Jodhpur, the Blue City, is a precious jewel guarding the cultural, historical, and architectural roots that flourished in Rajasthan. The place enjoys a unique identity in the Indian Heritage. Jodhpur celebrates its heritage with elaborate festivals that involve performances by folk artists showcasing folk art forms, and the Marwar festival is one such popular cultural extravaganza.
The Jodhpur Marwar Festival is held annually in Ashwin (September- October) for 2 days during the full moon of Sharad Poornima. The festival celebrates the battle sagas of brave Rajput warriors, tales of the great rulers of Rajasthan, and the state’s culture and cuisine.
The music and dance of the Marwar region are central themes of this festival. The main attraction is the folk music picturised on the romantic lifestyle of Rajasthan’s rulers. The folk dancers and singers provide lively entertainment. These artists peek into the days of yore, battles, and heroes.
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Activities At Jodhpur Marwar Festival
- First Day– Surya Aradhana, Heritage Walk, Ceremonial Procession, Sports Activities, Camel Tatoo Show, and Cultural Evening.
- Second Day– Ceremonial Procession, Sports Activities, Camel Safari, and Cultural Evening.
History Of Marwar Festival, Jodhpur
Marwar, or the Maand festival, takes place annually to honour and keep the heroic tales of Rajput warriors alive for the next generation. Folk artists enact battle scenes in front of the audience and attract tourists worldwide.
Main Attractions of the Marwar Festival in Jodhpur
- Mehrangarh Fort, Mandore Garden, and Umaid Bhawan Palace are the venues transformed yearly into an enormous stage for performances.
- The Marwar festival, showcases the Jodhpur’s culture and art with the Marwar region’s dance and songs.
- The main attraction of the festivity is folk music, which talks about the love life of the old Rajasthani rulers. The dance and the songs are performed with great zeal and excellence, bringing the legends back to life.
- Other activities attracting visitors are Camel Tattoo Shows, Horse Riding, Magic Shows, Puppet Shows, and Horse polo. Additionally, various other competitions are held during this time.
- Shopping in the busy markets of Jodhpur is a great experience since the place sells various leather shoes, colourful bags, tie and dye fabrics, and other ethnic things.
- The festival hosts one of the biggest fairs in Rajasthan, where you can spot and buy many Rajasthani instruments, ornaments, handicrafts etc.
- Marwar festival witness some of the best local street food and delicacies.
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Performance & Attires of The Marwar Festival, Jodhpur
The festival is a celebration of folk art, music, and dance, that gives utmost importance to the colourful costumes of the performers. They are traditional costumes of Rajasthan, an essential element of every performance. Along with the unique costumes, a specific line of traditional performances is customary at the festival.
1. Dandi Gair
Dandi Gair is a popular group dance form of the native tribe Bhil, performed using sticks. Women adorn beautiful bright skirts, while men can be seen in red tunics and saffron-coloured turbans. While both men and women move in circular motions, their colourful dresses create a beautiful and eye-catching pattern. It is one of the pivotal attractions of the festival that you ought to see.
2. Kalbelia
Kalbelia dance is yet another festival attraction that shouldn’t be missed. The local snake charmer community of the region traditionally performs it. Women wear dresses adorned with Gotta Patti work and other glittery embellishments with some silver jewellery and enamel bangles and emulate the movements of a snake. At the same time, men usually wear long shirts that go below the waist, coupled with traditional dhoti bottoms.
3. Ghoomar
Ghoomar is the most popular dance form, and the major attraction lies in the synchronised movements of all the dancing ladies. The leading spirit of dance is to spin. The ladies perform while moving in a circular pattern many times. The ultimate beauty of the dance is in the flair of the large and colourful skirts of the women that shimmer with light when light falls with shining gold and silver embroidery. Women also wore colourful glass bangles that formed an essential part of the festival.
4. Bhavi
In the Bhavi dance, women carry a small queue of pitchers on their heads. This dance is about balancing the body, so the pitcher doesn’t fall while dancing and moving.
5. Chari
Chari depicts life in the desert, where women must go far for water. This dance form includes balancing brass pots on the head. Brass is a shiny metal. During the Chari dance, the pots shine as light falls on them. This glitter creates a beautiful effect.
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How To Reach At Marwar Festival, Jodhpur
The two days of the festival witness many tourist activities in Jodhpur. The city is well connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Udaipur and Jaipur, with frequent direct flights.
Visitors can reach Jodhpur by road from significant Rajasthani cities like Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Udaipur and Ajmer. Direct buses to Jodhpur are also available from Delhi, Ahmadabad, and Agra.
Jodhpur falls under the North–Western Railways and is well-connected to all major cities. The famous Royal Carriage Palace on Wheels and Maharajas Express also run on this route and stop at Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Conclusion
Marwar festival reflects the glorious tradition of Rajasthan through dance and music performances. It also showcases the lifestyle of Rajasthani villages through cultural performances. Nothing can be much better than a festival with so many things.
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