The whole world is but one family - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia

in gay, multicolored attire, can be seen singing
and performing the Raslila dance. All of Bharatpur
echoes the sound of folk melodies at Bharatpur Brij
Festival held on the eve of Holi. Men and women,
young and old, rich and poor-all are moved by the
spirit of this festival. Energetic revelers spare no
one during this festival and delight in splashing
color on everyone around.
During the Brij Festival the devotees gather at the
Shri Radha Krishnaji’s temple in the morning and
take a bath at the ghats (a flight of steps leading to
the water) of the Banganga river. It is believed that
the holy waters have powers to purify the soul.
The people then head for the nearby shrines of
Hanuman and Ganga Bihari and also visit the Shiva
temple and the Math of Goswamiji. Bharatpur Brij
Festival in Rajasthan is one of the important fairs
and festivals of Rajasthan. The fair reflects the true
traditional culture of Rajasthan. It has the essence
of the true spirited nature of the locals.
Jaisalmer Desert Festival
Herd of camels, locals dressed in colourful fancy
dresses, camel races and polo matches, turban
tying competitions, men with long moustache,
acrobats, puppeteers, and jugglers are the main
highlights of Jaisalmer Desert Festival. The
celebrations of Festival of Jaisalmer 2012 will
continue for three days from 5 to 7 February. The
days of festival glorifies the rich culture of the
region. The desert festival in Jaisalmer was started
with an aim to attract foreign tourists, who always
look forward to explore more and more facets of
Rajasthan. The festival showcases Rajasthani folk
songs and dance to promote Jaisalmer culture and
traditions.
18 | Bhavan Australia | February 2012
Brij Festival Bharatpur
The major attraction of Jaisalmer Desert Festival
is to showcase the culture of the region glorifying
the desert land. The annual desert festival is held
on the backdrop of the Jaisalmer fort. The sand
of Jaisalmer comes alive with the dazzling colors,
vibrant music and laughter of the Desert Festival
between the pinks of winters. The people dressed
in brilliantly hued costumes, dance and sing the
poignant ballads of valour, romance and tragedy.
The fair has snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats,
folk artists and various competitions are also held
here. The festival closes with an enchanting sound
and light show in the moonlit night amid sand
dunes with a promise to come back again next year.
The rhythm of Ghumar, Kalbalia, Gair and Fire
dancers dancing on the beats of folk music are the
major attraction of the desert festival celebrations.
The dancers in vibrant and brightly coloured
costumes dance like flying butterflies. Jaisalmer
Desert Festival is the best occasion when the
rich and colourful culture of the desert region is
highlighted. Villagers are heard singing the ballads
of tragedy, valour, and romance of the local heroes
and they dance to the folk tunes.
Parveen, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia
Source: www.festivalsofindia.in, www.4to40.com,
www.surfindia.com, www.iloveindia.com,
www.pilgrimage-india.com,
www.aryabhatt.com, www.hindu-blog.com,
www.timeanddate.com, www.indiaparenting.com,
www.theholidayspot.com,
www.mahashivratri.org,
www.haryanatourism.gov.in, www.chabad.org,
www.saffronsofindia.com,
www.jaisalmerdesertcamp.com/desertfestival.htm