Rajasthan boasts
of its rich cultural heritage, which you can witness in the form of its fairs
and festivals. Every festival of Rajasthan is unique and brings fame to
the state. Celebrated in different states, these festivals attract many
tourists from far and wide due to their unique appeal.
Among the famous festivals
of Rajasthan, the Kite Festival in Jodhpur is the popular one. Known
as Jodhpur International Desert Kite Festival, the occasion enjoys the
crowd of tourists from far and wide. People of the state gather to celebrate
the event with great gusto.
The best kite
flyers from around the world participate in the majestic celebration of kite
flying. The Desert Kite Festival is held every year on the occasion of
Makar Sankranti, which is an auspicious day for Hindus.
Kite makers flaunt
various kites sized as big as 1.5 km of numerous shapes and appealing designs.
Some kites have messages while others depict social issues and pasquinades of
politicians. The celebration is further enhanced up with the kite exhibitions,
dance dramas, paper kites and sessions on the history of kite flying, which add
spice to Jodhpur tourism.
This is one of
most popular festivals of Jodhpur. The sky gets filled up with fighter
kites and the fancy kites add charm to it. The three-day festival begins with
an inauguration at the Polo Ground. It serves as the site for some serious kite
flying.
The festival of
Rajasthan comprises two types of celebrations. An enormous extravaganza
coupled with Air Force helicopters and relinquishing kites from the sky.
Hundreds of schoolchildren, releasing balloons further create a spectacular
sight.
Every evening, challengers
are provided with dinner at an exotic location. On the final day, the venue of
the festival switches to the exquisite lawns of the Umaid Bhawan Palace of the
state. The finals of the Fighter Kite Competition are followed by the prize
distribution ceremony. The farewell function Jodhpur Desert Kite Festival
is followed by dinner with the Maharaja.
As the festival
draws to an end, traditional Indian kite craftsmen start to return to their
insipid lives, selling handcrafted aerial art. Seeing the kites striving to cut
down one another and screaming with thrill at such sights also create a
wonderful spectacle. Tourists especially travel to Jodhpur to witness
this remarkable extravaganza of the event.
Other Festivals in
Rajasthan include Kite Festival in Jaipur, which is another spectacular
event. Celebrated with much enthusiasm and fervour, the occasion pulls the
crowd from all over the world.
Jodhpur Kite
Festival has become a
popular event in past few years. An important part of Jodhpur Tourism,
the event beckons large number of tourists to witness the traditional
festivity.
