Source: Rajasthan Tourism
The people of Rajasthan, who rejoice everyday in effervescent ways of their
life, who enliven their traditions every now & then in festivities &
revelries, are all set to celebrate Rajasthan Diwas in a grand manner this year
throughout the state from 21st March to 30th March.
Fifty-six years ago, on 30th March 1949, took place the grand unification of
the erstwhile princely states of Rajputana giving birth to Rajasthan state in
the Union of India. Since then, 30th March is celebrated as Rajasthan Diwas
every year. The year 2005 marks a new beginning for these celebrations. With
Rajasthan emerging as a frontrunner in tourism industry, Government of Rajasthan
continues to add new attractions to its repertoire of festivals while bringing
forth the vast range of Rajasthani Folk Art, Craft, Dance & Music.
With the aim of showcasing the state's culture & heritage and reviving
the traditional sports, cuisines and folk-art, Government of Rajasthan has
announced state-wide Rajasthan Diwas Celebrations from 21st March to 30th
March 2005. These celebrations stand apart for the sheer range of participation
that it would elicit from people at large with sports & cultural competitions
being organised for them at levels of districts & divisions culminating
to state-level finals in Jaipur. Craft-Bazaar, Food Festival, Night Bazaar,
Sports competitions, spectacular fire-works, Mega Cultural Concerts, and competitions
for school students are but a few events planned by the state government as
a part of Rajasthan Diwas Celebrations, 2005.
Lighting of Rajasthan Diwas torches in 32 districts of Rajasthan and their
arrival to the capital city - Jaipur via their divisional headquarters form
a part of the event "Run for Rajasthan", an event forerunner to
the 10-day celebrations beginning on 21st March 2005. Internationally and
nationally famed sportspersons of Rajasthan would participate in a relay on
21st March from SMS Stadium to Albert Hall, Jaipur; carrying a torch lighted
from the flames of all 6 divisional torches.
The mega festival would mark its beginning on 21st March with the lighting
of Rajasthan Diwas flame at Albert Hall amidst cheering from a gathering comprising
of VIPs & eminent persons besides the people of Rajasthan. An enthusiastic
live-performance by Police & Military Bands and well-choreographed vivacious
performances by the folk artists in Musical Symphony at Albert Hall would
mark the grand inaugural of Rajasthan Diwas celebrations. Not to be missed
would be the view of city's sky as a colourful canvas adorned with thousands
of balloons.
Craft Bazaar showcasing the art forms, handicrafts, pottery styles, prints
& textiles, embroideries, carpets, wood & metal work of different
regions of Rajasthan promises to be a major attraction for visiting tourists
as well as the residents in Rajasthan throughout the 10-day celebrations.
Taking care of the educative needs of craftsmen, the state government has
planned to organise awareness-seminars & design-workshops at Jawahar Kala
Kendra, Jaipur to benefit the talented craftsmen. Puppet shows and folk performances
by Kalbelia, Manganiyars, Garasias, Sahariya, Bheels and other tribes every
evening in Jawahar Kala Kendra have been planned as added attraction for the
visitors to Craft Bazaar.
Tantalizing the taste buds would be the mouth-watering Marwari, Mewari, Hadoti,
Dundhari, Brij and Punjabi delicacies that would be savoured by the people
in the Food Festival to be held in Jaipur from 21st March to 30th March, 2005
during the course of Rajasthan Diwas Celebrations. Pavillions, offering the
region specific Rajasthani-cuisine, would undoubtedly add to the delight of
tourists and Rajasthanis alike 10-day Rajasthan Diwas Celebrations would herald
revival of traditional & rural sports like Kabbadi, Kho-Kho, Rumal Jhappatta,
Teerandazi (Archery), Camel Cart Race, Elephant Polo, Tonga Race and other
sports like Satoliya, Bullock Cart Race, Mulkhum, Rassa-kassi and Bhartiya
Kushti etc. As part of celebrations, competitions would be held at District
& Division level and the winning teams would compete in the State-level
finals to be held in Jaipur between 21st March-30th March 2005. Rajasthan
Diwas Celebrations has come in as a timely opportunity to recognise the talented
sportsperson of our state and to showcase & popularise the traditional
games amongst the younger generations. Modern day popular sports like Golf
& Horse Polo would also form a part of the competitions.
No festival can be exciting without the charm & laughter of children.
To enlighten the school going kids about the heritage & glory of Rajasthan,
theme based competitions like debate, quiz, essay writing, drawing & painting
would be organised in Jaipur during the course of celebrations. The winning
teams of division level competitions would participate in the final rounds
to be held in the capital city. Adding to the vivacity of the celebrations
would be the vibrant folk dance & song performances by the school students
in the competitions at different levels of district, division, and state.
While praying for the prosperity, development, and progress of people in Rajasthan,
divine blessings would be sought by organising Maha-Aarti at Birla Mandir(Temple)
in Jaipur on 21st March. In subsequent days, Maha-Aartis would be organised
during the dusk time in significant temples of different parts of the city
and the harmony of bhajans would soothe people throughout the state.
One of the most unique features of these celebrations, never seen before
in any other festival, would be the Night Bazaar. An ensemble of shoppers'
items ranging from handicrafts, clothes, potteries, carpets, internationally
renowned quilts, blankets & jewellery to day-today household commodities,
would ensure a shopping experience par imagination to the Pink-city dwellers
every evening till midnight. Night Bazaar would definitely herald a new era
of late-evening activities in the city.Amidst all merriments would be the
most enchanting Holi Festival. The festival of colours would add its hues
to the joys of Rajasthan Diwas Celebrations with the plans of a Mega Holika
Dahan on 25th March. Colourful fire-works on the occasion promises to spellbound
Jaipurites with its spectacular display. The grand Elephant Festival on 25th
March would further add to the glory of entire celebrations. This fervor would
soon be followed next day by an enthralling play of colours in Hotel Khasa
Kothi, Jaipur. Further more, foreigners enjoying the open-bus city tour would
be able to experience the gaiety, exhilaration, and joys of Pink city dwellers
amidst their distinctive play of colours.
Grand cultural shows and live concerts every evening in the ambience of majestic
Albert Hall, Amer Fort and other equally eye-arresting venues have been planned
to entertain people throughout the celebrations. A variety of programmes ranging
from Classical Music & dance performances, Ghazal Evening, Bollywood Celebrity
Evening to Nritya Natika, Natya Sandhya etc. would be held during the celebrations
in Jaipur. Tourists and residents would get an opportunity to enjoy the performances
of nationally famed artists who are shining stars of the constellation of
celebrities in their own field.
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