The Mewar Festival in Udaipur
Celebrating spring has been an age-old tradition in India. With the new harvest and renewed nature after the dry and cold winter days, spring marks the beginning of another year of prosperity. In every region across the country, ethnic communities engage in various rituals, festivals, and ceremonies to welcome the new season. In Rajasthan, where it’s all about vibrancy, spring is celebrated with the Mewar Festival. Although the festival spirits spread across the state, it finds prominence in the city of Udaipur, which is also the home of the Mewar community. The advent of spring is celebrated every year with great zeal and remarkable traditions in the City of Lakes. The three-day festival aims to preserve the rich cultural legacy of the Mewars and is the second biggest heritage festival of India.
The famous Mewar Festival of Rajasthan is celebrated each year in March or April to welcome the advent of spring; this three-day festival is celebrated with great zest and dedication in Udaipur, aimed to protect and celebrate the rich heritage of Mewar, Rajasthan, and take forward the ancient culture and traditions of the region. Avail a car hire in Udaipur with an experienced driver and experience this one-of-its-kind event in Rajasthan.
History of the Mewar Festival
Udaipur is recognized as the seat of the Mewar rulers. The history of this spring celebration dates back to the ruling period of the Sisodia dynasty. When Maharana Udai Singh founded the city on the banks of Lake Pichola, it was a new beginning for him and his community. Ever since, annually, the festival is celebrated to commemorate the discovery and establishment of a new kingdom. Eventually, over the years, the traditions assumed a little contemporary form, absorbing the changing times and social norms. Along with religious ceremonies, the festival started to incorporate art and crafts to boost regional talent and hold onto the folk culture. As of today, you will also find seminars being held on reinventing Mewar art, which is initiated by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation.
About the festival
The dates of the Mewar Festival vary according to the Hindu moon calendar and is held between March and April. The dates also coincide with the popular Gangaur Festival, local to Udaipur. Gangaur is an auspicious and significant occasion for the women folks of Mewar. Although it is primarily a religious event, the festival has assumed more cultural importance over the years. They don the most colorful attire and exhibit the grandeur of Rajasthan’s Mewar traditions at their best. Gangaur is a personification of Parvati and commemorates femininity, divine power, and marital bliss. Women dress up idols of Shiva (Isar) and Parvati (Gangaur) and take a procession through the city streets, accompanied by folk music and dances. The idols are then taken to the Lake Pichola for an immersion ceremony. After religious rituals, followed by prayers for a prosperous marital life like that of Shiva and Parvati, they continue the procession on boats to the middle of the water body and immerse the idols.
Women also prepare the local specialty, Gewar- a rich confection made of ghee and sugar, which is served around within the community and also offered to the gods.
What to expect
The entire day of the festival covers various religious and cultural attractions. Once the rituals are over, the folk dancers, singers, and musicians gather to perform at specific locations around the city, majorly around the lakeside promenade at Pichola. There are classical dances, folk dance, classical vocal singing, and instrumental music. The evenings become a magical milieu of fairs, performances, and exhibits, culminating into spectacular firework show, marking the end of the celebration of the Mewar Festival and embracing the new season with much fervor and cheer!
Soaked in ultimate festivity, the local markets and shops join in with their best fare with attractive offers, making it also the perfect time to shop for locally handcrafted goods, fabrics, and jewelry.
The Mewar Festival is the best time to experience the local vibes of Udaipur. You can plan your travel directly to the city or include it within your Rajasthan trip. You can book a dependable and top-rated taxi service in Udaipur to go around the town and witness the celebrations at different places and end your trip at Lake Pichola in the evening.
The fun and festivities might last for only a few days but the spirit lingers on with the onlookers and participants for a long time.
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