To Keep the Spirits Colourful

By Avinash Kalla, "Organizers look forward to a year of hope" - The Times Of India - India
Saturday, January 3, 2009

Jaipur: Come New Year and it is time to celebrate in Rajasthan. It is that time of the year when the desert state showcases its cultural splendour, attracting a lot of fanfare from across the globe.

From popular draws like the Jaipur Literature Festival and the Rajasthan Desert Festival that is being organized in border town of Jaisalmer to the new entrants like Nagpur Sufi festival, there is lots of gusto and anticipation in the air.

What the organizers of these cultural extravaganzas are hoping for is that 2009 should not be any different from the previous years and the good tourist turnout for the New Year is boosting their hopes.

Welcoming the world to the Pink City is the Jaipur Literature Festival that commences from January 21. The five-day literary gathering despite the odds like slowdown has grown in size and is attracting more people than ever from across the globe. The number of participating authors has almost doubled to 93 from 45 last year and for the first time a lot of delegates from countries like France, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore to name some are travelling to the Pink City. As a result this time it will be hosted at three venues instead of one that was used last time.

The slowdown in economies worldwide, terror attacks becoming a routine in India and war mongers going on, getting the people to travel to India and organize these festivals was a challenge. "Courtesy the slowdown we lost some sponsors, but thanks to the brand that the festival has become over the year, others came on board," says Sanjoy Roy, producer, DSC Jaipur Literature Festival '09. He further adds, "It's the charm of Jaipur that draws a lot of people. However, this time post 26/11 there were a few authors who were a bit apprehensive about coming, but thankfully there hasn't been any cancellations on this account."

News of J K Rowling being approached to participate in the event this time also floated. But Roy says, "Rowling is being pursued and one never knows, maybe in another couple of years we might have her."

Following this literary gathering will be a celebration of Sufi music in district town of Nagaur. In its second year, the festival exclusively held for a select gathering of 300 visitors that attracted a lot of foreigners last year is pinning hopes on the domestic traveller.

"Last year the ratio of foreigners to Indians was 70:30 but this time around it will be the other way round. A lot of people from metros are showing interest and we hope to have a packed house this time round as well," says Mahesh Babu of Banyan tree, the event managers for the musical. The festival this time has overseas performers who will add a different and unexplored dimension to Sufism.

"In addition to Sufi Qawwals, folk musicians from desert villages of Rajasthan there are performers coming in from Iran, Egypt and Turkey. We hope to get more names in the coming few years," says Karni Singh of the festival organizing committee.

Following these will be the big daddy of festivals in the state, the Rajasthan Desert Festival to be held between February 7 and 9 in Jaislemer. Everyone, from the organizers to hoteliers in the town are pinning their hopes on it. With luxury train, Palace on Wheels running with a good occupancy and another luxury train Royal Rajasthan, starting its operation on January 11, everyone is hoping for the best. "We are going ahead with the celebrations, like always it will be a three-day affair and we are hoping for a good turnout of visitors," said Urmila Rajoria of RTDC.

While another official on condition of anonymity added that the organizers were looking at the idea of adding new innovations for the festival to draw crowds. It's the year end turnout of visitors and a lot more domestic footfalls are keeping the hopes of hoteliers in the region alive. "Usually by this time 90% of the overseas booking for the fare is done, however, this time around the bookings haven't been that great. We have managed some bookings for the fare but by the way things are turning out, a lot needs to be done to lure foreigners to travel to this part of the world and government needs to send the message that we are a safe destination," says Vijendra Singh, general manager, fort Rajwara.

When asked about any proactive steps that RTDC was considering, all that the official said was, "There is still time for the festival and we are hoping things will settle down by then." While the big festivals are making all efforts to draw people there are smaller events that will also pep up the cultural scene. On January 14 the Pink City will become kite city on the occasion of Makar Sakranti. The tourism department also hosts a kite festival at the Chowgan stadium every year that draws a lot of foreigners. The colourful kite festival will be followed by Brij festival that will be held from February 2-4 in Bharatpur. It is a colour of riot as the festival finds villagers full of zest and vitality, with Raslila dance being the main draw.

Also in the moth of February at the Sufi Shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chisty in Ajmer, a group from Istanbul will be taking Khilafat for the first time and will be performing Whirling mediation at the shrine in a week-long celebration.

"This will be the first time that some foreign group will be receiving Chisty's Khilafat to spread his message of universal brotherhood across the world," says Syed Salman Chisty, managing trustee of the Chisty Foundation.

All this leads to the Rajasthan Day celebrations in March. Last year the government of Rajasthan and the Jaipur Virasat Foundation, joined hands for grand celebrations between March 24 and 30, this year it is to be seen whether we will have the same celebrations or not. But till then it is enough celebration to keep the spirits colourful.

[Picture: Dargah Sharif, Ajmer Urs Mubarrak 2008. Photo by Syed Salman Chishty].