Traditional Food and Dishes of Rajasthan

The travel Website Rajasthan Travels offers to take you on cultural tours to Rajasthan and expose you to the traditional food and dishes of Rajasthan, North India.

During your cultural tours to Rajasthan, North India you get an opportunity to taste the excellent and varied cuisine prepared in Rajasthan, North India. Every region in Rajasthan, North India has something special to offer. Rajasthan or the land of the royalty has had a long tradition of exotic cuisine. Cooking in the royal kitchens in the days of Rajput glory was a huge affair. Several cooks would work together to cook the most delectable, spicy and delicious dishes.

Cooking in Rajasthan, North India has always been treated as an important art form and is an important part of Rajasthan's culture.

The climatic conditions, lack of availability of vegetables and the tradition of hunting by the royalty all added up to shape the culinary tradition of Rajasthan, North India.

Some of the most popular dishes of Rajasthan, North India are dal, bati and churma, sula-smoked kebabs, 11 traditional ways of cooking lamb with an assortment of spices, besan ki misi puri, lachha parantha, safed mass and lal maans. The last two dishes are special to Rajasthan, North India. These dishes cooked specially with lamb meat and an assortment of spices and nuts like cashews and almonds.

Besides the non-vegetarian food the vegetarian cooking in Rajasthan, North India knows no comparison. Especially the cuisine prepared by the Maheshwaris of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, North India is something that you must try. These dishes are purely vegetarian and are prepared without onions and garlic.

Rajasthan, North India is also popular for the chutneys that are made out of local spices such as coriander, mint, garlic and turmeric. These mouthwatering concoctions are used to add flavor to different dishes. Different region of Rajasthan, North India are known for their fancy sweet dished like ladoos, mawa kachori, sohan halwa and more.

So come and explore the rich culture and tradition of Rajasthan, North India and enjoy the most exciting cultural tours to Rajasthan, North India with the travel site Rajasthan Travels.

Tribal Rajasthan

The site Rajasthan Travel offers to take you on cultural tours to Rajasthan and expose you to the customs and traditions of tribal Rajasthan, North India.

Come and visit the fascinating tribal Rajasthan in North India with the tour guide Rajasthan Travel. According to historical records the Mina and Bhil tribals in Rajasthan have been around for quite sometime. When there were intrusions and invasions by invaders like the Aryans, Hunas, Kusanas and the Sakas who terrorized these tribals into hideouts in the forests and the Aravalli hills. Still these tribes have survived these attacks and onslaughts.

At this point of time the 12.21 percent of Rajasthan, north India can be described as Tribal Rajasthan. During your cultural tours to Rajasthan in North India you can go on tours to the tribal villages of Rajasthan, North India and be amazed at the lifestyle of these people. Most of them still believe in the traditional customs and ways.

The Bhils constitute the major section of tribal Rajasthan and during your cultural tours Rajasthan, North India you can go on tours to the Bhil villages and be a part of their life, beliefs and customs.

The Gaduliya Lohars or the nomadic blacksmiths are a popular tribe in Rajasthan, North India.

The Mina tribes are the traditional the military defenders of Rajasthan, north India. During your cultural tours to the Shekhawati region in Rajasthan, North India you can actually see these tribes who still cling on to their traditions, customs and culture.

The Garasia tribes of Rajasthan, North India are known as the fallen Rajputs and it is believed that these tribes can trace back their lineage to the Chauhans of Rajasthan, North India.

So come and explore the splendor and desert charm of tribal Rajasthan, North India with the travel guide Rajasthan Travel.

Costumes and Dresses of Rajasthan

The site Rajasthan Travel offers to take you on cultural tours to Rajasthan in North India and exposes you to the style of costumes and dresses that have been traditionally worn by the people of Rajasthan, North India.

Colorful Rajasthan is a vibrant patchwork of ancient traditions and culture and of course the clothes and dresses worn by the people of Rajasthan, north India is an inseparable part of Rajasthani culture. Even today the men and women in the villages of Rajasthan sport the traditional clothes and headgear.

During your cultural tours to Rajasthan, North India you can actually go on tours to the villages of Rajasthan and marvel at the colorful attires and ornaments worn by men and women. In fact the costumes worn by the people of Rajasthan in the villages still reflect the clothing style and costumes of those who lived in the olden times.

The costumes of the women and men of Rajasthan, North India are influenced by the climatic conditions, family status and the economic status.

The popular traditional dresses and costumes of Rajasthan, North India include the Banda, Dhoti, Potia, Bugatari, Khol, Angrakhi, Dhabla, Pachewara, Achkan, Burga, Tilak, Skirts and Saris.

The men in Rajasthan wear special headgears called the pagri or the turban depending upon the climatic condition of the particular region. The tradition of wearing bandhni clothes in Rajasthan, north India has been going on for time immemorial. Tie-dye saris, dupattas and turban are very common in Rajasthan, north India.

Rajasthani women wear ghagra choli's, saris, lehangas and dupattas. The women who belong to rich families wear special chappals that are decorated with sequins and gold threads. During your cultural tours to Rajasthan, North India you will discover that the women of Rajasthan, North India love to wear ornaments, especially made of gold and silver.

Turban - The Pride of Rajasthani Rajputs

Rajasthan is known for the beauty and elegance of its colourful turbans. It is an essential part of the traditional outfit and is proudly worn by the Rajasthan men-folk. One can find myriad variations of turbans in Rajasthan and it is said that the size and style of these turban changes in every 15 km you travel down the desert region

The Crown of Rajasthan :

The turbans of Rajasthan are the most colourful and impressive in whole of the India. The use of turbans were basically started by the Rajput community, who reside in the Indian state of Rajasthan. They used to wear distinct turbans and the Hindi pronouncation of turban is Paag, Safa or Pagri. Once you experience the royal culture of Rajasthan, you will be amazed with the variations of colourful turbans.

It is said that the style of the turban changes with every 15 km you travel within the geographical boundaries of Rajasthan. In some parts of the region, the size of turban indicate the position of the person in the society they live.

Seasonal Turbans :

Some turban colours are seasonal to wear like in between February and March, flowers bloom and crops are harvested, it makes the best time for tourists to see the royal Rajasthani men, wearing a falgunia turban having white and red designs. Whereas in the month of July, the predominant colour is motiya or pearl pink. A green and pink striped or yellow and red striped lahariya turban, where the colours are tie dyed in waves, are worn during the time of monsoon. Whereas the Pancharanga is the distinguishing turban in the colourful soil of Rajasthan.

Different Turbans For Different Festivals :

The famous Black Chunari (tie dyed) with the red borders is mainly used at the time of Diwali (festival of lights). The Falgunia Turban, having white and red patterns is wore at the time of Holi (festival of colour). A bright Saffron colour turban for Dassehra festival, held in the month of October. The Mothara turban, with tiny round designs is wore at the time of Raksha Bandhan (festival, when brothers pledge to protect sisters). yellow turban for Basant Panchami (spring festival) and the light pink turban is wore in the month of October, at the time of SharadPoornima (full moon night). Commonly called a Safa, this beautiful turban is nine meters long and about one meter wide.

Usage of Turbans :

1. Long turban can be used as Pillow.

2. Dark turban can be used as Towel.

3. Muddy water can be strained through turban.

4. Tough fabric turbans can be used as Blanket.

5. Turbans are useful to escape scorching sun.

6. Turban can be used as a rope to draw water from the well.

Culture Of Rajasthan

A Rajasthan travel is a sensory overload for many sightseers. Vibrant colors, bright sun, regal attire, friendly people and sweet tinkle of music and dance greet travelers as they set foot on the Rajasthani soil. It is these that mark the culture of Rajasthan and infuse it with liveliness. The various aspects of Rajasthan culture are:

Language : Even though Hindi is widely spoken about all over Rajasthan, the region has also maintained its dialects that remain in use even today such as Dundhari, Mewati, Merwari, Hadoti and Marwari. Theses Indo-Aryan languages are collectively known as 'Rajasthani' language

Puppetry : An ever-popular art form in Rajasthan puppetry has been performed here for centuries. The traditional stories, legends and moral fables are related through the colorful puppets: of Rajasthan in a cultural tradition that goes back in time.

Music : Folk music is an integral part of the Rajasthani culture. Traditionally performed at the courts of Kings in Rajasthan, Rajasthani music has both historical and aesthetic value. The "Rasos" sung by traditional bards, which have been passed down for generations, relate tales of the Kings of earlier times and their legendary exploits, the most famous being the Prithiviraj Raso. In today's times, Rajasthani music is accompanied by percussion instruments such as dholaks and ektaras.

Dance : Rajasthani dance is highly rhythmic and folk based. Famous amongst them are the Ghoomar, Kalbeliya, and Gir that are highly entertaining. Ghoomar is basically performed by women during sacred festivals such as Navratra. The most striking feature about Rajasthani folk dances are is bright colorful garments that are embellished with embroidery and mirror work

Cultural Festivals of Rajasthan
Rajasthan has many colorful festivals that occur around the year. Each of the festival of Rajasthan is a reflection of the culture of Rajasthan and the shared sense of community of the Rajasthani people. Some of the prominent festivals of Rajasthan that you are sure to encounter during your travel to Rajasthan are:

Teej Festival : A festival celebrated by women who pray to Shiva and his consort Parvati for a happy married life, Teej is a joyous occasion when all the women come out in their best attire and carry an idol of the Goddess Parvati through the streets of Jaipur.

Urs at Ajmer Sharif : This annual event is held in the memory of the Sufi saint Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti, at his tomb in Ajmer, Rajasthan. Pilgrims from all over the world, including world-renowned Sufi performers sing at the cultural events that are held at the holy shrine.

Gangaur Festival : The Gangaur Festival is celebrated in honor of Isar and Gauri incarnations of Shiva and Parvati who are worshipped as the perfect couple. The festival is marked by a colorful procession in Jaipur accompanied by dances, music and cultural performances.

Pushkar Mela : An annual religious festival held at Karthik Purnima in November at the holy town of Pushkar, this is a unique cultural attraction in Rajasthan. Pilgrims take a ritual bath in the holy Pushkar Lake and pray at the only Brahma Temple in India during their travel to Pushkar. The camel fair is a colorful event with camel races, cultural performances and even a camel beauty pageant in Pushkar.

Desert Festival : The Desert Festival held at the Sam sand dunes outside Jaisalmer is a sight to be seen. Rajasthani dancers, singers, puppeteers and camels converge on this region of undulating sand dunes in a riot of color.