Marwar Festival Jodhpur – The Marwar Festival injects a new spirit of liveliness into the lives of the people of Rajasthan. This festival is held in Jodhpur during the month of September-October. The festival is celebrated during the full moon of Sharad Purnima in the month of Aswin. The festival showcases the rich art and culture of Marwar region, Rajasthan.
Earlier this festival was known as Maand Festival. It is celebrated in the honor of local heroes of Rajasthan. Dance and music are chosen as the media through which the tales of yore are retold in a creative way. Such tales pick up the themes of heroism and battle. Skilled women dancers balance several pots on their head. The songs and instrumental music played by professional singers to accompany this dance have a distinct flavor to them. They find their way into your heart very easily.
History and the Celebration:
Rao Jodha established the city of Marwar in 1459 A.D; he was the chief of one of the Rajput tribes and believed to be the descendents of Lord Ram. The Rajasthani Rajputs are known for their courageous nature and their battlefield stories. Rajputs have made a mark in the history of India that encourages bravery and loyalty, still known through folk songs.
Jodhpur, also known as the Blue City, recalls the heroes of Rajasthan each year. It is celebrated in the Hindu month of Aswin, which falls between September- October. The festival is entirely devoted to the music and dance of the Marwar area, no wonder it was initially known as the “maand” festival.
Maand implies the traditional folk music that reminds the love and romance of the Rajputs of the time. The celebration is set during the full moon of Sharad Poornima. The Marwar festival, Jodhpur, lasts for two days.
You can witness many performers ready to mesmerize you with their great indulgence of tradition. The Marwar festival, Jodhpur, is a must-visit activity. Its connection and value for the forerunners have so much to offer.
Importance of the Marwar Festival
Marwar Festival is the total reflection of precious cultural values of Rajasthan is lifestyle thru the dance and music performances. The pageant reflects the lifestyle of Rajasthan villages thru cultural performances. It is the primary appeal of the competition which attracts a massive number of vacationers from everywhere in the country. And even the foreigner’s most probably go to this festival in Jodhpur.
Performances At Marwar Festival, Jodhpur
Since music and dance are the highlights of this event, you will get to experience various folk dance forms at the fest. Here are some of the iconic dance forms to look forward to:
1. Dandi Gair
A popular group dance form of the native tribe Bhil, Dandi Gair is performed with sticks. The women adorn beautiful bright skirts while men can be seen in red tunics and saffron-colored turbans. Both men and women move in circular motions and their colorful dresses create a beautiful pattern. It is one of the chief attractions of the festival. This is one of the main highlights of Marwar festival of Jodhpur, Rajasthan that you ought to see.
2. Kalbelia
You must have seen Kalbelia dancers performing in the desert before. Kalbelia is the local snake charmer community. Women wear dresses adorned with Gotta Patti work along with other glittery embellishments and emulate the movements of a snake while men play local instruments in the background. The whole performance is captivating.
3. Bhavai Chari
Have you ever seen Rajasthani women balancing brass pots and earthenware on the heads and yet busting some amazing moves? This dance form is called Bhavai and Vhari. If you have always wondered about the meaning of the songs women sing in the vernacular language, they are actually telling you about their struggle to search water in the desert.
4. Ghoomar
Ghoomar is a traditional dance performed by Rajasthani women where they dress up in colorful flair dresses and spin in circular motions. Ghoomar is actually another word for ‘spin’. You can see women stepping in repeated circular patterns. The beautiful image created when the light falls on their skirts when they move looks like the pattern from a kaleidoscope.
Where is the Marwar festival celebrated?
The Marwar Festival is held at famous venues like the Umaid Bhawan Palace and Mehrangarh Fort. These two venues transform into a vast stage where folk dances are performed.
Did you know? The Marwar Festival is not only celebrated in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, but is also celebrated with great enthusiasm at Mandore, located just 8 kilometres from the outskirts of Jodhpur. Mandore is a place of great historical significance and was traditionally the capital of Marwar. Mandore’s most important feature is the Hall of Heroes, where sixteen huge figures carved out of a single rock depicting famous Hindu and folk deities stand in bright colours and are very majestic.
How To Reach Jodhpur For Marwar Festival?
Travel to Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is relatively easy as it is well-connected through air, railway and roads with all the major cities in India and internationally.
By air:
Jodhpur airport is situated about 5 km from the city centre. The Civil Airport Jodhpur has direct flights flying in from and out to New Delhi and Mumbai. The Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is the nearest international airport from Jodhpur
By road:
The city of Jodhpur is well connected with the major domestic states by state and national highways. The state buses provide a decent service to the visitors. One can also opt for a deluxe bus or taxi to reach the destination.
By train:
Travel by train is undoubtedly the cheapest and most affordable option for commuting till Jodhpur. Jodhpur airport is situated about 5 km from the city centre. Trains from Jodhpur run to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.
