Post on 19-Mar-2020
Introduction:
Rajasthan has a rich heritage of its peculiar Art Culture & Architecture.
Many of these art forms have survived through ages and are even part
of present culture of Rajasthan. The architectural beauty of Rajasthan
is world renowned, forts, palaces, havelis, tombs, cenotaph and
sculptures present across the geography of state, reveal the blend of
multiple dynasties that ruled the ancient lands. The glittering
jewellery and attractive handicrafts of Rajasthan have caught the
fantasy of the people around the world.
Rajasthan has a tradition of highly cultivated music & dance forms.
The music is uncomplicated, raw and songs depict daily chores. The
Kalbelia dance of Jaisalmer and Ghoomar dance from Udaipur have
gained recognition internationally. Folk music is an integral part of
Rajasthani culture. Ballads, Bhopas relate heroic deeds, love stories
through folk songs.
Rajasthan is also famous for textiles, semi-precious stone work and its
traditional & colorful handicrafts. Rajasthan is also one of the cultural
centres for miniature painting art with its unique Rajasthani or
Rajputana School of painting.
Fair and Festival
Rajasthan is a land of fairs & festivals, but before we can get
understanding of these it is essential to learn the names of Indian
Seasons & months, as the India festivals & fairs are organized based
on Hindi calendar, which is LUNAR.
In Hindu calendar, year begins with 1- Chaitra:
First day after new moon (Amavsya)
New Year of Vikram Samvat (2073 in 2016)
New Year of Saka Samvat (Official Government calendar)
1 Chaitra = 22 march (Normal year) & 21 March (Leap year)
Chaitra = 30 days (normal year) & 31 days (Leap year)
Festivals and Fairs of Rajasthan in Chaitra
Festival: Gangor
Worship of Eser ji & Gauri ji made of clay.
16 days festival, Main Celebration: Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota
Colonel Todd described Gangor of Udaipur
Fairs: Karni Mata Mela (I) – Bada – in Nokha, Bikaner – from Shukla –
1st -10th
Lakhi Mela at Mahavir Ji, Sawai madhopur from Chaitra Shuka
1st – Vaisakha Krishna 3rd
Kaila Devi Mela at Sawai madhopur from Shukla – 8th (main)
Total: Krishna 12th –Shukla 12th
Festivals & Fairs of Rajasthan in Vaisakha: Brith Hari Mela in Alwar
Festivals & Fairs of Rajasthan in Bhadra:Baba Ramdev Ji ka Mela at
Runicha – Pokaran- Jaisalmer from Shukla Paksh – 2nd -11th Brithari
Mela(II) in Alwar
Karjali Teej mela in Bundi on 3rd
Festivals & Fairs of Rajasthan in Ashwin: Karni Mata Mela – in Nokh,
Bikaner – from Sukla 1st -10th
Festivals & Fairs of Rajasthan in Kartik: Kapil Muni Mela in Kolayat
Bikaner on Kartik Purnima
Puskar Mela in Pushkar, Ajmer on Kartik Purnima
Beneshwar Mela in Beneshwar, Dungarpur – on Purnima
(Shivaratri)
Festivals & Fairs of Rajasthan in Phalguna: Khatu Shyam ji Mela – in
Sikar – from Shukla 10th -12th
Camel Festival, Bikaner
The camel festival is organised by the Department of Tourism in
January every year in Bikaner.
Mewar Festival, Udaipur
This 18-day festival is celebrated to welcome the advent of spring and
coincides with the festival of Gangaur.
Teej Festival, Jaipur
Held during the monsoons in July Teej is also dedicated to Lord Shiva
and Parvati.
Chandrabhaga Fair, Jhalawar
This three-day fair is held at Jhalrapatan near Jhalawar either in
November or December.
Kolyat Fair, Bikaner
This place is the sacred site where Kapil Muni is supposed to have
meditated.
Ghoomar Dance
Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of Rajasthan and also a State
Dance.
Location: Across Rajasthan
Performed by: Originally by Bhil Community, adopted by different
communities including Rajputs (Women).
Performance Occasions: Rajput Marriages
Features: Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of Rajasthan and also a
State Dance.
Location: Across Rajasthan
Chari Dance
Performed By: Women from Gujjar Community
Performance Occasions: Marriage occasions, on the birth of a male
child or any big festival celebration.
This folk dance is performed by the Kamada tribes who are traditional
snake charmers.
Location: Ramdevra, Didwana, Dungarpur, Udaipur
Performed By: Woman from Kamad tribe while sitting on the floor
before Baba Ramdeo’s image
Terah Taali
Performance Occasions: in honor the folk hero, Baba Ramdeo
Features: The women have 13 ‘manjeeras‘(little brass discs) tied to
the various parts of their body, which they strike with the ones they
hold in their hand.
Often a sword is also used by the professional Terah Taali dancer and
also a pot on her to make the dance more attractive.
Male artists sings local Rajasthani folk songs as a background music
and play different instruments like pakhwaja, dholak jhanjhar,
Sarangi, harmonium etc.
Famous Persons associated with dance form: Mangi Bai, Mohini
Narayani, laxman das Kamad
Kalbelia Folk Dance:
Kalbelia dance is included in UNESCO’s list of the Cultural Heritage of
Humanity from the year 2010
Kalbelia Location: Pali district, Ajmer, Chittorgarh and Udaipur district.
Performed By: Women from Kalbelia community.
Performance Occasions: Kalbelia songs are based on stories taken
from folklore and mythology and special dances are performed during
Holi.
Features: The dancers are women in flowing black skirts who dance
and swirl, replicating the movements of a serpent.
The cloths are mixed in red and black hues and embroidered in unique
patterns.
Kalbelia dance has a traditional musical instruments which is Poongi
also called been. Other traditional musical instruments used by
Kalbelia tribe in Kalbelia dance are Dufli, Morchang, Dholak, Khanjari
and Khuralio.
Ivory Works (Haathi dant)
Items include: Jewellery, Powder boxes, jewellery boxes, cufflinks,
lamps, artistic decorations, idols of gods and goddess, Ivory Works
rajasthan brooches.
Udaipur – most famous.
Jodhpur – Black, green & Red strips bangles.
Meenakari:
Jaipur is famous worldwide for Meenakari on Jewellary.
Meenakari Art was imported from Lahore for first time under reign
of Man Singh I (1589-1614)
Nathdwara is also famous
Raitwali area of Kota – Meenakari is done on glass
Bikaner & Pratapgarh also has significant skills
Usta Art
Golden Meenakari work on Camel leather is known as usta Art.
The art was developed by Padam Shri Hissayamuddin Usta from
Bikaner.
Camel hide training Center in Bikaner is an institution for Usta Art.
Lac Works
Famous: Jaipur & Jodhpur
Sawai madhopur, Laxmangarh (Sikar), Indragarh (Bundi) – Lac work on
wooden toys.
Jaipur, Hindon, Karauli – Lac bangles.
Mat & Carpet Works: Jaipur and Tonk are famous
Cotton & Wool are used for making fabric
For better quality and strong mattress the thread & knots used for
making fabric should be very fine (thin).
Carpets are also manufactured in Jaipur & Bikaner jails.
Salawas Village of Jodhpur is famous for carpets
While carpet manufacturing is enthusiastically followed in Jodhpur,
Nagaur, Tonk, Barmer, Bhilwara, Shahpura, Kekari & Malpura.
Textile: Gota Work: Jaipur & Khandela (Sikar) are famous
Zari Work Jaipur
Kota Doria
Kota Doria is a fabric with unique blend of cotton and silk in a square
check pattern.
The checked pattern is termed as ‘khat’
The silk provides the shine while the cotton provides strength to
the fabric.
Craft originated in Mysore and then shifted to Kaithun Village near
Kota. Hence, the Saris came to be known as Kota-Mansuria.
Jaipuri Quilt (Rajai)
Specialty: Very Low Weight but high insulating (very warm).
Appliqué Work:
In this art different pieces of cloth are fixed together. The interesting
color, shape and pattern combinations against contrasting
background catch the eye.
Hand-block prints:
Bagru Print, Jaipur
This print is similar to Sanganeri print but while Sanganeri print has
white field, Bagru prints have green fields.
Only Natural colors are used in Bagru Prints
Alijarin (Ajrak) Print, Barmer
Mostly red and blue colors are used for printing
Tie and dye: Bandani, Batik, Mothra, Ekdali, Shikari, Cheent.
Bandhej, Jaipur
Cloth is tied and then colored and when the knot is opened different
designs appear on cloth.
Jhajam (Carpets)
Printed in Chittor are famous.
Lehriya – Jaipur
Chunri – Jodhpur
Blue Pottery
There are many craftsmen in Jaipur who prepare blue pottery in
Rajasthan by using blue, green and white colors.
Wooden Furniture
Carved wooden furniture of different styles and design are made in
different parts of the state with motif and fine design.
Rajasthan Quilts
The unique selling point of these Jaipuri quilts or Jaipur rajais is that
these are light and soft as well as of high quality.
Mojaris/Jutis
These are beautifully embroidered pieces with varied patterns and
designs. Jodhpur and Jaipur manufactures some very pretty Mojaris
and juti.
Marble Crafts
This craft produces marble carved wall hangings, sculptures, statues,
furniture, flower vases, fireplaces, statues, and so on.
Ivory
Ivory bangles of Rajasthan are popular crafts of the state.
Rajasthani Paintings
Rajput School of Painting or Rajasthani Painting
Rajasthani Painting Themes – events of epics like the Ramayana and
the Mahabharata, Krishna’s life, beautiful landscapes, and humans
Precious stones, Gold and silver were used
Mughal Influence
Dominance of Chaurapanchasika group style in Indian Rajasthani
Paintings starting from the 16th century, when the Rajput Painting
originated, numerous schools emerged, including: Mewar School
Chavand, Nathdwara, Devgarh, Udaipur and Sawar.
Marwar School
The Kishangarh, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali and Ghanerao styles
Hadoti School: Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar styles
Dhundar School: Amber, Jaipur, Sehkhawati and Uniara styles
Pahari School Himachal (kangra & Kullu) & Jammu and Kashmir
Rajasthani Painting: MEWAR
Drawing is bold and the colours are bright and contrasting.
Text of the painting is written in black on the top against the yellow
ground.
Rajasthani Painting: BUNDI
Very close to the Mewar style
Rich and glowing colours, the rising sun in golden color, crimson-red
horizon, overlapping and semi-naturalistic trees
Mughal influence is visible in the refined drawing of the faces.
Rajasthani Painting: KOTA
Very much akin to the Bundi style
Themes of tiger and bear hunt were very popular at Kotah.
Most of the space is occupied by the hilly jungle which has been
rendered with a unique charm.
Rajasthani Painting: AMBER – JAIPUR
This school of painting originated at Amber but later shifted to Jaipur,
the new capital.
There are a fairly large number of portraits of the Jaipur rulers
Rajasthani Painting: MARWAR
Executed in a primitive and vigorous folk style completely
uninfluenced by the Mughal style. A large number of miniatures
comprising portraits, court scenes, series of the Ragamala and the
Baramasa, etc. were executed from the 17th to 19th centuries at
several centres of painting like Pali, Jodhpur and Nagour etc. in
Marwar.
Rajasthani Painting: BIKANER
Bikaner had close relations with the Mughal.
Some of the Mughal artists were given patronage by the Bikaner court
responsible for the introduction of a new style of painting having
much similarity with the Mughal and the Deccani styles.
Rajasthani Painting: KISHENGARH
Developed under the patronage of Raja Savant Singh (1748-1757
A.D.), who wrote devotional poetry in praise of Krishna master
painter Nihal Chand who, in his works, has been able to create visual
images of his master’s lyrical compositions.
Rajasthan Paintings including murals, frescoes and miniature
paintings are popular crafts of the state.
Paintings
Miniature Paintings
The art of Miniature painting was introduced to the land of India by
the Mughal.
Gemstone Paintings
In This painting style shades of color are provided by the semi
precious stones instead of artificial or vegetable colors.
Phad Paintings
Paintings on cloth portraying the epic lives of the local hero-gods are
popularly known as Phad paintings.
Kajali Paintings
No brushes are used in Kajali painting. The only tools used are hand
and cloth.
Kishangarh Paintings
(Bani Thani) Bani Thani is an Indian painting in the Kishangarh School
of paintings.
Lok Devtas and Saints of Rajasthan
Introduction:
With start of medieval period, Hinduism started facing both internal
and external threat. Internal threat came from short-comings of
Hindu religion like rigidity of caste system etc and external challenge
came from the introduction of new religion of Islam.
The age saw development of a new path of Bhakti which was built on
rooting out evils of Hindu religion and promoting harmony. The path
of Bhakti grew as movement and spread across the country.
Saints of Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, the emergence of saint bhakts was witnessed from 16th
century to end of 18 century.
Bhakti Saints of Rajasthan
Dadu Dayal
Mira Bai
Sundar das
Rajjab
Bhakhan
Wajind
Raghavdas
Lal Das
Charan Das
Mavaji
Dadu Dayal
Believed to be born in 1544 in Samvat near Ahmadabad, Gujarat
In 1568, came to Sambhar & began to give sermons and “Dhunia”
Followers of Dadu Dayal made – Dadu Panth.
Naraina is the principal seat of Dadu Panthis. Here clothes & pothis of
Dadu ji are kept.
His teachings have been consolidated by his disciples – Dadudayal Ki
vani & Dadudayal-Ra-Duha.
Contemporary of Rana Pratap & Akbar. In 1575, met Akber and
influenced him by his views. Dadu Dayal stressed on faith in God and
Guru, knowledge of Self, love, morality, futility of casteism, truth and
simple life.
Virakt: Community of nomad disciples of Dadu.
Dadu khol: Cave on Bhairana hill in Naraina, where Dadu Dayal
enetered into Samadhi.
Followers of Dadu Dayal can be classified into 5 types:
Khalsa
Virakta
Sthandhari
Uttaradev
Khaki
Sunder Das
He was a disciple of Dadu Dayal.
Born in: 1596 in Dausa.
Sunderdas ji established Naga sect.
Wrote: Sunder vilas, Sunder Granthavali, Gyan Samudra, and
Sundersar. He is also known as Shankaracharya of Rajasthan.
Died in: 1707 (or in 1689) in Sangner, Jaipur.
Meera Bai
Born in Samvat 1573 at Kudki, Nagaur and was married to Bhojraj,
eldest son of Rana Sanga.
Her compositions include Teeka Raag Govind, Rukmani mangal, Teeka
on Geet-Govind, and Narsi Mehta Ni Mund.
Meera Bai established Pasi sect in Brindhavan (UP).
Meera was devotee of Krishna and treated him as her husband.
Lal Das
Born: In 1540 at Dholidoov village of Mewat on Shravana Krishna
Panchami.
Opposed superstitions prevailing in society & stressed on devotion &
purity.
Sermons are available in Laldas ji ki chetavaniyan.
Died: At Nagla village of Bharatpur. His Samadhi is at sherpur of
Alwar.
Major sites are in Alwar, Sherpur & Nagla.
Charan Das
Born in: Derha, near Alwar, in Rajasthan.
Author of around twenty works. Many of these are in verse and deal
with aspects of devotion, particularly relating to the worship of
Krishna.
Wrote commentaries on various Upanishads, particularly the Katha
Upanishad, and on specific yoga practices, especially Pranayama,
control of the breath.
Belived in harmony between Hinduism & Islam.
Mavaji
Considered incarnation of Vishnu.
Two disciples of Mavaji, Aji & Vaje built Laxmi Narayn temple at
confluence of Som & Mahi Rivers.
Rajjab Ji
Disciple of Dadu Dayal ji.
Born in: Pathan Patwar, Sanganer
Ancient seat in Sanganer known as Rajjab Dwar.
Authored Rajjab vani, Sarangi.
Bhakhan
Born in Narena
Low caste Muslim singer, entertain Dadu with his fascinating songs.
Wajind
Initially, a Pathan hunter.
Came under influence of Dadu and became follower.
Created literature for Dadu Panth.
Raghavdas
Dadu Panthi scholar
In 1660 A.D. wrote Bhaktamal.
Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti
Born in: 1143 in Sanjar, Iran
He became disciple of Khwaja Usman Harooni of Chistiya Order
(Silsila).
Came to India during reign of Iltumish and settled in Ajmer in 1233
A.D.
His shrine is open to all irrespective of religion, caste or creed and
especially for poor & needy; hence he is popularly known as Garib
Nawaz.
Died in Ajmer, his tomb is popularly known as The Dargah Sharif.