RAJASTHAN
Rajasthan has artistic and cultural traditions which reflect the
ancient Indian way of life. There is a rich and varied folk culture from villages which is often depicted symbolic of the
state.
Music and
Dance
Highly cultivated classical music
and dance with its own distinct style is part of the cultural tradition of
Rajasthan. The music is uncomplicated and songs depict day-to-day relationships
and chores, more often focused around fetching water from wells or ponds.The Ghoomar dance from Udaipur and Kalbeliya dance of Jaisalmer have gained international recognition. Folk
music is a vital part of Rajasthani culture. Kathputali, Bhopa, ChangTeratali,
Ghindar, Kachchhighori, Tejaji,parth
dance etc. are the examples of the traditional Rajasthani culture. Folk songs
are commonly ballads which relate heroic deeds and love stories; and religious
or devotional songs known as bhajans and banis (often accompanied by musical
instruments like dholak, sitar, sarangi etc.) are also sung
Arts and Crafts
Rajasthan is famous
for textiles, semi-precious stones and handicrafts, and for its traditional and
colorful art. Rajasthani furniture has intricate carvings and bright colours.
Block prints, tie and dye prints, Bagaru prints, Sanganer prints and Zari embroidery are major export products from Rajasthan. The blue pottery of Jaipur is particularly noted.
Dresses
Reflecting the colorful
Rajasthani culture, Rajasthani clothes have a lot of mirror-work and
embroidery. A Rajasthani traditional dress for females comprises an ankle length
skirt and a short top, also known as a lehenga or a chaniya choli. A piece of cloth is used to
cover the head, both for protection from heat and maintenance of modesty.
Rajasthani dresses are usually designed in bright colours like blue, yellow and
orange.
Architecture
Rajasthan is famous
for the majestic forts, intricately carved temples and decorated havelis,
which were built by kings in previous ages. Jantar Mantar, Dilwara
Temples, Chittorgarh
Fort, Lake Palace Hotel, City Palaces, Jaisalmer
Havelis are part of the architectural heritage of India. Jaipur,
the Pink City, is noted for the ancient houses made of a type of sand stone
dominated by a pink hue. At Ajmer, the white marble Bara-dari on the Anasagar Lake is exquisite. Jain
temples dot Rajasthan from north to south and east to west. Dilwara temples of Mount
Abu, Ranakpur
Temple dedicated to Lord Adinath near Udaipur, Jain temples in the
fort complexes of Chittor, Jaisalmer
and Kumbhalgarh, Lodarva (Lodhruva) Jain temples and Bhandasar Temple of Bikaner are some of the best examples.
Geography
The main geographic
features of Rajasthan are the Thar Desert and the Aravalli Range, which runs through the state from southwest to northeast,
almost from one end to the other, for more than 850 kilometres (530 mi). Mount Abu lies at the southwestern end of the range, separated from
the main ranges by the West
Banas River, although a series of broken ridges
continues into Haryana in the direction of Delhi where it can be seen as outcrops in the form of the Raisina Hill and the ridges farther north. About three-fifths of
Rajasthan lies northwest of the Aravallis, leaving two-fifths on the east and
south direction.
The northwestern
portion of Rajasthan is generally sandy and dry. Most of this region is covered
by the Thar Desert which extends
into adjoining portions of Pakistan. The Aravalli Range does not intercept the
moisture-giving southwest monsoon winds off the Arabian
Sea, as it lies in a direction parallel to that of
the coming monsoon winds, leaving the northwestern region in a rain shadow. The Thar Desert is thinly populated; the town of Bikaner is the largest city in the desert. The Northwestern thorn scrub
forests lie in a band around the Thar Desert, between the desert
and the Aravallis. This region receives less than 400 mm of rain in an average year. Temperatures can exceed 45 °C in the
summer months and drop below freezing in the winter. The Godwar, Marwar,
andShekhawati regions lay in the thorn scrub forest zone, along with the city of Jodhpur.
The Luni River nd its tributaries are the major river system of Godwar
and Marwar regions, draining the western slopes of the Aravallis and emptying
southwest into the great Rann
of Kutchwetland in neighboring Gujarat.
This river is saline in the lower reaches and remains potable only up to
Balotara in Barmer district. TheGhaggar River,
which originates in Haryana, is an intermittent stream that disappears into the sands
of the Thar Desert in the northern corner of the state and is seen as a remnant
of the primitive Saraswati River.
The Aravalli Range and
the lands to the east and southeast of the range are generally more fertile and
better watered. This region is home to the Kathiarbar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion, with tropical
dry broadleaf forests that include teak, Acacia,
and other trees. The hilly Vagad region lies in southernmost Rajasthan, on the border with Gujarat.
With the exception of Mount Abu, Vagad is the wettest region in Rajasthan, and
the most heavily forested. North of Vagad lays the Mewar region, home to the cities of Udaipur andChittaurgarh. The Hadoti region lies to the southeast, on the border with Madhya
Pradesh. North of Hadoti and Mewar lay the Dhundharregion, home to the state capital of Jaipur. Mewat,
the easternmost region of Rajasthan, borders Haryana and Uttar
Pradesh. Eastern and southeastern Rajasthan is
drained by the Banas and Chambal rivers, tributaries of the Ganges.
Aravalli Mountains
The Thar Desert also
known as the Great Indian Desert is a large, arid region in the northwestern
part of the Indian subcontinent and forms a natural boundary running along the
border between India and Pakistan.
Economy
Rajasthan's
economy is primarily agricultural and pastoral.
Wheat and barley are cultivated over large areas, as
are pulses, sugarcane, and oilseeds. Cotton and tobacco are the state's cash
crops. Rajasthan is among the largest producers of edible oils in India and the second largest
producer of oilseeds. Rajasthan
is also the biggest wool-producing
state in India and the main opium producer and consumer. There are
mainly two crop seasons. The water for irrigation comes from wells and tanks.
The Indira Gandhi Canal irrigates northwestern Rajasthan.
The
main industries are mineral based, agriculture based, and textiles. Rajasthan is the second
largest producer of polyester fibre in India. The Pali and Bhilwara District produces more cloth than Bhiwandi, Maharashtra and the bhilwara is the largest city in suitings
production and export and Pali is largest city in cotton and polyster in blouse
pes and rubia production and export. Several prominent chemical and engineering
companies are located in the city of Kota,
in southern Rajasthan. Rajasthan is pre-eminent in quarrying and mining in India. The Taj Mahal was built from the white marble which
was mined from a town called Makrana.
The state is the second largest source of cement in India. It has rich salt deposits
at Sambhar, copper mines at Khetri, Jhunjhunu and zinc mines at Dariba, Zawar mines at
Zawarmala for zinc, Rampura
Aghuch (opencast) near Bhilwara.
Dimensional stone mining is also undertaken in Rajasthan. Jodhpur sandstone is mostly used in monuments, important
buildings and residential buildings. This stone is termed as "chittar
patthar".
Crude Oil
Rajasthan is presently earning
150 million (~ $2.5
million US) per day as revenue from crude oil sector. This earning is expected
to reach 250 million per day in
2013 (which is an increase of 100 million or more than
66 percent). The government of India has given permission to extract 300,000
barrels of crude per day from Barmer region which is presently 175,000 barrels per
day. Once this limit is achieved Rajasthan will become leader in Crude
extraction in Country. Presently Bombay High leads with a production of 250,000
barrels crude per day. Once the limit if 300,000 barrels per day is reached,
the overall production of the country will increase by 15 percent. Cairn India
is doing the work of exploration and extraction of crude oil in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan is presently earning
150 million (~ $2.5
million US) per day as revenue from crude oil sector. This earning is expected
to reach 250 million per day in
2013 (which is an increase of 100 million or more than
66 percent). The government of India has given permission to extract 300,000
barrels of crude per day from Barmer region which is presently 175,000 barrels per
day. Once this limit is achieved Rajasthan will become leader in Crude
extraction in Country. Presently Bombay High leads with a production of 250,000
barrels crude per day. Once the limit if 300,000 barrels per day is reached,
the overall production of the country will increase by 15 percent. Cairn India
is doing the work of exploration and extraction of crude oil in Rajasthan.