Culture of Rajasthan

The culture of Rajasthan includes many artistic traditions that reflect the ancient Indian way of life. Rajasthan is also called the "Land of Kings". It has many tourist attractions and facilities for tourists. This historical state of India attracts tourists and vacationers with its rich culture, tradition, heritage and monuments. It also has some wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.

Rajasthan on a Map of India (Disputed Map)

More than 70% of Rajasthan is vegetarian, which makes it the most vegetarian state in India.[1]

Music and dance
Main article: Rajasthani music

The Ghoomar dance from Jodhpur and the Kalbeliya dance of Jaisalmer have gained international recognition. Folk music is a vital part of Rajasthani culture. Bhopa, Chang, Teratali, Ghindar, Kachchigghori, Tejaji, and Parth dance are examples of traditional Rajasthani culture. Folk songs are commonly ballads that relate heroic deeds and love stories; and religious or devotional songs known as bhajans and banis (often accompanied by musical instruments such as the dholak, sitar and sarangi) are also sung.

Kanhaiya Geet also sang in major areas of the east Rajasthani belt in the collection manner as the best source of entertainment in the rural areas. Ghoomar folk songs, Mumal folk songs, Chirmi folk songs, and Jhorawa Folk Songs are also notable.

Kathputli/Puppetry

Kathputli, a traditional string puppet performance native to Rajasthani, is a key feature of village fairs, religious festivals, and social gatherings in Rajasthan. Some scholars believe the art of Kathputli to be more than thousands of years old. Mentions of Kathputli have been found in Rajasthani folk tales, ballads, and even folk songs. Similar rod puppets can be also found in West Bengal.

It is believed that Kathputli began as a string marionette art invented by the tribal Rajasthani Bhat community 1500 years ago. Scholars believe that folk tales convey the lifestyle of ancient Rajasthani tribal people; Kathputli art may have originated from present-day Nagaur and surrounding areas. Rajasthani kings and nobles encouraged the art of Kathputli; over the last 500 years, Kathputli was supported by a system of patronage through kings and well-off families. Kathputli lovers would support artists in return for the artists singing praises of the patrons’ ancestors. The Bhat community claims that their ancestors performed for royal families, receiving honor and prestige from the rulers of Rajasthan.

Cuisine of Rajasthan

Cuisine of Rajasthan

Social Life

Rajasthani people

Tribes

Tribes of Rajasthan

Language and dialects

Marwari Language

Arts and crafts
A carpet seller in Jaipur

Rajasthan is famous for textiles, semi-precious stones, and handicrafts, as well as for its traditional and colorful commonly balladsart. Rajasthani furniture is known for its intricate carvings and bright colours. Block prints, tie and dye prints, Bagaru prints, Sanganer prints and Zari embroidery are famous. Rajasthan is traditionally strong in textile products, handicrafts, gems and jewellery, dimensional stones, agro and food products. The top five export items, which contributed to the two-thirds of exports from the state of Rajasthan are textiles (including ready-made garments) gems & jewellery, engineering goods, chemical and allied products.[2] The blue pottery of Jaipur is particularly noted. To attract investment for the revival of traditional arts and crafts as well as the promotion of cultural heritage, the first handicraft policy has been released in Rajasthan.[3].Rajasthan has a large number of raw materials namely marble, wood and leather to cash on the great potential for the development of handicrafts.[3]

The Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing celebrates traditional woodblock printing on cloth.

Architecture
Main article: Architecture of Rajasthan

Rajasthan is famous for its many historical forts, temples, and palaces (havelis), all of which are important sources of tourism in the state.

Temple architecture

While there are many Gupta and post-Gupta era temples in Rajasthan, after the 7th century, the architecture evolved into a new form called the Gurjara-Pratihara Style. Some famous temples of this style are temples at Osian, the Kumbhshyama temple of Chittor, temples at Baroli, the Somesvara temple at Kiradu, the Harshnath temple in Sikar, and the Sahasra Bahu temple of Nagda.

From the 10th century to the 13th century, a new style of temple architecture was developed, known as the Solanki style or Maru-Gurjara style. The Samadhishwar temple at Chittor and the ruined temple at Chandravati are examples of this style.

This period was also a golden period for Jain temples in Rajasthan. Some famous temples of this period are Dilwara Temples and the Mirpur temple of Sirohi. There are also many Jain temples of this period in the Pali district at Sewari, Nadol, Ghanerao etc.

From the 14th century and onwards, many new temples were built, including the Mahakaleshwar Temple Udaipur, the Jagdish Temple at Udaipur, the Eklingji Temple, the Jagat Shiromani Temple of Amer, and the Ranakpur Jain temple.

Forts of Rajasthan

Palaces of Rajasthan

Religion
Main article: Religion in Rajasthan

Rajasthan is home to all the major religions of India. Hindus account for 90% of the population; Muslims (7.10%), Sikhs (1.27%), Jains (1%) and Sindhis make up the remaining population.[4]

Festivals

The main religious festivals are Deepawali, Holi, Gangaur, Teej, Gogaji, Makar Sankranti, and Janmashtami as the main religion is Hinduism.

Rajasthan's desert festival in Jaisalmer is celebrated once a year during winter. People of the desert dance and sing ballads of valor, romance and tragedy. There are fairs with snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers. Camels play a prominent role in this festival.

Religious syncretism

Rajasthan has more popular Hindu saints, many from the Bhakti era.

Rajasthani saints hail from all castes; Maharshi Naval Ram and Umaid Lakshman Maharaj were Bhangis, Karta Ram Maharaj was a Shudra, Sundardasa was a Vaish, and Meerabai and Ramdeoji were Rajputs. The backward caste Nayaks serve as the narrators or the devotional music (or "bhajan") for the Baba Ramdevji sect.

The most popular Hindu deities are Surya, Krishna and Rama.

Modern-day popular saints from Rajasthan have been Paramyogeshwar Sri Devpuriji of Kriya Yoga and Swami Satyananda the master of Kriya Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Mantra Yoga and Laya yoga. Rajasthan had a massive movement to unite the Hindus and Muslims to worship God together. Saint Baba Ramdevji was adored by Muslims, equally as he was by Hindus.

Mostly Rajasthani people speak the Marwari language.

Saint Dadu Dayal was a popular figure who came from Gujarat to Rajasthan to preach the unity of Ram and Allah. Sant Rajjab was a saint born in Rajasthan who became a disciple of Dadu Dayal and spread the philosophy of unity amongst Hindu and Muslim worshipers of God.

Saint Kabir was another popular figure noted for bringing the Hindu and Muslim communities together, and stressing that God may have many forms (e.g. in the form of Rama or Allah.)

References
  1. "10 states in India with highest number of vegetarians". Zee Business. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  2. "Exports from Rajasthan" (PDF). EximbankIndia. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  3. "Rajasthan's handicraft policy". Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  4. "Population By Religious Community". Consensus of India. Government of India. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
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