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Desert festival,Jaisalmer |
Introduction
of
Desert Festival |
Desert
Festival of Jaisalmer is a colorful festival which takes place every
year in the month of February and lasts for three days. Cultural
events, camel races, turban tying competitions are the things that you
are able to see in this festival. Not exciting enough !You are also
able to attend the contests to evaluate the man with the most
excellent moustache. Everything is interesting in the Desert festival,
in the middle of the golden sands of the Thar Desert. The festival
comes to its end with a final musical show by folk singers under the
shining sky at the hills in Sam, just outside Jaisalmer. The rich
culture of the region is on display during this three days long show.
The desert festival in Jaisalmer was initiated to draw attention of
foreign tourists, who always wanted to discover as many aspects of
Rajasthan as they could in the possible time. The three-day event
emphasize more on local elements and heritage. For example, this
no-nonsense festival will only showcase Rajasthani folk songs and
dance. These are presented by some of the best professionals of the
art. To make it more interesting and colorful in its outlook local
traditions such as Turban tying etc have been added. Competition which
is very popular among foreigners is 'The moustache Competition' This
is simply because of the surprise value close to this event.
Foreigners can be seen posing for pictures with the winners. This is
truly a worth maintaining moment.. You will never forget wonders like
the well-known Fire dancers that are the major attraction of the
desert festival celebrations of Rajasthan.
The Jaisalmer Desert fair/festival is conducted by the Rajasthan
tourism Development Corporation . There is tourist help cell to deal
particularly with the troubles that are faced by foreign tourists. The
arrangements are taken care by local administration and state of the
art Medical vans, prepared with the best of medical facilities, are
kept on alert. If you want to buy gifts or memorial things for your
dear ones, this is the best place for it. This place not only have
items from and around Jaisalmer but from the whole Rajasthan. In case
you need to exchange currencies then the Mobile money exchangers are
there. And if you run out of cash, Guess what! Nearly all the stalls
have the facility to accept credit card.
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Facts of the Desert Festival of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India |
Location: Sam Sand Dunes 42 K.M. from Jaisalmer
How to reach: SUV or Camel safari
Timing: Its held In the month of February
Attractions: Cultural showcase
Celebrated in : Rajasthan
City : Jaisalmer
Festival Time : February
Duration : 3 Days
Highlights : Songs, Dances, shows and Camel embellishment.
Sponsored by -Rajasthan State Tourism Corporation,
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Major Attraction of Desert Festival |
The major
attraction of the desert festival celebrations are the well-known Gair
and Fire dancers which anyone will never forgot . Exciting contests
together with a binding competition and a Mr. Desert contest also
enlarge the fun of the occasion. A trip to the Sam sand dunes marks
the grand finale, where you will enjoy camel rides and wonderful
performance by the folk artist under the full moon against the
backdrop of pleasing hills.
For a few days during the Desert Festival of Rajasthan Very colourful
and Rich Rajasthani folk culture is on display in Jaisalmer.
Rajasthani men and tall beautiful women dressed in their bright
costumes dance and sing lingering songs of bravery, romance and
tragedy. Traditional musicians attempt to beat each other in their
musical authority.
The arrangements for this festival of Rajasthan begins well in
advance, where a few days before the spring full moon in accordance
with the Hindu calendar, musicians, dancers and performers from all
over Rajasthan start moving in colorful camel groups towards the
golden town of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, which already begins to throw
on a festive look.. It is a chance of a lifetime to see the folk art
forms against the landscape that has nurtured them for hundreds of
years. The 12th century fort of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, built in
yellow sandstone, provides a magic background for this festival of
Rajasthan Although the desert festival of Rajasthan is mainly a big
show of performing arts, there are numerous other events that give a
hint of the desert culture in Rajasthan. Through the day, visitors can
come face to face with the desert craftsmen. Gracefully embellished
skirts, hand-woven shawls, rugs, carvings on wood and stone, camel
decorations, embellished leather bags; ethnic silver jewelry and
terracotta are brought in from all over the desert.
Other exciting competitions on the fringes are the moustache and
turban tying competitions, which not only show a wonderful tradition
but also motivate its conservation. Both the turban and the moustache
have been centuries old symbols of honor in Rajasthan. 'The moustache
competition' of Rajasthan is very popular among foreigners. This is
simply because of the surprise value attached to this event. Proud
moustached villagers, dressed in their ethnic best come on their
nicely caparisoned camels. Foreigners can be seen posing for pictures
with the winners. Similarly, local customs such as Turban tying etc
have been added to make it more striking and colorful in its outlook.
Evenings are intended for the main shows of music and dance. Almost
all the variations of performing arts of these desert people are
displayed. Continuing till late into the night, the number of viewers
increase by each night and on the final day, under the full moonlit
night, the whole place is moving with people who make it a point to be
there to see this mega show. This desert festival of Rajasthan closes
with an enthralling sound and light show in the middle of the sand
dunes on a moonlit night.
Camels are not just beasts of burden but also an integral part of the
desert life and the camel events during the Desert Festival of
Rajasthan. Special efforts go into dressing the animal for entering
the amazing competition of the best-dressed camel of Rajasthan. To add
some more fun and color, the camel show has camel dances and
competitions of camel acrobatics, camel races and décor, camel polo,
tug of war and the like.
The high points of the festival of Rajasthan are - snake charmers,
puppeteers, acrobats, folk performers and Camel Shows. The tourist
dances, turban tying competitions and tug of war are big draws and
laughter. The Mr. Desert competitions, which are focused around the
length of moustaches by and large, draws attention of many hopefuls.
Jaisalmer is the only place where this desert festival is celebrated
with great enthusiasm and eagerness. Rajasthan being a famous tourist
destination, the festival adds to its color. The perfect time to visit
the golden city Jaisalmer is during the Desert Festival, held in
January / February every year.
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Location and Transport of the Desert Festival of Jaisalmer in
Rajasthan, India |
Desert
Festival is celebrated every year in Jaisalmer which is located in the
extremely heart of Rajasthan and is a well-known tourist destination.
Being part of the Desert Triangle and the venue of Desert Festival of
Rajasthan, the place is reachable by rail, road and air and has
tourist accommodation ranging from high budget to low budget. The city
is also covered by the "Palace on Wheels" of Rajasthan a
train-cum-road package, which needs no description. This place too
witnesses large flow of tourist traffic in winters.
Distances of important cities from Jaisalmer: Mumbai (1177 km), New
Delhi (864 km), Jaipur (558 km), Ahmedabad (626 km).
Jaisalmer By Rail
Jaisalmer of Rajasthan is linked to major cities of India through wide
standard as well as meter standard railway tracks. Direct trains from
Jaisalmer of Rajasthan are available to Jodhpur of Rajasthan as well
as Delhi. Jaisalmer of Rajasthan is linked through both 'Broad gauge'
as well as 'Meter gauge' tracks. You can also travel to Jaisalmer by
Palace on Wheels.
Jaisalmer By Road
Jaisalmer of Rajasthan is well linked to the rest of state by
well-maintained roads. Due to its closeness to Indo-Pak boarder,
particular importance is given on its maintenance. Deluxe & Ordinary
buses of Rajasthan Roadways & Private companies run form Jaisalmer to
Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Barmer, Mount Abu, Jalore, Ahmedabad etc,
Roadways main bus stand opposite Railway station & Golden bus terminal
near State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, Shiv road, Jaisalmer are the
two major bus stands.
Jaisalmer By Air
Jaisalmer of Rajasthan has its own airport and has flights operational
by all the major Airlines of India. Jaisalmer is connected to all the
major metros of India by government owned as well as private airlines
during the tourist season of Rajasthan from October to March.
Local transportation Jaisalmer
Common transportation in Jaisalmer of Rajasthan include auto rickshaw
and bicycles because these are good means to get around. Auto rickshaw
is a cheap mode of transportation but drivers might not be friendly
all the times. It is recommended to take rickshaw when you take
crowded roads.
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Desert Festival of
Rajasthan |
Desert Festival of Rajasthan |
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Desert Festival of Rajasthan |
Desert Festival of Rajasthan |
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