Festivals and Fairs in Udaipur

Rajasthan is well known all over the world over for its festivals and fairs that make an elaborate Indian wedding seem like a dull affair!! In the season of festivals Rajasthan is mesmerized with a feverish zest to celebrate and spread the happiness. Some might even go to the extent of saying that Udaipur may be called the heart of such celebrations with thousands of national and international tourist pouring in every year to experience the true meaning of grand and royal celebrations.

Udaipur is also known as the city of lakes, which makes it also most mandatory for the lakes to be an integral part of the celebration of the festivals in Udaipur. At major events that attract thousands of visitors to flock to the picturesque city of Udaipur is the Mewar festival and the Shilpgram crafts fair.

• The Mewar festival is celebrated to welcome the start of spring. It coincides with the festival of Gangaur in Udaipur, and has a unique attraction about its manner.
• The festival of Gangaur is very significant for the ladies of Rajasthan especially Udaipur. It is a time for them to dress up in their best clothes and take part in the festivities. They gather to dress up the images of Isar and Gangaur and then carry them in a ceremonial procession through different parts of the city of Udaipur.
• The procession travels through many parts of the city and finally finds its way to the Gangaur Ghat at Lake Pichhola.
• Here, the images are transferred to special boats amidst much singing and glee. Once the religious part of the festival is over, it is time for cultural events where Rajasthani culture is portrayed through songs, dances and other programs, these events being one of the chief attractions of the unique festival in Udaipur.

The festival culminates with an impressive fireworks display. Like other fairs and festivals celebrated throughout the state, there is a lot of activity which keeps the participants in a joyful frame of mind, eager to enjoy every moment of the celebrations.

One of the major fairs in Udaipur is the Shilpgram Mela which is held every year in the west of the city of Udaipur. Shilpgram Crafts Fair is organized to promote the art and craft of not only Udaipur but of the entire state of Rajasthan.

A colorful craft festival in the season of winter brings in not only a great amount of revenue for the craftsmen but also gives them the much needed inspiration to carry forward to this unique art form.
One of the important objectives of Shilpgram utsav is to increase awareness and knowledge of people from different parts of India and the world have about rural life and crafts, specifically, for the younger generation. Special emphasis is laid on workshops for children on arts, crafts, theatre and music.

An attraction no less of the Rural Arts and Crafts Complex is the open air Amphitheatre with a seating capacity of approximately 8000. Besides the major theatre festivals which the Centre hold during the fair, it is hoped that this facility would encourage the local community as well as outside visitors to have a deeper understanding of theatre and the traditional folk performing arts.

These are two reasons which make the top of the list when one think about reasons to visit Udaipur. The festivals and fairs of the city are sure to attract the tourists that will be visiting the place.

The people of Udaipur are known to celebrate Teej with zeal and enjoyment. The young girls of the city and the women are usually seen dressed in green coloured clothes. The married women of the city idolize Goddess Parvati during this festival and celebrate this festival.