Fairs and Festivals in Udaipur
In this article you will know about some popular fairs and festivals of Udaipur.
In India, each region is blessed with some authentic festivals that are celebrated in the particular region only by their regional residents. Fairs and Festivals in Udaipur depict the radiant colors of Rajasthan and the traditional beliefs of the Mewar natives. We’ve jotted down all the celebrations practiced in Udaipur and described below.
Fairs and Festivals in Udaipur
Hariyali Amavasya
Hariyali Amavasya is a Hindu festival celebrated to welcome monsoons on an Amavasya day i.e. a no-moon day. According to Hindu mythology, Saavan arrives from July and stays till August; the first Amavasya of the Saavan period is celebrated as Hariyali Amavasya.
In Udaipur, the festival of Hariyali Amavasya is celebrated on a high note with a huge 2-day Hariyali Amavasya fete. The fete includes various stalls that offer rides, games, food, jewelry and clothes; also there are various Rajasthani dance and music performances in the vibrant fair. The famous dish consumed during Hariyali Amavasya: ‘Maal Pua’, is available in abundance in the fete and all around the city.
Location: From Saheliyon ki Bari to Fatehsagar road.
Mewar/Gangaur Festival
Gangaur festival arrives at the end of winters, an 18 day festival that offers honor to Goddess Gauri: Lord Shiva’s wife. Goddess Gauri is considered as a virtue symbol, married women pray for their husband’s long life to Goddess Gauri, and the unmarried women pray for a suitable husband. Earthen Pots with burning lamps are carried by women on the 7th day till the 17th day of the festival. On the last day, the Gangaur idols of Isar and Gauri are then taken for a procession to Gangaur Ghat, and carried into the lake through several boats that then transfer the idols to the Gangaur boat and then various ceremonies of Gangaur pooja takes place on the ghat.
Shilpgram Festival
The Shilpgram Festival is commenced from 21st December and lasts till 31st December every year; artisans from all around India portray their arts in this fest. There are over 400 stalls set-up in the Shilpgram festival that offer food, interior, jewellery, apparel, furniture, paintings, statues and a lot more. Around 700 folk artists perform on the Shilpgram stage in the evening, also in the fete there are various entertainers showcasing their talents like rope-walking, juggling, balancing, swinging, magic tricks etc.
Location: Shilpram, Udaipur
Jagannath Rath Yatra
It is the third largest Rath Yatra commenced on 21st June every year, a huge procession with a wooden chariot weighing 21,000 kg including the 51kg silver plating carrying an idol of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra (his sister), Balram (his friend) is moved across the old city. The chariot is pulled by the devotees of Lord Jagannath, and is moved in these old city area: Jagdish Chowk, Mochiwada, Bhadbhuja Ghati, Bada Bajar, Ghanta Ghar Mandi, Marshall Chauraha, Jhiniret Chowk, Bhattiyani Chohatta, Santoshi Mata Mandir, Asthal Mandir, R.M.V. And later the procession is concluded at Jagdish Chowk.
Dusshera-Diwali Mela
As one of the most celebrated Hindu festival Diwali, knocks the door of our Lake City, a radiant fete is set-up in the town hall premises. The Dusshera-Diwali fete is organized by the Nagar Parishad of Udaipur (City Council Udaipur), the fete has no entry-fee hence it can be freely accessed by any individual; one only has to pay for the shopping done on the stalls of the fete, and rents for riding in the thrilling slides. In evening many local/ Bollywood artists perform in the Town Hall premises, which is also absolutely free for all the people. The Dusshera-Diwali Mela starts from the day of Dusshera every year and concludes on the prosperous day of Diwali.
Gavari Festival
Gavari Festival is celebrated by the Bhils (Tribals) of Mewar; it is a practice which includes dancing and drama by the Bhils in flamboyant attires. The Gavari festival arrives after the monsoons in the months: September and October, for a sum of 40 days. The Bhil community performs around Udaipur, Chittor and Rajsamand; the members included in the Gavari performance are all males, it is very entertaining to watch males dressed up sportingly as females for the act. In this period of time, these people don’t consume green colored food, non-veg and alcohol. In the performance they worship Lord Shiva and his wife, and each day the performance is setup at different locations for 5-6 hours, any free ground can be treated as a performance stage by the Gavari performers.
Teej
Teej festival is alike ‘Karva Chauth’, each wife fasts for a day for her husband’s long life. It is said that on the day of Teej Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvati reunited, hence it is celebrated as a day of love in Rajasthan as Teej. The Rajasthani females get dressed in their traditional attires with alluring designs of heena in their hands, also the females treat themselves by swinging in the air on this day, as the moon arrives these ladies perform a small pooja with their respective husbands and the moon and consume food later. Also the unmarried woman keep this fast for acquiring a good husband in the future.
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