Bundi Utsav



Detailed Information about Bundi Utsav & Its Importance


The festivals in India speak of the fabulous and colorful civilization that is a very integral part of the people here in India. The festivals are and have become a means to showcase the unique cultural heritage to the world and also to promote the tourism in the country. The one basic thing about these festivals is that it serves as a binding string of brotherhood for the people from different parts of the country, the races and the communities. India is a vast country that ranges from the Himalayas in the north to the India Ocean in the south again the Arabian Sea and the Great Indian Desert in the west to the Bay of Bengal, Khasi, Garo and the Naga Hills in the far eastern border of the country. Thus we find a variety in the celebration of the festivals and almost each of them has a legend associated with it. Coming from kingly state of Rajasthan is yet another colorful and a vibrant festival called the Bundi Utsav. The festival is a potpourri of events and is a major attraction for the national as well as the international tourists.

The Bundi Utsav is celebrated in the months of Kartik according to the Hindu calendar that corresponds to the months of November-December according to the Gregorian calendar. The festival is held in the town of Bundi from where it derives its name that is located in the district of Hadoti in Rajasthan. The true Rajasthani culture comes alive during this festival. Various artists from around Bundi come here to showcase their talents and perform at the festival. The festival commences with the long procession called the "Shova Yatra" in which the men and the women clad themselves in the traditional dresses and come out into the streets of Hadoti.

The festival can be called the festival of the common people from the villages and hence the true rural features can be seen to fill up the entire festival. The traditional handicrafts and the pottery works are exhibited during the festival. Bundi has been known to bring out the world class paintings that are very much famous and in very much demand. The artisans display their flair of the brushes during this festival and the paintings are put to sale too. Along with this there are a number of events that give the shine to the festival as the camel races, the fairs, the musical dance and the musical performances by the local folk artists etc.

In the small town of Keshorai Patan which is lies just adjacent to Bundi a cattle fair is organized alongside the festival that can be called mini version of the famous cattle fair at Pushkar. At the banks of the river Chambal the people chant the Vedic hymns and then the "Deep Daan" or "the Light Donation" is performed as the people offer their prayers. There are also some other fulfilled activities in which the people coming to visit the festival also take pleasure to participate as the turban tying event, the bridal attire event, the rural sport contest etc. The festival ends with a dazzling display of the fireworks.