Festivels of jaipur

Festivals are the occasions that add color to life. When it comes to Jaipur, the royal city celebrates each and every festival with full gusto and zeal. The colorful city gets brighter during the celebration of special festivals. There are numerous festivals which the city observes like any other part of the country. But the city celebrates some unusual and interesting fairs & festivals in their own style. The fairs and festivals which are worth mentioning are Elephant festival, Teej festival, Kite festival and Gangaur festival. Jaipur Fairs and Festivals are inseparable element of the cultural identity of the city. The vivacious city looks more vibrant during the festivity; people enjoy these festivals keeping aside all their tensions and worries. Different fairs and festivals have their own significance and offer a pleasurable break from the tight schedules of life. If you want to explore the customs and traditions of Jaipur, festive season is the right time to visit the city. In this article, we will explore some of the major festivals of Jaipur.

Elephant Festival- The Elephant Festival is one of the most popular festivals of Jaipur, Rajasthan. Elephant festival has its own charm and is celebrated every year in March on the occasion of Holi, the festival of colors. The festival has a unique concept of its own kind. The colorful festival of Holi is celebrated throughout India, but the festival gets some more spice added to it, when it combines with the Elephant festival of Jaipur, Rajasthan. The Elephants become the major attraction of this festival in their classy attires.
Time of Celebration: March
Celebrated: In jaipur
Duration of Celebration: One Day

Gangaur Festival-Gangaur is a significant festival of Jaipur, especially meant for the women. Gangaur festival is widely acclaimed and celebrated throughout the state of Rajasthan. The word Gangaur is derived from two words, 'Gan' and 'Gauri' which are synonyms of 'Siva' and his consort 'Parvati' respectively.
Time of Celebration: March / April
Celebrated: In and around Rajasthan
Duration of Celebration: 16 Days

Kite Festival-Kite Festival is a popular festival of Jaipur, Rajasthan. Kite flying is enjoyed by people of all age-groups. However, 14 January, the day of Makar Sankranti, makes the official day for flying kites in Jaipur. People make most out of the festival by flying kites for the whole day.

Kite flying is enjoyed by people of all age-groups. However, 14 January, the day of Makar Sankranti, makes the official day for flying kites in Jaipur. People make most out of the festival by flying kites for the whole day. The sky becomes next to invisible as innumerable kites cover it. People form groups and fly kites, to enjoy the event to its full. With each cut loose of a kite, people fill the environment shouting, "Woh Kata". People shout from their terrace as adversary's kite is cut down. Everyone is an adversary in this game and each kite is a competitor for the other. Engrossed in Kite flying, people enjoy loud music and food on the terrace itself. In Jaipur, the sky looks like a huge collage with all kites of all shapes and designs in it. In every five years, the Desert Kite Festival is organized by the Government of Rajasthan, where expert Kite makers show off their kites. Sometimes, these kites are as huge as 1.5km and are designed in different shapes. Such kites often carry social messages; depict social issues or even caricatures of politicians. The Kite Festival has become popular recently among the tourists, who can too participate in the different kite flying competitions. Time of Celebration: 14th January, Makar Sankranti
Celebrated: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Duration of Celebration: One day

Teej Festival-Teej Festival is one of the most popular festivals of India. Festival of Teej is widely celebrated, but its real charm can be found only in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Teej celebrates the arrival of monsoon, after the scorching sun of summers. Teej is celebrated in the month of 'Shravan' (July-August), according to the Hindu calendar.

Festival of Teej is widely celebrated, but its real charm can be found only in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Teej celebrates the arrival of monsoon, after the scorching sun of summers. Teej is celebrated in the month of 'Shravan' (July-August), according to the Hindu calendar. Teej is an important cultural festival for the womenfolk of Rajasthan, in which they pray for the well being of their husbands. This festival marks the beginning of festive season in Rajasthan. Festival of Teej is primarily meant for married women and girls. During this auspicious festival, Goddess Parvati is worshipped, who is the symbol of virtue, devotion and fertility.

According to a mythological legend attached with this festival, Goddess Parvati was united with Lord Shiva after years of penance on Teej. On the festival, married women pray for the welfare of their husbands and marital bliss. To celebrate the occasion, Girls and married women apply henna on their hands and get dressed in their best attires.

Teej is also known as festival of swings and rains. Women celebrate this summer beating festival by singing songs and enjoying rope swings. Parents of married girls send gifts, sweets and clothes to their daughter's home. In the case of engaged girls, they receive 'Sindhara' from their "would be in-laws", which consists gifts and sweets. Teej Festival of Jaipur is noticeable by a huge procession taken out in the city.

During the festival, the markets of Jaipur are decorated for the occasion. It is a good time to discover the markets of Jaipur. A procession is taken out in the city of Jaipur to celebrate the festival, where the idol of Teej adorned with jewelry and finery, fetches the main attraction. Teej is celebrated with all the gusto and enthusiasm in Jaipur, where procession being the highlight of the festival. Teej is a traditional festival of the royal city of Jaipur and is celebrated with a special fervor. The showers of rain on this day perk up the lively celebrations by several degrees. The alluring sight of Teej's celebration is an eye-candy for any tourist and creates the perfect reason to visit Jaipur.