sawai madhopur from Shukla 8th (main) Total: Krishna 12th Shukla 12th Festivals & Fairs of Rajasthan in Vaisakha: Brith Hari Mela in Alwar Festivals & Fairs of Rajasthan in Bhadra:Baba Ramdev Ji ka Mela at Runicha Pokaran- Jaisalmer from Shukla Paksh 2nd -11 th Brithari Mela(II) in Alwar Karjali Teej mela in Bundi on 3rd
Festivals & Fairs of Rajasthan in Ashwin: Karni Mata Mela in Nokh, Bikaner from Sukla 1st -10th Festivals & Fairs of Rajasthan in Kartik: Kapil Muni Mela in Kolayat Bikaner on Kartik Purnima Puskar Mela in Pushkar, Ajmer on Kartik Purnima Beneshwar Mela in Beneshwar, Dungarpur on Purnima (Shivaratri) Festivals & Fairs of Rajasthan in Phalguna: Khatu Shyam ji Mela in Sikar from Shukla 10th -12 th Camel Festival, Bikaner The camel festival is organised by the Department of Tourism in January every year in Bikaner.
Mewar Festival, Udaipur This 18-day festival is celebrated to welcome the advent of spring and coincides with the festival of Gangaur. Teej Festival, Jaipur Held during the monsoons in July Teej is also dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati. Chandrabhaga Fair, Jhalawar This three-day fair is held at Jhalrapatan near Jhalawar either in November or December. Kolyat Fair, Bikaner This place is the sacred site where Kapil Muni is supposed to have meditated.
Ghoomar Dance Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of Rajasthan and also a State Dance. Location: Across Rajasthan Performed by: Originally by Bhil Community, adopted by different communities including Rajputs (Women). Performance Occasions: Rajput Marriages Features: Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of Rajasthan and also a State Dance. Location: Across Rajasthan Chari Dance Performed By: Women from Gujjar Community Performance Occasions: Marriage occasions, on the birth of a male child or any big festival celebration. This folk dance is performed by the Kamada tribes who are traditional snake charmers. Location: Ramdevra, Didwana, Dungarpur, Udaipur Performed By: Woman from Kamad tribe while sitting on the floor before Baba Ramdeo s image Terah Taali Performance Occasions: in honor the folk hero, Baba Ramdeo
Features: The women have 13 manjeeras (little brass discs) tied to the various parts of their body, which they strike with the ones they hold in their hand. Often a sword is also used by the professional Terah Taali dancer and also a pot on her to make the dance more attractive. Male artists sings local Rajasthani folk songs as a background music and play different instruments like pakhwaja, dholak jhanjhar, Sarangi, harmonium etc. Famous Persons associated with dance form: Mangi Bai, Mohini Narayani, laxman das Kamad Kalbelia Folk Dance: Kalbelia dance is included in UNESCO s list of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity from the year 2010
Kalbelia Location: Pali district, Ajmer, Chittorgarh and Udaipur district. Performed By: Women from Kalbelia community. Performance Occasions: Kalbelia songs are based on stories taken from folklore and mythology and special dances are performed during Holi. Features: The dancers are women in flowing black skirts who dance and swirl, replicating the movements of a serpent. The cloths are mixed in red and black hues and embroidered in unique patterns. Kalbelia dance has a traditional musical instruments which is Poongi also called been. Other traditional musical instruments used by Kalbelia tribe in Kalbelia dance are Dufli, Morchang, Dholak, Khanjari and Khuralio. Ivory Works (Haathi dant)
Items include: Jewellery, Powder boxes, jewellery boxes, cufflinks, lamps, artistic decorations, idols of gods and goddess, Ivory Works rajasthan brooches. Udaipur most famous. Jodhpur Black, green & Red strips bangles. Meenakari: Jaipur is famous worldwide for Meenakari on Jewellary. Meenakari Art was imported from Lahore for first time under reign of Man Singh I (1589-1614) Nathdwara is also famous Raitwali area of Kota Meenakari is done on glass Bikaner & Pratapgarh also has significant skills Usta Art Golden Meenakari work on Camel leather is known as usta Art. The art was developed by Padam Shri Hissayamuddin Usta from Bikaner.
Camel hide training Center in Bikaner is an institution for Usta Art. Lac Works Famous: Jaipur & Jodhpur Sawai madhopur, Laxmangarh (Sikar), Indragarh (Bundi) Lac work on wooden toys. Jaipur, Hindon, Karauli Lac bangles. Mat & Carpet Works: Jaipur and Tonk are famous Cotton & Wool are used for making fabric For better quality and strong mattress the thread & knots used for making fabric should be very fine (thin). Carpets are also manufactured in Jaipur & Bikaner jails. Salawas Village of Jodhpur is famous for carpets While carpet manufacturing is enthusiastically followed in Jodhpur, Nagaur, Tonk, Barmer, Bhilwara, Shahpura, Kekari & Malpura. Textile: Gota Work: Jaipur & Khandela (Sikar) are famous Zari Work Jaipur Kota Doria Kota Doria is a fabric with unique blend of cotton and silk in a square check pattern. The checked pattern is termed as khat
The silk provides the shine while the cotton provides strength to the fabric. Craft originated in Mysore and then shifted to Kaithun Village near Kota. Hence, the Saris came to be known as Kota-Mansuria. Jaipuri Quilt (Rajai) Specialty: Very Low Weight but high insulating (very warm). Appliqué Work: In this art different pieces of cloth are fixed together. The interesting color, shape and pattern combinations against contrasting background catch the eye. Hand-block prints: Bagru Print, Jaipur This print is similar to Sanganeri print but while Sanganeri print has white field, Bagru prints have green fields. Only Natural colors are used in Bagru Prints Alijarin (Ajrak) Print, Barmer
Mostly red and blue colors are used for printing Tie and dye: Bandani, Batik, Mothra, Ekdali, Shikari, Cheent. Bandhej, Jaipur Cloth is tied and then colored and when the knot is opened different designs appear on cloth. Jhajam (Carpets) Printed in Chittor are famous. Lehriya Jaipur Chunri Jodhpur Blue Pottery There are many craftsmen in Jaipur who prepare blue pottery in Rajasthan by using blue, green and white colors.
Wooden Furniture Carved wooden furniture of different styles and design are made in different parts of the state with motif and fine design. Rajasthan Quilts The unique selling point of these Jaipuri quilts or Jaipur rajais is that these are light and soft as well as of high quality. Mojaris/Jutis
These are beautifully embroidered pieces with varied patterns and designs. Jodhpur and Jaipur manufactures some very pretty Mojaris and juti. Marble Crafts This craft produces marble carved wall hangings, sculptures, statues, furniture, flower vases, fireplaces, statues, and so on. Ivory Ivory bangles of Rajasthan are popular crafts of the state. Rajasthani Paintings Rajput School of Painting or Rajasthani Painting Rajasthani Painting Themes events of epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Krishna s life, beautiful landscapes, and humans Precious stones, Gold and silver were used Mughal Influence
Dominance of Chaurapanchasika group style in Indian Rajasthani Paintings starting from the 16th century, when the Rajput Painting originated, numerous schools emerged, including: Mewar School Chavand, Nathdwara, Devgarh, Udaipur and Sawar. Marwar School The Kishangarh, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali and Ghanerao styles Hadoti School: Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar styles Dhundar School: Amber, Jaipur, Sehkhawati and Uniara styles Pahari School Himachal (kangra & Kullu) & Jammu and Kashmir Rajasthani Painting: MEWAR Drawing is bold and the colours are bright and contrasting. Text of the painting is written in black on the top against the yellow ground. Rajasthani Painting: BUNDI Very close to the Mewar style Rich and glowing colours, the rising sun in golden color, crimson-red horizon, overlapping and semi-naturalistic trees Mughal influence is visible in the refined drawing of the faces. Rajasthani Painting: KOTA Very much akin to the Bundi style Themes of tiger and bear hunt were very popular at Kotah.
Most of the space is occupied by the hilly jungle which has been rendered with a unique charm. Rajasthani Painting: AMBER JAIPUR This school of painting originated at Amber but later shifted to Jaipur, the new capital. There are a fairly large number of portraits of the Jaipur rulers Rajasthani Painting: MARWAR Executed in a primitive and vigorous folk style completely uninfluenced by the Mughal style. A large number of miniatures comprising portraits, court scenes, series of the Ragamala and the Baramasa, etc. were executed from the 17th to 19th centuries at several centres of painting like Pali, Jodhpur and Nagour etc. in Marwar. Rajasthani Painting: BIKANER Bikaner had close relations with the Mughal. Some of the Mughal artists were given patronage by the Bikaner court responsible for the introduction of a new style of painting having much similarity with the Mughal and the Deccani styles. Rajasthani Painting: KISHENGARH Developed under the patronage of Raja Savant Singh (1748-1757 A.D.), who wrote devotional poetry in praise of Krishna master painter Nihal Chand who, in his works, has been able to create visual images of his master s lyrical compositions.
Rajasthan Paintings including murals, frescoes and miniature paintings are popular crafts of the state. Paintings Miniature Paintings The art of Miniature painting was introduced to the land of India by the Mughal.
Gemstone Paintings In This painting style shades of color are provided by the semi precious stones instead of artificial or vegetable colors. Phad Paintings
Paintings on cloth portraying the epic lives of the local hero-gods are popularly known as Phad paintings. Kajali Paintings No brushes are used in Kajali painting. The only tools used are hand and cloth. Kishangarh Paintings (Bani Thani) Bani Thani is an Indian painting in the Kishangarh School of paintings. Lok Devtas and Saints of Rajasthan Introduction: With start of medieval period, Hinduism started facing both internal and external threat. Internal threat came from short-comings of Hindu religion like rigidity of caste system etc and external challenge came from the introduction of new religion of Islam.
The age saw development of a new path of Bhakti which was built on rooting out evils of Hindu religion and promoting harmony. The path of Bhakti grew as movement and spread across the country. Saints of Rajasthan In Rajasthan, the emergence of saint bhakts was witnessed from 16th century to end of 18 century. Bhakti Saints of Rajasthan Dadu Dayal Mira Bai Sundar das Rajjab Bhakhan Wajind Raghavdas Lal Das Charan Das Mavaji Dadu Dayal Believed to be born in 1544 in Samvat near Ahmadabad, Gujarat In 1568, came to Sambhar & began to give sermons and Dhunia Followers of Dadu Dayal made Dadu Panth.
Naraina is the principal seat of Dadu Panthis. Here clothes & pothis of Dadu ji are kept. His teachings have been consolidated by his disciples Dadudayal Ki vani & Dadudayal-Ra-Duha. Contemporary of Rana Pratap & Akbar. In 1575, met Akber and influenced him by his views. Dadu Dayal stressed on faith in God and Guru, knowledge of Self, love, morality, futility of casteism, truth and simple life. Virakt: Community of nomad disciples of Dadu. Dadu khol: Cave on Bhairana hill in Naraina, where Dadu Dayal enetered into Samadhi. Followers of Dadu Dayal can be classified into 5 types: Khalsa Virakta Sthandhari Uttaradev Khaki Sunder Das He was a disciple of Dadu Dayal. Born in: 1596 in Dausa. Sunderdas ji established Naga sect.
Wrote: Sunder vilas, Sunder Granthavali, Gyan Samudra, and Sundersar. He is also known as Shankaracharya of Rajasthan. Died in: 1707 (or in 1689) in Sangner, Jaipur. Meera Bai Born in Samvat 1573 at Kudki, Nagaur and was married to Bhojraj, eldest son of Rana Sanga. Her compositions include Teeka Raag Govind, Rukmani mangal, Teeka on Geet-Govind, and Narsi Mehta Ni Mund. Meera Bai established Pasi sect in Brindhavan (UP). Meera was devotee of Krishna and treated him as her husband. Lal Das Born: In 1540 at Dholidoov village of Mewat on Shravana Krishna Panchami. Opposed superstitions prevailing in society & stressed on devotion & purity. Sermons are available in Laldas ji ki chetavaniyan. Died: At Nagla village of Bharatpur. His Samadhi is at sherpur of Alwar. Major sites are in Alwar, Sherpur & Nagla. Charan Das Born in: Derha, near Alwar, in Rajasthan.
Author of around twenty works. Many of these are in verse and deal with aspects of devotion, particularly relating to the worship of Krishna. Wrote commentaries on various Upanishads, particularly the Katha Upanishad, and on specific yoga practices, especially Pranayama, control of the breath. Belived in harmony between Hinduism & Islam. Mavaji Considered incarnation of Vishnu. Two disciples of Mavaji, Aji & Vaje built Laxmi Narayn temple at confluence of Som & Mahi Rivers. Rajjab Ji Disciple of Dadu Dayal ji. Born in: Pathan Patwar, Sanganer Ancient seat in Sanganer known as Rajjab Dwar. Authored Rajjab vani, Sarangi. Bhakhan Born in Narena Low caste Muslim singer, entertain Dadu with his fascinating songs. Wajind Initially, a Pathan hunter.
Came under influence of Dadu and became follower. Created literature for Dadu Panth. Raghavdas Dadu Panthi scholar In 1660 A.D. wrote Bhaktamal. Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Born in: 1143 in Sanjar, Iran He became disciple of Khwaja Usman Harooni of Chistiya Order (Silsila). Came to India during reign of Iltumish and settled in Ajmer in 1233 A.D. His shrine is open to all irrespective of religion, caste or creed and especially for poor & needy; hence he is popularly known as Garib Nawaz. Died in Ajmer, his tomb is popularly known as The Dargah Sharif.