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Padharo Mahre Desh, Rajasthan – “the land of the kings” is one of the incredible states of India. It is the largest state of India and approximately the size of Montana. Jaipur – Fremont, California’s sister city is the capital city of our state. Rajasthani (constitutional status is pending) is the main spoken language of the state, although Hindi and English are used for
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Culture
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Rajasthan is culturally rich and has artistic and cultural traditions which reflect the ancient Indian way of life. There is rich and varied folk culture from villages which is often depicted
and is symbolic of the state. Highly cultivated classical music and dance with its own distinct style is part of the cultural tradition of Rajasthan. The music is uncomplicated and songs
depict day-to-day relationships and chores, more often focused around fetching water from wells or ponds. |
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Rajasthani cooking was influenced by both the war-like lifestyles of its inhabitants and the availability of ingredients in this arid region.
Food that could last for several days and could be eaten without heating was preferred. Scarcity of water and fresh green vegetables
have all had their effect on the cooking. It is known for its snacks like Bikaneri Bhujia, Mirchi Bada and Pyaaj Kachori. Other famous dishes include bajre ki roti (millet bread) and lashun ki chutney (hot garlic paste), mawa kachori from Jodhpur, alwar ka mawa, malpauas from
Pushkar and rassgollas from Bikaner. Originating for the Marwar region of the state is the concept Marwari Bhojnalaya, or vegetarian restaurants,today found in many part of India, which offer vegetarian food of the Marwari people. |
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| The Ghoomar dance from Udaipur and Kalbeliya dance of Jaisalmer have gained international recognition. Folk music is a vital part of Rajasthani culture. Kathputli, Bhopa, Chang, Teratali, Ghindr, Kachchhighori,Tejaji, etc. are the examples of the traditional Rajasthani culture. Folk songs are commonly ballads which relate heroic deeds and love stories; and religious or devotional songs known as bhajans and banis (often accompanied by musical instruments like dholak, sitar, sarangi etc.) are also sung.Rajasthan is known for its traditional, colorful art. The block prints, tie and dye prints, Bagaru prints, Sanganer prints, and Zari embroidery are major export products from Rajasthan. Handicraft items like wooden furniture and crafts, carpets, and blue pottery are commonly found here. Rajasthan is a shoppers’ paradise, with beautiful goods at low prices. Reflecting the colorfulculture, Rajasthani clothes have a lot of mirror-work and embroidery. |
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 Up-down dolls are found in the
road-side shops of Jaisalmer. |
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A Rajasthani traditional dress for females comprises an ankle-length skirt and a short top, also known as a lehenga or a chaniya choli. A piece of cloth is used to cover the head,
both for protection from heat and maintenance of modesty. Rajasthani dresses are usually designed in bright colours like blue, yellow and orange. The main religious festivals are Deepawali, Holi, Gangaur, Teej, Gogaji, Shri Devnarayan Jayanti, Makar Sankranti and Janmashtami, as the main religion is Hinduism. Rajasthan’s desert festival is held once a
year during winter. Dressed in brilliantly hued costumes, the people of the desert dance and sing ballads. There are fairs with snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers.
Camels play a role in this festival. |
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Education
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Rajasthan has nine universities and more than 250 colleges, 55,000 primary and 7,400 secondary schools. There are 41 engineering colleges with an annual enrollment of about
11,500 students. The state has 23 polytechnics and one-hundred and 52 Industrial Training Institute (ITIs) that impart vocational training. |
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Tourism
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Rajasthan continues to attract approx. 15% of total foreign visitors visiting India. It is fourth also in Domestic tourist visitors. Endowed with natural beauty and a great history, tourism
is a flourishing industry in Rajasthan. The palaces of Jaipur and Ajmer-Pushkar, the lakes of Udaipur, the desert forts of Jodhpur, Taragarh Fort (Star Fort) in Bundi, and Bikaner and
Jaisalmer rank among the most preferred destinations in India for many tourists both Indian and foreign. Tourism accounts for eight percent of the state’s domestic product. Many old
and neglected palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels. Tourism has increased employment in the hospitality sector. |
| Rajasthan is famous for its forts, intricately carved temples, and decorated havelis, which were built by Rajput kings in pre-Muslim era Rajasthan. Rajasthan’s Jaipur Jantar Mantar, Dilwara Temples, Chittorgarh Fort, Lake Palace, miniature paintings in Bundi, and numerous city palaces and havelis are an important part of the architectural heritage of India. Jaipur, the Pink City, is noted for the ancient houses made of a type of sand stone dominated by a pink hue. In Bundi, maximum houses are painted blue.At Ajmer, the white marble Bara-dari on the Anasagar lake is exquisite. Jain Temples dot Rajasthan from north to south and east to west. Dilwara Temples of Mount Abu, Ranakpur Temple dedicated to Lord Adinath in Pali District, Jain temples in the fort complexes of Chittor, Jaisalmer and Kumbhalgarh, Lodurva Jain temples,Sarun Mata Temple kotputli, Bhandasar and Karni Mata Temple of Bikaner are some of the best examples. |
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Business
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Rajasthan is strategically located and well connected by air, road and rail. It has the natural resources, the human resources and the infrastructure that are attracting investments in automotive, agro processing, solar energy, IT/ITes, bio-technology, gems & jewelry, handicrafts, and textiles. The Rajasthan Chamber of Commerce is the conduit to Singapore,
Thailand, Canada, USA and Switzerland to promote trade, commerce and industry in the state. |
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