Marwar Festival
Come October end and Jodhpur razzle-dazzles up with hues of seven colours. The whole of the Jodhpur is sprayed with vibrant riot of colours. Hues of red and many vibrant colours, parade of brave warriors, impressive forts that come on to you, terrains of sand as far as your eyes can gauge the horizon are just few of the basal parts of the Marwar Festival. Who could say that that passé could appeal so much. I walked past camel silhouetted desert-scape, and the sun dusked quiet philosophically on me!
Day I
I was really delighted to be part of Kaleidoscopic ‘Rajasthan Maand festival’, held on Oct 13, 14, 2008. Well, when I was invited for the popular Maand Festival, I had the subconscious for ‘dewy’ and not ‘dry’ pictures. Condemn my consciousness of the psychedelic of Rajasthan (camels, sand, jootis, turbans and moustaches) so on. The vividness and the heat could be felt from the first of day, the inauguration day, at the Mandore Gardens. Get greeted by the monkeys and Hi5! them with visiting gift of peanuts, which you are supposed to throw at them. After squandering some time here and there and eyeing up the whole milieu, camels, setting and stage dressing and groups of foreigners, I threw myself to the soft music and mascot song padhro maro desh … The evening passed on listening music , local to Rajasthan, and especially centred on romantic life of Rajasthan stalwarts and rulers. Known as Maand Festival too, the festival is exclusively dedicated to music and dance of the state. As a first-timer, the festival engaged my attention with dances: ghoomar, sapera and gairal. Folklore artists presentations and colloquially sung rhythms of Marwar and Jodhpur is equally attractive for many, and moreover for the foreigners.
Day II The second day of the ‘Maand’ was equally charming. Parade marked the beginning of the second day. Early morning shows the colossal ground with people and countless camels’ cuddling their dosage and getting ready for the ride and race. Horses too follow the parade and poise for the Polo. Even when my all five senses were employed the subconscious could not escape sweet and warm smiles of girls dressed up in Rajasthan Lehengas. As people filled the festival ground like smoke, the whole resplendence resumed gradually. Artist robe in purplish theme and Pied Piper of Jodhpur picks up his tune. The camel tattoo show and camel polo are some of the other attractions at the Marwar Festival of Rajasthan. I booked Rajaputana Hotel through www.indiahotelreview.com and had an excellent stay there sans complaint.
