Culture of Jaipur

Travel to Jaipur to experience the rich and colourful culture of Jaipur, the Pink City of India. The culture of Jaipur epitomizes the very essence that the state of Rajasthan stands for - royalty & chivalry, heritage & history, festivals & colours. And the people of Jaipur like any other part of Rajasthan are known for their colourful attires, their love for their heritage and tradition.

Though the patches of modernity are clearly visible in Jaipur, the city is still the commercial centre for most rural regions of Rajasthan. The streets and market places of Jaipur still witnesses scenes of turbaned Rajasthani men, moving around with their women, who are dressed in swirling skirts and flashing Meenakari (enamel) jewellery that bring to life all the colours of the desert.

Jaipur is also famous for semi-precious stones and the best place to buy them is off Johari Bazaar. Miniatures, handicrafts, clothes, jewellery of silver are other items to be bought in Jaipur.

The cultural prosperity of Rajasthan is evident in its local festivals and fairs, some of which attract international attention. Planning one's Jaipur travel during the time of festival will be a mesmerizing holiday for tourists.

Celebrated in the month of Phalgun (March) on the eve of Holi, the festival of colors, the Elephant Festival is famous for its procession of elephants, camels, horses and folk dancers. The sight of mighty jumbos striding majestically is a treat to watch. Other interesting events at the festival include, a polo match, the Elephant race, the tug-of-war between an elephant and nineteen men. Given the importance of elephants in the socio-cultural milieu of the state of Rajasthan, tourists can be rest assured that they are in for some great Indian festivities and fun in Jaipur.

Gangaur Festival is another unique festival held annually in Jaipur. The festival is celebrated in honor of goddess Gauri, few days after Holi (around March). This is primarily a women oriented festival, an occasion when married women pray for their husbands and unmarried girls pray for getting a good husband. One can witness colorful festive processions, women engrossed in gathering flowers and chanting hymns to the Goddess Parvati.

With the arrival of the monsoons, the festival season is unleashed with renewed fervor in Jaipur. And the most important festival to herald the monsoons is Teej Festival - reflecting the magic of the rainy season. Peacocks dance in ecstasy, women rejoice by swinging on rope swings in gardens and lilting melodies heralding the festival of Teej echo all round. Teej is celebrated on the third day of the waxing moon in the month of Sawan (July-August).