Mewar Festival

27 March 2021 - 29 March 2021

Traditional

Udaipur, Rajasthan

24°C / Clouds

The Mewar Festival is one of the many Indian festivals which marks the beginning of the Spring season. Celebrated with great gusto and enthusiasm, the festivities highlight the glory of Rajput traditions and rituals. Visiting Udaipur during the Mewar Festival is altogether a different experience for anyone; associated with colour and joy, it is all about honouring the regal age-old rituals of Rajputi Aan, Baan, and Shaan.

To participate in the festivities, people from numerous villages come together and one can witness the buzz increasing slowly and steadily rising to its crescendo as more and more tourists and artists pour into the city. Coinciding with the Gangaur Festival, the city of Udaipur, immersed in the colourful vibes as the local markets are decorated with bright lights, is just simply stunning to watch.

What’s interesting to know is that the Mewar Festival is linked to the legacy of the Royal House of Mewar which has been passed unbroken for the past seven and half decades or so.

History of Mewar Festival

The history of this iconic festival dates back to the era when the Sisodia dynasty used to rule here. According to the historical records, Maharana Udai Singh once met a holy man during one of his hunting expeditions. It is believed that upon meeting the king, the holy man blessed the king and also advised him to build a palace at that place. The king readily agreed and as per the instructions of the saint, founded the city and built a palace in this region.

Major Attractions of Mewar Festival

1. The Religious Aspect of Mewar Festival

As the Mewar Festival coincides with the Gangaur Festival, it holds a special significance for women. Gangaur celebrations start from the very next day of Holi as the locals gather the ashes of Holi fire which is then used to bury Barley seeds on the Earth.

During this period, the newly married women are also required to keep a fast for ensuring a happy married life. However, a great number of unmarried women also keep a fast with the desire to attain marital bliss in the future.

On the day of Gangaur, the women dress in their most sophisticated and fine clothing and take the idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in a colourful procession to Lake Pichola where the idols are safely further carried on to boats. Witnessing several colourful boats sailing in a breeze like a manner in the lake is a moment worth cherishing.

2. The Cultural Aspect of Mewar Festival

The procession of the Mewar Festival is then followed by a number of cultural events which are inclusive of dance performances of Ghoomar and Kalbeliya. The folk artists sing their traditional songs and welcome the tourists to the land of royalty with their peculiar performances. At the end of the three-day festival, one gets to watch an impressive display of fireworks.

How to Reach

To reach Udaipur in Rajasthan, you will need to cover an approximate distance of about 663, 761, 1,799, 1,646 km from Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru respectively. Check out the following details on how you can reach here.

By Air. Deboard at the Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) situated 25-35 km away. The airport is well-routed with other Indian cities via several prominent airlines. From the airport, take a taxi or some other means of locally available means of transport like an auto-rickshaw to reach here.

From Kolkata - Board IndiGo flights from Kolkata Airport. The airfares start from INR 7,000-8,000
From Guwahati - Board IndiGo flights from Guwahati Airport. The airfares start from INR 6,000-7,000
From Bhopal - Board IndiGo flights from Bhopal Airport. The airfares start from INR 4,000-5,000

By Train. There are two railway stations available; one is Udaipur City Railway station and Rana Pratap Nagar railway station. You get smooth connectivity with the major cities across India like Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Indore, and many more.

By Road. Udaipur is well-connected by roadways and national highways to other Indian cities. To travel here, you can consider travelling here by private/state-run buses. Otherwise, you can also consider booking a taxi to reach here from nearby cities and towns or take your own vehicle here.