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Jaisalmer, located amid the golden sand
dunes, home to the wonderful fairy castle called the
Jaisalmer Fort, is the venue for the Desert Festival. The
festival is organized in the months of January to
February, when the desert chill of winters has abated
somewhat, but the sizzling heat has not caught on yet. The
Desert Festival celebrated the Thar Desert and the hardy
people who call it home. Unlike other festivals dedicated
to seasons, deities, and saints, the Desert Festival truly
commemorates the common man in Rajasthan, particularly in
the beautiful but harsh desert. The festival showcases the
culture and traditions of the people.
The hallmark of the Desert Festival is the performance by
folk artistes, the gritty nomads who have found color,
song, and dance even in the undulating, monotonous, and
barren sand dunes. Men from all nationalities converge
here to participate in the turban tying contest. Of
course, it is almost always a Rajasthani who is the
winner, for tying turbans is an art that can be learnt
only through practice. Other visitors love the excitement
of the camel races. |
