|
Traditional
folklore is retold through social events and interaction,
and this helps the people to understand their origin,
identity and destiny.
The Hindu calendar, based on the lunar revolutions,
is the oldest system in the world, and one that is still
widely followed in India. It divides the year into twelve
lunar months of approximately twenty-seven or twenty-eight
days each. Since the Indian months, and their seasons, are
very important, it is necessary to understand the seasons
into which the year is divided. In Rajasthan, as in other
parts of the country, the year is divided into six
seasons: Vasant or spring (mid-March to mid-May),
Grishma or summer (mid-May to mid-July), Varsha or
monsoon (mid-July to mid-September), Sharad or au¬tumn
(mid-September to mid-November), Hemanta or winter
(mid-November to mid-January), and Shishir or the period of
dews (mid-January to mid-March).
Though the fairs and festivals fall within the Hindu
calendar, it is easier to understand and document them
keeping in mind the Gregorian calendar months. Unlike the
Gregorian calendar, the Hindu months spill into the other
months of the English calendar: for instance, the month of
Pausa covers half of December and half of January, while
Magha stretches from mid-January to mid-February. Though a
little complicated, it is important to note that the
division of months depends primarily on the lunar
revolutions, and so fairs and festivals do not fall on the
same day each year.
The first quarter of the year has the Indian months of
Pausa-Magha, Phalgun and Chaitra that fall in January,
February and March. These are the months when the desert
state is still cold, and the people are in the mood to
celebrate. No wonder these months are filled with so many
fairs and festivals.
The year starts on a lively note with the Camel Festival in
Bikaner, held every year in January. Bikaner is
certainly the right place to come in contact with the camel,
especially when it participates in a number of activities
that range from parades to races, dances — yes! these
animals can dance too! — and acrobatics. The two days of
festivities end with the folk performers joining in to
display their art. There is gair dance as well as the
awe-inspiring fire dance that keeps the visitors glued to
the edge of their seats.
Soon after, Jaipur and Jodhpur gear up to celebrate the
annual kite flying festival of Makar Sankranti which
falls, every year, on the 14th of January. This marks the
sun's entry into the northern hemisphere and also signals
the end of winter. The skies are dotted with thousands of
colourful paper kites. Families gather on rooftops, playing
loud music and fighting over proprietorship of kites that
they 'cut' with their strings while soaring in the sky.
Shouts of "woh kata" ("well cut") rend the air when a
kite is brought down, An interesting sight is of street
children with a long stick in one hand, and a pile of
looted' kites in the other. People pray for a good harvest
and offerings of til, sesame, and khichdi, a
porridge of millets, is made to Surya, the sun god.
In Nagaur, 145 km from Jodhpur, the people gather to
participate in the second largest animal fair of the year in
the state. Held during the month of Magh, this fair is
renowned for its trading of cows, bullocks, camels and
horses. The colourful bazaars give the visitors ample
opportunity to shop as they move in groups and allow
themselves to be entertained by folk performers. |
