Coming Date Elephant Festival will Celebrated on 26 March 2013 in Jaipur Rajasthan.
The elephant festival in Jaipur is celebrated annually. In this event elegantly and richly caparisoned elephants walk in a line and form a spectacular sight. In this Jaipur elephant festival different types of events take place of which run races, polo game, tug of war between elephants & men and finally participation in the spring festival of Holi are highly acclaimed. Truly speaking, elephant, camels and horse processions followed by animated folk dance performances can’t afford to be missed .
Since then Elephant has become a symbol of royalty in Indian culture and many festivals are also associated with it.
Out of several festivals celebrated with elephants, the one which is widely participated by Indians and foreign tourists is the Elephant Festival celebrated in Jaipur on the day of Holi in Phalgun.
This is an annual event held at Jaipur Chagan Stadium where people gather in large crowds to celebrate the occasion with much pump and gaiety.
Jaipur Elephant Festival, perhaps the only festival where Elephants are given prime importance. Here, as you would expect from the name of the Festival – Elephants are the centre of attraction.
During the festival, Jaipur comes alive with elephants, dancers and musicians which draw visitors from all over the world. The elephants stride majestic-experience for everybody by parading their decorated trunksand tusks. And the most noticeable feature of this festival is that all the Elephants which take part in this festival are female Elephants.
The Rajput kings, treated elephants with special enthusiasm as they not only during War times but also during royal festivities use the best which is Nishan-ka-hathi (the flag carrier) to lead the procession.
After the procession, King selects one elephant who entertain with their fights and other games in front of the royal guests including famous personalities of the British era and Maharajas of Indian dynasties.
Latter, the flag carrying elephant rides up to Amber Palace – this tradition is carried on till today!
The festival starts with a traditional procession; while musicians play folk tunes and dancers whirl in a flurry of colours, richly caparisoned elephants march along in a parade. This is followed by a ‘best decorated elephant’ competition, games of elephant polo, elephant races, a special ‘elephant decoration’ exhibition (see what goes into making these beauties look the way they do!), and a tug-of-war between humans and an elephant. No prizes for guessing who wins.
The Elephant Festival begins with a procession of elephants painted and tastefully attired with expensive gems and embroidered velvets, followed by folk dancers who with their lively performance along with the program of Dhaph and Gair dance which projects the spirit of Holi, all this together put the mark on this occasion.
The elephants greet the visitors, offer garlands to the guests and walk past the ramp before a jury of experts and tourists who select the best amongst them for the “Best decorated Elephant” Shield.
Elephant races and polo matches are special features. The tug of war between elephants and men is probably the most hilarious highlight of the festival.
The unique “Gaj Shringar” exhibition displays everything connected with the elephant-ornaments, textiles (Jhoo), howdahs and carriages, paintings, medicines and food.
The visitors have an opportunity to mount the elephants andplay Holi or polo with them.
Participants dance with great vigor – the excitement rises to a crescendo. Along with the Elephants there are lancers on horses,chariots, camels, cannons, palanquins, etc which takes part in the festival.
Several activities performed by the Elephants during Elephant Festival are:
Gaj Shringar
Where the ornaments, textiles,etc which are related to the Elephant are displayed.
Live Performances
Live performance of folk dancers with the programme of Daph and Gair dance which depicts the joy of Holi Festival.
Catwalks of Elephants
Here they walk pass the ramp in front of the guests for the shield of ‘Best decorated Elephant’.
Playing of Polo Matches
Dressed in saffron and red turbans, the teams try to score goals with long sticks and a plastic football.
Tug of War
The tug of War between Elephants and men is held which is very.
Playing Holi
The visitors take part to mount the elephants and play Holi. Therefore, the Mahouts take great privilege to decorate the Elephants on this particular occasion.
By road
Rajasthan Roadways runs regular express, deluxe and air conditioned buses from New Delhi. Jaipur is also well connected with the other cities of Rajasthan and other states.
By Train
Shatabdi and Intercity connects Jaipur to Delhi.
