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Personal experience of an “Indian Moments” staff member...
Living in Jaipur and watching spectacular Gangaur processions and watching the same processions three months later on the festival of Teej used to make me wonder whether these two festivals are any way different to each other or not.
Often my mother says a phrase in Dundhari (A local Rajasthani dialect) whenever such discussion props up- Teej tyunhaar neesari, Ley doobi Gangaur.
The phrase actually means: It is Teej (In the month of August) that brings all festivals with her and Gangaur (In the month of March-April) takes away all.
This makes me understand the logic. One serves as a perfect start of pleasant festive seasons and the other makes a Grand Finale. And in between fall three long hot months of summers.
Nine festivals and a week!
One more saying that is uttered most about Rajasthan- Aath baar aur nau tyunhaar (There are eight days in a week and NINE festivals!).
The statement never seemed exaggeration to me.
We Rajasthanis have an enviable appetite of celebrations.
We keep on adding more and more festivals to our already long list, if it is not a festival then it can be other celebration like weddings or temple functions or even wedding of trees!
We are really different; we do not want to look unhappy.
We absolutely do not have any complaint with the nature for its extreme moods and seasons.
Logically speaking seasons are reasons of our celebrations. And because we are creative too, our style of celebrations remains distinct on day-to-day basis.
If not, then why should our women wear lehariya (a kind of sari having colored designs in ripples form) on Teej and gota-kinari (brocade border sari) on Chauth? What makes me eat fini (fried hairy ball of wheat flour dipped in sugar syrup) on Makar Sakranti and Ghevar (Specially prepared flour mix fried into round flat perforated cakes, then soaked in sugar syrup) on Gangaur?
And why firecrackers on Diwali and kites on Sakranti?
Monsoon frenzy
Monsoons set the mood in Rajasthan.
We hardly face any floods, hence rains are most welcome. In Rajasthan it is pleasant, cool and clean.
The temporary greenery comes up fast and we find it right time to see and store in our minds how water in freshly filled ponds and lakes look like.
Our visits to such lakes and mountains are termed as 'Goth' which are community picnics where we organize elaborate dinners on the spot in make shift kitchens.
Monsoon season is also the time for the married daughters to visit their parent's place, subsequently an affectionate exchange of clothes and sweets takes place.
Teej is the celebration of this feeling at its peak. Swings are roped on trees; young girls and married ladies enjoy them to the fullest.
Nowhere in India I've seen such passion to enjoy greenery.
Festive chill
Winters are chilly in Rajasthan and are real season of festivals.
Some festivals overlap each other on same day; we have to really adjust creatively in such cases.
Diwali is a special celebration, the craze for it lasts several weeks, its preparations are elaborate and celebration most ecstatic.
Makar Sakranti is complete fun, less formalities, the only work this day is to bask under the sun flying kites. Spring season brings more festivals associated with celebration of harvest.
The biggest festival is Holi- of colors, most beautiful songs and wildest celebrations. I've noticed that Holi in Shekhawati region is most enjoyable.
With the onset of summers, once again comes the festival of Gangaur in all its colors and pageantry. Young girls pray for good husbands and married ones for their good life.
Not so hot!
Long, hot summers set in but they are not left dull. Evenings are cool and pleasant. Wedding season starts and celebrations go on.
There are folk songs for this season too, overnight folk dance-dramas, singing-ballads, etc. under dim lights become common-place in villages everywhere.
I remember, even in my own village Narsingh Leela (Enactment of story Lord Narsingh) going all night is very spectacular; quite distinct from those I've seen elsewhere.
Despite fluctuating seasons if anybody asks me the best season to visit Rajasthan- "Any season" I say "You'll get to experience something distinct, enjoy something different, eat something special and understand something untold."
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