Rajasthan to celebrate Sawan Teej festival on 5th-6th August!

Festivals are synonymous to Rajasthan. The vibrant culture of fascinating state of Rajasthan can not be experienced if you have not witnessed one of its many festivals!

The most beguiling is the Sawan Teej Festival celebrated in Jaipur with great pomp and show every year. This year it will be celebrated on August 5th and 6^th 2016!

About Teej Festival though is fêted all over the state, but celebrated at its colorful best in Jaipur. The festival is celebrated to welcome the advent of monsoon, also dedicated to Goddess Parvati and commemorates the day when she was united with Lord Shiva after a penance of a hundred years. The mesmerizing procession of Goddess Parvati winds magnificently through the Old City of Jaipur with chariots, elephants and dancers for two days.

Other than the traditional procession of Goddess Teej, to showcase the charm and culture of Rajasthan this year ‘Taal Katora Ki Paal’ will also be the hub of a large number of folk and cultural events, where locals and tourists can enjoy the cultural activities. Later the Teej idols will be submerged at Taal Katora pond.

The tempting aromas of Ghewar being cooked on sweet shops, colourful lehariyas, and blossoming flowers and women folks decked up in their traditional best and henna on hands add more colours to the essence of jovial season.

Travel Tip

The government of Rajasthan state arranges a special sitting area for foreign tourists, for comfortable viewing and to photograph the procession from the terrace of the Hind Hotel opposite Tripoliya gate.

If you are in India around that time of the year, you should try to make arrangements to attend and experience this festival.

Must Carry– Camera to capture elaborated Teej procession

Street Eats–

You must try the special Teej sweet, GHEVAR and Feeni

Must Shop– Special tie and die pattern, called LEHARIYA, is must buy.

Jaipur is all set to witness Sawan Teej festival on 30 and 31st July

No better way to experience the vibrant culture of fascinating Jaipur than attending one of its many festivals.

Springs, with a respite from heat and sun’s rage, brought in the spirit of Teej festival,

Teej Festival though, is celebrated all over the state, but celebrated at its colorful best in Jaipur. The festival is fêted to welcome the advent of monsoon, also dedicated to Goddess Parvati and commemorates the day when she was united with Lord Shiva after a penance of a hundred years. The mesmerizing procession of Goddess Parvati winds magnificently through the Old City of Jaipur with chariots, elephants and dancers for two days.

Other than the traditional procession of Goddess Teej, to showcase the charm and culture of Rajasthan this year ‘Taal Katora Ki Paal’ will also be the hub of a large number of folk and cultural events. Where locals and tourists can enjoy the cultural activities besides enjoying the wonderful sight of colorful 80 ft. fountains at Pondrik Uddyaan. Later the Teej idols will be submerged at Taal Katora pond.

Pondrik Uddyaan

Pondrik Uddyaan

Taal Katora

The tempting aromas of Ghewar being cooked on sweet shops, colourful lehariyas, and blossoming flowers and women folks decked up in their traditional best add more colours to the essence of jovial season.

Rajasthani Delicay- Ghewar

Travel Tip

The government of Rajasthan state arranges a special seating area for foreign tourists, for comfortable viewing and to photograph the procession from the terrace of the Hind Hotel opposite Tripoliya gate.

If you are in India around that time of the year, you should try to make arrangements to attend and experience this festival.

Must Carry– Camera to capture elaborated Teej procession

Street Eats– You must try the special Teej sweet, GHEVAR and Feeni

Must Shop– Special tie and die pattern, called LEHARIYA, is only available at this time of year in the shops. Wide variety of handicrafts also available.

Ghevar: The Festival Dessert of Rajasthan

“The belly rules the mind” goes a famous Spanish proverb, a phrase that Rajasthan, the land of the kings, is no stranger to. Rajasthani cuisine is a splendid combination of unique, spicy and colorful dishes. It’s incomplete without the description of Dal-Baati-Churma, a traditional wholesome meal of the state. Sweet dishes are never referred to as ‘dessert’ in Rajasthan, because unlike desserts which are had after the meal, Rajasthani sweets are had before, during and after the meal.

 

The Months of July and August are perfect to talk about the much celebrated dessert in this season of special festivities. “Ghevar”,  an incredible Rajasthani Delicacy which is widely popular and traditionally associated with Teej Festival (locally called Saawan ki Teej) and Raksha Bandhan festival falling in the month of August in Rajasthan. It is a round mesh like disc-shaped fried delicacy drenched in sugar syrup and topped with sliced nuts and flavored rabri.

This Rajasthani festival Dessert is always a chart topper and savored in different styles; some enjoy it plain while others love it with the toppings of Mawa or Malai.  Ghevar also tastes great when it is eaten with hot Milk or Kheer.

Malai Dry Fruit Ghevar

Mawa Ghevar

Plain Ghevar

Plain Ghevar

Dry Fruit Ghevar

Saffron Ghevar

Having such a variety in taste Ghevar can definitely satiate your sweet tooth pangs for the time being but cannot satisfy your need to have it again and again. “Padharo mahare des” is an apt phrase, which means: “Welcome to my state”, where you can experience the uniqueness that it has on offer and enhance it with the wonderful hospitality, food AND Sweet Dishes that Rajasthan is famed the world over…..

Celebrate the spirit of spring with Teej Festival

Fairs and festivals add much needed zing to our life and give us an opportunity to forget all our tensions and make merry. Fairs and festivals in Jaipur epitomize this very idea of living life to the hilt.

Teej, the carnival of swings tributes the initiation of torrential rain month of Shravan (in the month of August). The torrential rain falls on the scorched land of Rajasthan and the lovely aroma of the wet soil mounts in the air. People hang the swings from trees and ladies would dress up in bright green clothes. They sing songs merrily thereby welcoming the monsoon. It is also a good time to shop for the Rajasthani ‘tie and dye’ fabrics, saris as well as trendy accessories from the decorated markets. Teej festival is devoted to the deity Parvati to tribute her unification with mighty God Shiva.

Owing to the enjoyable ambiance of the neighbouring foliage, all women enjoy carefree swings. Hence, the key reason behind Teej festival is to make a woman of the house happy thus making the whole family to prosper.

Starting from the Tripolia Gate of the City Palace at 06.00 pm and ending at Chaugun, the traditional royal procession would be led through the Tripolia Bazaar and Chhoti Chaupar on August 09 and 10, this year. Antique gilt palanquins, bullock carts pulling cannons, chariots, bedecked elephants, horses, camels, brass bands, and dances all form a part of this grand procession. The Palanquin of Goddess Paravati is carried by eight men dressed in red colour. This kilometre long parade travels through the embedded lanes of the old city. People come out in their traditional best to participate, witness and enjoy.

Teej is also an excellent time to enjoy Rajasthani delicacies like ‘Ghewar’ and ‘Feeni’ and ‘Malpuas’.