0 BUNDI'S FAMOUS KAJLI TEEJ MELA(FAIR)

Rajasthan is a dream destination for tourists. The variety of tourist attractions ranges from places with awesome scenic beauty to place with a lot of historical significance. There are also a number of religious places in Rajasthan that also attracts a largenumber of devotees. The fairs andfestivals of Rajasthan have also gained a lot of popularity among tourists. These fairs and festivals are the right places to visit in order to have a detailed look of the rich culture and tradition of Rajasthan. Some of the fairs and festivals also have a religious significance. These helps in adding a lot of variety to Rajasthan Tour. The Kajli Teej festival is one of the most popularfestivals in Rajasthan. Though the festival is celebrated in various parts of Rajasthan but Kalji Teej festival of Bundi is most attractive. Attractions of Kalji Teej festival of Bundi Kalji Teej festival has a number of unique features. It is almost a month long event beginning with the monsoon season of July and ending in August. Bundi’s Kalji Teej is different from other parts of Rajasthan as the other places celebrate it on the third day of themonth of Shravana. On the contrary, Bundi celebrates it on the third day of Bhadra. Kajli Teej festival of Bundi also includes a number of other traditions and practices. The hugeprocession of goddess Teej is an integral part of the festival. This procession travels through various parts of Bundi. It travels through the main bazaars and ultimately stops at Azad Park. It is a great experience for tourists to witness this procession as it includes performing artists, elephants, camels and performingbands. A large number of people also take part in the procession. Their enthusiasm for the festival isclearly reflected from their joyous mood. They deck themselves in colorful attires. The festival of Kajli Teej also holds great significance for the married couples. According to the belief, the festival strengthens the ties between the married couples. Thewhole of Bundi boasts a different look altogether during this event. Variety of foods, entertainment options for kids along with a number of cultural programs provide a great time to the peopleof Bundi as well as tourists visiting the place during that time.The cultural programs are very popular among visitors as they reflect the rich culture of the place. These cultural programs aremainly organized during the evening. These programs feature performances by local artists. These artists are mostly from the Hadoti region. Though the main function is for 2 days but the festival continues till Janmashtami.

0 Bundi Utsav

The Bundi Utsav held annually in the month of November has added to the glory of the place and has provided a worldwide exposure.

Bundi Utsav is a spectacular culmination of traditional art, culture and craftsmanship which surprises every visitor with its grandeur.

Activities During Bundi Utsav

Vibrant Shobha Yatra

The Bundi Utsav begins with a vibrant Shobha Yatra (procession) and features arts & crafts fair, ethnic sports, cultural exhibition and folk, classical music & dance programme to entertain the discerning guests.

Some of the most renowned artistes from across the country come to perform and create a gripping atmosphere at the venue.

Traditional Rural Sports

It also features Deep Daan, sight seeing, traditional rural sports, turban competition, bridal attire, musical band competition and dazzling fireworks display, which attracts huge number of visitors and villagers from nearby regions.

0 Kajali Teez

A SPECIAL MONSOON FEST

Rajasthan's tradition can be captured at its festive best at the fairs and festivals which are dazzlingly theatrical and lively. The celebration of Kajli Teej in Bundi, the queen of Hadoti in Rajasthan is different from the many other Teej festivals celebrated elsewhere in the state and outside. Here it is a more than a week long celebration of gaiety and fun fair. Goddess Uma is worshipped by the seekers of conjugal bliss and love.

The Teej Festival is celebrated throughout the rainy season in Rajasthan, with each region having its own take on celebrations. Such events are manifested by wearing colorful traditional costumes , new set of bangles ,decorations with the decorative mehendi and the like. It is dedicated to the eternal love of the Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and it echoes of the time when women pray for a happy and long married life. As the rains drops fall on the parched land and the nostalgic aroma of the wet soil rises into the air, swings are hung from trees and decorated with flowers. Young girls dress up in colorful attires and sing to celebrate the advent of the monsoons. The Teej , essentially a ladies festival is dedicated to Gauri commemorating her union with Shiva. Kajli Teej is thus a religious and cultural manifestation of the same. Besides the Shravani and Bhadon ki Teej, the local Kajli Teej, is a special attraction for the foreign tourists . It is is celebrated in Bundi on the third day of Bhadra Pad whereas it is takes place on the third day of Shravana at other places in the state. The fest is particularly vibrant with the traditional procession of the goddess in a decorated palanquin which passes through the main bazaar and the streets. A sight of the idol Teej on the two days is considered auspicious and people from all walks of life attend the fiesta. The procession has decorated elephants, camels, horses, bands, performing artists and folk performers. The Teej statue is covered with a canopy whereas the Gangaur idol is open.

A local fair held nearby is very popular with the rural folks around Bundi .Exhibition of handicraft items like the traditional kataar, paintings and bangles ,rural handicraft ,petty items etc and the fancy eatables etc attract many. Artisans from far flung places participate in big numbers selling their products. The first two days are dedicated to the folk instrument "Algoza" recital competition and it renders a melodious take off to the fair. Though the main function lasts for two days the deliberations continue beyond Janmashtmi ( the birthday of Lord Krishna ). The mela venue i.e the Kumbha Stadium comes alive every evening bustling with fun and frolic . Amongst the other popular festivals in the region the Kajli Teej has its own charm and flavour.

An exuberant procession culminates at the Azad Park in the heart of the city. This year the festival took off beautifully and with the participation of the royal Teej idol with its historical background and the traditional one simustaneously in the form of a colorful shobha yatra passing through the streets of the city. The event attracted many dmoestic and foreign tourists. Organized jointly by the local municipality and the district administration each day cultural performances with special Qawwali evenings, Kavi Sammelan and Devotional songs , musical nights etc by the well known artistes as well as local artistes are part of the celebrations. The curious tourists also have get a feel of the local culture and enjoy the traditional festivity.

The popular Kajli Teej with the dressed up ladies carrying the idol of Teej Mata has also been nicely depicted in the famous Bundi miniature paintings , housed at the Garh Palace. Special poems have also been written for the ocassion. The original Teej idol made in gold and precious stones was siezed by the landlord (Thakur) Balwant Singh of Gothra in Bundi from Jaipur many years back and later the Hada king Rao Raja Ram Singh brought the idol to Bundi and continued the tradition by celebrating Teej in the month of Bhadra 15 days after it is celebrated in the state capital Jaipur. In the present times only a neatly decorated replica of the idol is used for the festival. The original and the historical Teej is kept at the royal palace of Bundi. The idol of Teej rests at the Sukh Mahal ( known as the Kiplings Rest House ) .