Gangaur Festival
Gangaur, an 18-day long festival, is one of the oldest and most important festivals of Rajasthan. It is celebrated in each district across the state and devotees pay homage to Goddess Parvati for her powers, blessings and strength. Married women pray for their husbands’ protection and unmarried women on the other hand seek biddings from the goddess for a successful married life. The celebration begins in Chaitra month (March) according to Hindu calendar which marks the commencement of New Year as well as swifts away winters with bringing in summers.
Women garnish themselves with ‘Henna’ painted hands and wear colorful attires to rejoice the magnificence of this beautiful festival.
Shilpgram Utsav
Immerse yourself in the color and vibrancy of Rajasthan by visiting the annual Shilpgram Mahotsava in Shilpgram village. Located just three kilometers from Udaipur, this festival brings together artisans from across the state to showcase their talent with handmade embroideries and handicrafts, hand-woven clothes and mirror works – making for a truly unique shopping experience. Beyond appreciating and purchasing these exquisite pieces of Rajasthani culture, visitors may also opt to learn a new craft or skill with the various workshops on offer during the festival.
In addition, spectacular cultural dances, music and performances come alive during the evenings for an all-rounded traditional experience. With its beautiful handmade items that display regional theme and culture, you’re sure to find something special at this Mahotsava that’ll be treasured forever.
Mewar Festival
The Mewar festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Udaipur which marks the beginning of spring season and since Udaipur was once ruled by the royal family of Mewar, this festival is celebrated with great reverence here. The city is enlivened with a myriad of lights and colors that adorns the entire city including local markets, making it a spectacular sight to behold. Moreover, due to its close proximity with Gangaur festival, the women of Udaipur also get to partake in this vibrant celebration.
The festivities begin with people paying their respects and prayers to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. As a part of the traditional procession, locals holding idols of Shiva-Parvati form an elaborate parade that goes around different parts of the city culminating in Gangaur Ghat at Pichola Lake. This age-old tradition has been passed through generations together fostering bond among citizens for centuries now! Immersing the idols into holy water is a special ritual practiced in many cultures around the world, symbolizing cleansing and purification.
People pray for their families’ prosperity and wellbeing during this process, wishing for a prosperous future. After the ritual has been completed, an atmosphere of joy arises; folk dances are performed to celebrate and other cultural events are held to further commemorate the occasion. It’s a time of positivity and hope, bringing people together as they strive towards a better future.
Hariyali Amavasya
Hariyali Amavasya, also known as the New Moon Day of Saawan, is a vibrant festival in Udaipur that welcomes the long awaited arrival of monsoon season. Celebrations are held during the months of August-September and are referred to as ‘Shravan’ months in the Hindu calendar and ‘Aashada’ months according to south Indian Amavayant calendar. The day marks the end of scorching heat and start of verdant growth all around. People from across Udaipur shower blessings on Lord Shiva whose name is chanted with utter devotion on this day.
A sacred dip in rivers, lakes or tanks symbolizing purity forms an integral part of this traditional festival along with rituals based deep-rooted in culture and faith. People light lamps filled with oil and earthen lamps decorated with marigold flowers to hail nature’s abundance leading to merrymaking among citizens. Amidst joyous yet religious festivities, Hariyali Amavasya bears great importance for people living in Udaipur which continues throughout generations.
‘Hariyali Amavasya’ is an important festival celebrated in India, mainly in the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, by Hindu people to seek blessing from Lord Shiva. On this day, local people gather together with idols of Lord Shiva and organize cultural programs to show their devotion. People pray for a successful agricultural season and special prayers are conducted at the Fateh Sagar Lake in Udaipur every year where the ‘Hariyali Amavasya Mela’ is organized.
Thousands of devotees come for offering prayers and participating in other activities like buying handicrafts during this mela, making it a grand annual event.
Jagannath Rath Yatra
The festival of Jagannath Rath Yatra is celebrated in Udaipur with great enthusiasm and excitement, held every year on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya according to the Hindu calendar, or June 21. The three idols of Lord Krishna, Lord Balaram and Goddess Subhadra are placed on huge wooden chariots that are bedecked with fabric drapes, ribbons and other decorations. Each idol has its own specific chariot; Nandighosha for Lord Krishna, Taladhwaja for Lord Balaram and Dwarpadajana for Goddess Subhadra.
After their placement within the chariots, they are taken out and immersed in a parade throughout the city typically amidst singing and dancing of devotees. People throw flowers as a symbol of devotion while others will pull the chariots along with ropes until they reach the destination. It’s an impressive sight to behold as all three wooden chariots gorgeously decorated make their way through the streets, honoring one of Hinduism’s oldest and most colorful festivals during this extremely special day.
Jal-Jhulni Ekadashi With Great Enthusiasm
Ekadashi is a special day in the Hindu calendar which occurs twice every month. It is an especially spiritually significant day where people observe a fast and refrain from eating grains, beans, and lentils. On Ekadashi, milk products, fruits, and vegetables are eaten instead as they are believed to be pure on this day. The Jal-Juni Ekadashi is celebrated in the city of Udaipur with colorful processions known as Ram Revdies that start at various points in the city before coming together at Gangaur Ghat where the idols of Lord Krishna are immersed in the holy water. In total there are 24 Ekadashis in a year according to the Hindu calendar.