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| Art and Culture |
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Every region has its very own dialect of music and dance. The Ghoomar dance from Udaipur and Kalbeliya dance of Jaisalmer have international recognition. Folk music is a vital part of Rajasthan culture. Folk songs are commonly ballads, which relate heroic deeds, love stories, and religious or devotional songs known as bhajans and banis and often accompanied by musical instruments like dholak, sitar, sarangi etc..Rajasthan is known for its traditional and colorful art...
Puppets of Rajasthan
The string puppets of Rajasthan are known as kathputhlis in the local lingo and the main centres where they are made are Jaipur and Jodhpur.
The puppets are generally two feet in height having a wooden head with an enormous nose and large eyes. The rest of the body is made of colourful and bright pieces of cloth and stuffed rags which also allow for free movement. Unless they are horse riders, the puppets have no legs but are covered with a long pleated skirt. The puppet has a long string for the head which reaches the manipulator and then joins the waist; the strings from the two hands of the puppet are joined to the hands of the manipulator.
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Carpets of Rajasthan
Carpets of Rajasthan are traditionally well known for fine-quality hand-knotted woollen fibers. Jaipur, Ajmer, and Bikaner are main centers for this craft in rajasthan. It is also found in smaller towns like Tonk, Chaksu, Manaharpura, and Barmer. Some of the motifs used are little rosettes of Indo-Heratic origin; the colours found are blue, red, and purplish-tints in combination. The other combination is light green and deep blue. The border motifs include bold flowers and long serrated leaves.
Paintings of Rajasthan
Miniature paintings are today among the most sought after souvenirs from Rajasthan. All major centers of miniatures, namely Kishangarh, Udaipur, Jaipur and Marwar have their own styles of depicting religious and court scenes. Paintings of women is another theme, which Kishangarh has perfected as the Indian Mona Lisa.
Pichhwais of Nathdwara wholly depict the scenes of life of Lord Krishna. Phad is another style painted on long cloths using red colors, which mostly depict the entire life story of popular local legend Pabuji. |
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Folk dance of Rajasthan
Rajasthan has been a haven of various folk art forms. A medieval history includes the existence of princely states, which provided patronage to these art forms and their artists. Vibrant, vigorous and graceful, the dances of Rajasthan evoke the desert in all its moods. The folk dances, found in limitless variations in Rajasthan, punctuate Rajasthan`s barrenness, turning the land into a fertile basin of color and creativity and are an expression of human emotion as much as the folk music. The various famous folk dances of Rajasthan are......Ghoomer Dance , Fire Dance , Kathputli Dance, Kalbeliya Dance , Gair Dance .
Folk music of Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, folk music is indulged in by one and all. The traditional music of Rajasthan is also religiously significant.
Rajasthan is famous for its puppet shows and the show is incomplete without songs. The folk songs are the most popular in Rajasthan. The themes vary from situation to situation. Since Rajasthan is a desert state, water is a scarce. Most women, while going to fetch water sing songs that revolve around the significance of water. These specific songs that relate to the importance of water are known as "Panihari". Some songs are based on the theme of two lovers meeting unexpectedly. Some folk songs are sung to depict the insensitive mother-in-laws and sister-in-laws. |
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Staine glass panel
The staine glass panel crafts of Rajasthan have a wide variety to offer as the craftsmen are adept in creating delightful items from different staine glass. Rajasthan being one of the most important centres of staine glass craft, it has reached its zenith in this specific form of art.
Birla Mandir is constructed in the finest quality of white marble. The three huge domes of the temple represent three different approaches to the religion. The beautiful white marble temple mesmerizes the onlookers, when it glows at night. Stained glass widows depict the scenes from Hindu scriptures.
The images of Lakshmi and Narayan attract the attention, being made out from one piece of marble.
Stone Articles
The stone crafts of Rajasthan have a wide variety to offer as the craftsmen are adept in creating delightful items from different stones. Rajasthan being one of the most important centres of stone craft, it has reached its zenith in this specific form of art.
The stone craft of Rajasthan involves usage of various stones like granites, marbles, quartzite, slates and other metamorphic rocks. According to the history of Rajasthan, the availability of high-quality stone had facilitated the craftsmen to create superb structures or buildings with excellent stone carving since the medieval times. Rajasthan has been the abode of outstanding creativity that is displayed in the stone carvings of beautiful forts, palaces, and temples. The sculptures of the ancient and medieval temples of Bharatpur, Baroli, Ramgarh, Nagda, Ajmer, Chittor, Mandore, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Udaipur are exemplary of the dexterity of the Rajasthani craft persons
Costumes and Dresses
The costumes and dresses of the native Rajasthanis are a spectacular combination of cultural lineage and weather proof designing.
Traditional textiles
Rajasthani daily wear such as saris, 'odhnis' and turbans are often made from textiles using either block printed or tie-and-dye techniques.
Rajput Costumes
The Rajput kings, owing their close proximity to the Mughal court dressed up in their colorful and formal best. Richly brocaded material from Banaras and Gujarat, embroidered and woven Kashmiri shawls and delicate cottons from Chanderi and Dhaka were procured at great cost. |
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Staine glass panel |
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Costumes and Dresses |
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State Symbols
State Tree - Khejari
State Flower - Rohida
State Bird - Godawan or Great Indian Bustard
State Animal - Chinkara (an antelope) |
