Dimple Arora reports on the various events of Rajasthan
The dance, sound, and light shows in Rajasthan offer a captivating blend of history, culture, and artistic brilliance. Through the fluid movements of dancers, the melodious tunes of traditional instruments, and the enchanting play of lights, these performances transport audiences to a realm of splendor and mystique. Here’s a list of the many cultural shows you can treat yourself to in this dynamic and colorful land:
Sound and Light Show at Amber Fort
A spectacle of great visual delight, the Amber Fort and Palace complex in Jaipur, hosts a breathtaking son-et-lumire. The Amber Fort has been home to 28 kings of the Kachwaha dynasty until their capital was moved to Jaipur. The play of lights always fascinates people. It becomes even more interesting when it tells beautiful stories. These shows are a great way of making people acquainted with the history and culture of a place and its people. The son-et-lumiere at Amber Fort and palace complex takes you through local legends and folklore with folk music and mesmerizing voice of Amitabh Bachchan. Also, one cannot ignore the surrounding hills and the beautiful Jaigarh Fort.
Timings:
October to February- 6:30 PM (English) and 7:30 PM (Hindi)
March to April- 7:00 PM (English) and 8:00 PM (Hindi)
May to September- 7:30 PM (English) and 8:30 PM (Hindi)
Sound and Light show at Kumbhalhgarh Fort
Elegantly nested at the top of the craggy hills of Aravali, the beautiful Kumbhalgarh fort plays host to one of Rajasthan’s precious light and sound shows. The evenings there are amazing, narrating the secret history hidden behind the stone façade of the majestic fort. The wall present there is claimed as the second largest wall in the world by the locals.
Timing: 6:45 PM
Rajasthan International Folk Festival
A gift to the ears of people who love folk music, Rajasthan International Folk Festival held at Jodhpur is a heaven place. It gathers around 250 musicians coming to participate in the event. These artists come from all over India and the world to celebrate Rajathan’s rich musical heritage. This annual festival was started in 2007 by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust and Jaipur Virasat Foundation, two of India’s leading heritage trusts, collectively called the TRIFF Society. The society has taken up the initiative to promote traditional folk music and art form. They arrange events like jazz night, a Rajasthani night, gupsy dance performances, traditional dance forms, and even early morning ragas.
The event takes place on the night of Sharad Purnima celebrated as a harvest festival having a full moon day.
Jantar Mantar shows
A mesmerizing show at a UNESCO World Heritage site has got to be wonderful. The sound and Light show at Jantar Mantar is educational but it is an interesting and entertaining event. It tells you about the history of the place, a bit about astronomy, and the importance of the instruments at Jantar Mantar.
Rajasthan Fashion Week
It is known for its original fashion capital of the country, Jaipur hosts the Rajasthan Fashion Week where many Indian and international designers showcase their unique and eye catchy designs. With a motto of “ a flash of a color with a dash of glamour”, the event has established itself as a strong brand across the fashion industry since 2012. The promotion of khadi, kota doria, and other textiles is one of its uniqueness.
Music in the Park
Music in the Park is an exclusive event held every second Saturday of the month at Jaipur Central Park for all the music lovers in the city. The event features performances by stalwarts from the field of classical and semi-classical music such as Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, and Ustad Zakir Hussain to name a few.
Akbari Quila, Ajmer
The musical extravaganza takes you to historic days portraying the valor of Rajput ruler Prithviraj Chauhan, the history of Mughal kings including the significant treaty signed by Jahangir and Sir Thomas Roe with the religious significance of Pushkar. The 45-minute sound and light show is narrated by renowned lyricist Gulzar.
Chittorgarh Light and Music Festival
The stories of the bravery of the kings, queens, and warriors of Chittorgarh Fort excite people. The 58 minutes show begins with King Chitranganda who made Chittor his capital. The show progresses to stories of Bappa Rawal, Rani Padmini, Meera Bai, Rana Kumbha, and Panna Dhai.
The Mewar Sound and Light Show, Udaipur
The Mewar Sound and Light Show, a captivating audio-visual extravaganza, unfolds against the backdrop of the enchanting city of Udaipur in Rajasthan. This spectacular show takes visitors on a mesmerizing journey through the rich and glorious history of Mewar, immersing them in the tales of valor, romance, and heroism that define this legendary land.
Unlike the above shows which are run by Government, this is a private show conducted every evening at the magnificent Manek Chowk in The City Palace. The show is narrated by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur.
Winds of Music show
The Palace of Winds, home to the most attractive spectacle known as the Winds of Music Show, is a must for every visitor. It is a theatre show narrating a fantastic blend of history, anecdotes, music, and acoustics and the portrayal of every nuance of Rajasthani culture is the highlight of every act. Traditional acrobats, young men and women performing unimaginable stunts, ghoomar, fire dance, and the Kalbeliya tribe showcasing their moves are some of the performances that one gets to experience at the Hawa Mahal Music Show.
Jawahar Kala Kendra is also an artist hub, where usually daily theatre shows are performed, showing the beautiful use of light and sound in depicting the stories of the Natak.
If you are an art and music lover then do witness these mesmerizing shows which are truly absolute places in the vibrant tapestry of this majestic region.