India is full of cultures, traditions, and values so rich that we should be ever thankful to our forefathers and ancestors for such wonderful work. It is due to these traditions and cultures that we are still being unique and identified as one of the most dynamic countries in the world.
One such state in India that brings us immense pride, is Rajasthan. Rajasthan is one of the western states of Indian is literally translated as Land of kingdoms. It had a lot of Rajput families that occupied the places of Rajasthan which now have a history richer than any other historic places. It is also known for its the Thar Desert and the forts. The Thar Desert is also called by the names of The Great Indian Desert.
Let’s talk about the history of Rajasthan.
Rajasthan is known for its splendid forts and palaces and lakes. It is translated as the country of Rajputs. Every year, more than 475 lakh tourists come to visit this state. If you are planning to visit Rajasthan, do check out these Rajasthan tours by eRajasthanTourism for a comfortable trip.
It has some great cuisine, deep folklore and vibrant traditions. Royalty serenaded here as Kings built cities with a unique style of thought. The cities in Rajasthan are color-coded. For instance, Jaipur is called as Pink City and Jodhpur as the Blue City.
Apart from this, Rajasthan can show you two extremes: desert and greenery. This state is home to the oldest hill ranges- the Aravalli range and the only hill station in Rajasthan is Mt. Abu. Rajasthan had a previous name called Rajputana.
History is often filled with the brave and mighty kinds like Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga, Prithviraj Chauhan, etc who fought for their land with the outsiders who looked to occupy and capture their land. Though they were regal, they were still into politics that overshadowed their codes of chivalry.
The Saka calendar was used by the Rajasthan community and with time, their culture and social structures became so strong that they gave birth to new sub-ethnic groups. People of Rajasthan were successful businessmen in the medieval times and even now they are still ruling the roost. Rajasthan was one of the most crucial places of trade with countries like Rome, the Mediterranean Region, and South-Eastern Asia.
The Traditons of Rajasthan
Rajasthan has hindus, muslims and Jains. Muslims and Jains are a miortiy but the rajasthani traditions have been taken by the ancient Indian way of life. There are different groups in Rajastha like Jats who are mainly Hindus and Sikhs and Meenas who worship Lord Shiva, Krishna, and Durga Devi.
If you ever happen to attend a Rajasthani or a Marwari wedding, do not miss it for the world. The whole vibe is eccentric and traditional with the culture and traditions oozing out. Right from the attire to the jewelry, everything has to be traditional. You will fall in love with food, music, and dance.
If you are in for any cultural or traditional festival, you will find that men wear dhotis, kurta and safa or Pagar.
You will find women wearing Ghaghra and Kaclhi with their choli covering the heads. It is marked as a sign of respect and not submission. There are again different kinds of turbans that are worn. You have Paggar in Mewar and Safa in Marwar.
Shopping in Rajasthan
Rajasthan has many handicrafts and original work that you would love to buy. The Rajasthani ornaments were either silver or gold with gems embedded in them. The people here are so engrossed in jewels that you will find them in their weapons: sword and on the pistols, on thrones, crowns, doors, curtains, seat cushions, etc. Such was the grandeur of the people of Rajasthan. You can buy Nai Sarak- baandini dupattas, blue pottery, jhoothas and jhoothis, miniature artwork and whatnot.
If you are in Jaipur, you should try the Bagru prints, block prints and tie and dye prints clothes. The Zari Embroidery, Sanganer prints, and wooden furniture are quite popular here. If you ever want a ghagra choli or a chaniyea choli then you will find many in Rajasthan. They generally sell in bright die colors like blue, yellow, green, orange, etc.
Rajasthani Dance and Music
Every place in this world has its folk songs and dance. Ghoomar dance from Jodhpur, Kalbeliya dance from Jaisalmer have immense popularity internationally. Music and dance were often encouraged in Rajputana- Rajasthan. Folk music like Kathputli, Chang, Tejaji are some of the examples of the rich and deep Rajasthani Folk culture.
One of the famous personality is Meera Bai who sang bhajans for Lord Krishna. Bhajans are the devotional songs that are sung to praise the Lords. Musical instruments like Dholak, Sitar, Sarangi are used and then sung.
Rajasthani Cuisine
As they say when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Likewise, when in Rajasthan, eat traditional food. Since this a dry area, the cooking is quite inspired by the war lifestyles where there were fewer ingredients. Yet, their food is so tasty that you cannot resist having more. The food they make could last for several days and they need not heat it again.
Since they have water scarcity, their food can be devoid of fresh vegetables. Here are some of the most famous dishes you have to taste: Dal Bati Churma, Bhujia- Ratlami, Bikaneri variants, Lahsun ki Chutney, Pyaaz Kachori, Ghevar, Alwar ka Maawa, Bajre ki roti, Malpovas from Puskar and Mirchi Bada.
Conclusion
Rajasthan is a place where you can find everything. With globalization, people thought it would lose its rich traditional and cultural values but it turned out that the people here held on to their traditions and cultures that even the upcoming generations can hold on to them. You can visit Jaipur, Ajmer, Pushkar, Alwar, Sikar, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Chittaurgarh and Mt. Abu. If not these places, you can visit the famous festivals that are hosted in Rajasthan every year. You have lantern festival in Udaipur, the Pushkar Mela, and the Camel Festival.
Content created in association with eRajasthan Tourism.