Report on-

Attire of Rajasthan
Dishes of Rajasthan
Ornaments of Rajasthan
Folk dance of Assam

Efforts by
Pew Grand
CONTENTS

Introduction (Rajasthan)
Attire of Rajasthan
Dishes of Rajasthan
Ornaments of Rajasthan
Folk dance of Assam
I NTRODUCTION

R ajasthan (Land of Kings') is a state in northern India It

covers 342,239 square kilometers (132,139 sq mi) or 10.4 per
cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian
state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on
India's northwestern side, where it comprises most of the wide
and inhospitable Thar Desert (also known as the Great Indian
Desert) and shares a border with the Pakistani provinces
of Punjab to the northwest and Sindh to the west, along
the Sutlej-Indus River valley. It is bordered by five other
Indian states: Punjab to the north; Haryana and Uttar
Pradesh to the northeast; Madhya Pradesh to the southeast;
and Gujarat to the southwest. Its geographical location is 23.3
to 30.12 North latitude and 69.30 to 78.17 East longitudes,
with the Tropic of Cancer passing through its southernmost
tip.

Its major features include the ruins of the Indus Valley

civilization at Kalibangan and Balathal, the Dilwara Temples,
a Jain pilgrimage site at Rajasthan's only hill station, Mount
Abu, in the ancient Aravalli mountain range and eastern
Rajasthan, the Keoladeo National Park of Bharatpur, a World
Heritage Site known for its bird life. Rajasthan is also home to
three national tiger reserves, the Ranthambore National
Park in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar and
the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota.
The state was formed on 30 March 1949 when Rajputana –
the name adopted by the British Raj for its dependencies in
the region was merged into the Dominion of India.
Its capital and largest city is Jaipur. Other important cities
are Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner, Ajmer, Bharatpur and Udaipur.
The economy of Rajasthan is the seventh-largest state
economy in India with ₹10.20 lakh crore (US$130 billion)
in gross domestic product and a per
capita GDP of ₹118,000 (US$1,500). Rajasthan
ranks 29th among Indian states in human development index.

Rajasthan is home to the Rajputs, warrior clans who claim to

originate from the sun, moon and fire, and who have
controlled this part of India for more than 1000 years. While
they forged marriages of convenience and temporary
alliances, pride and independence were always paramount;
consequently much of their energy was spent squabbling
among themselves. The resultant weakness eventually led to
the Rajputs becoming vassals of the Mughal
empire.Nevertheless, the Rajputs’ bravery and sense of honor
were unparalleled. Raj put warriors would fight against all
odds and, when no hope was left, chivalry demand-ed jauhar
(ritual mass suicide). The men donned saffron robes and rode
out to face the enemy (and certain death), while the women
and children perished in the flames of a funeral pyre. It’s not
surprising that Mughal emperors had such difficulty con-
trolling this part of their empire. With the Mughal Empire
declining, the Rajputs gradually clawed back independence –
at least until the British arrived. As the British Raj inexorably
expanded, most Raj put states allied with the British, which
allowed them to continue as independent states, subject to
certain political and economic constraints. These alliances
proved to be the beginning of the end for the Raj put rulers.
Consumption took over from chivalry so that, by the early
20th century, many of the maharajas spent much of their time
travelling the world with scores of retainers, playing polo and
occupying entire floors of expensive hotels. While it suited
the British to indulge them, the maharajas’ profligacy was
economically and socially detrimental. When India gained its
independence, Rajasthan had one of the subcontinent’s lowest
rates of life expectancy and literacy. At Independence, India’s
ruling Congress Party was forced to make a deal with the
nominally independent Raj put states to secure their
agreement to join the new India. The rulers were allowed to
keep their titles and their property holdings, and they were
paid an annual stipend commensurate with their status. It
couldn’t last forever, though, and in the early 1970s Indira
Gandhi abolished the titles and the stipends, and severely
sequestered rulers’ property rights .In their absence Rajasthan
has made headway, but the state remains poor. The strength of
tradition means that women have a particularly tough time in
rural areas. Literacy stood at 67% in 2011 (males 81%,
females 53%, a massive rise from 18% in 1961 and 39% in
1991), although it’s still the third-lowest in India, while the
gender gap remains India’s widest.
Parts of what is now Rajasthan were partly part of the Vedic
Civilization and the Indus Valley civilization. Kalibangan,
in Hanumangarh district, was a major provincial capital of the
Indus Valley Civilization. Another archaeological excavation
at the Balathal site in Udaipur district shows a settlement
contemporary with the Harrapan civilization dating back to
3000–1500 BCE.
Stone Age tools dating from 5,000 to 200,000 years were
found in Bundi and Bhilwara districts of the state.
The Matsya kingdom of the Vedic civilization of India is said
to roughly correspond to the former state of Jaipur in
Rajasthan and included the whole of Alwar with portions of
Bharatpur. The capital of Matsya was at Viratanagar (modern
Bairat), which is said to have been named after its founder
King Virata. Bhargava identifies the two districts
of Jhunjhunu and Sikar and parts of Jaipur district along with
Haryana districts of Mahendragarh and Rewari as part
of Vedic state of Brahmavarta. Bhargava also locates the
present day Sahibi River as the Vedic Drishadwati River,
which along with Saraswati River formed the borders of the
Vedic state of Brahmavarta.

A ttire of Rajasthan

Rajasthan is known for its beautiful and fascinating cultural

history. As attractive as its history is, the dressing sense is
also attractive here. The dressing sense here is not only from
Rajasthan but people from outside also like it very much.
Tourists going to Rajasthan buy beautiful Rajasthani clothes
for themselves. Here, turban, dhoti, kurta, angarkha,
accessories for men and ghagra, choli, odhani, or chunari for
women are well-liked and bought by tourists from outside.

Here, when women wear jewelry on Rajasthani dress, it adds

beauty to the moon. Rajasthani dress has its own unique
beauty, after which everyone is fascinated after seeing it.
After seeing the people in the attractive Rajasthani dress here,
it feels as if you are in a festival where the exhibition of the
colorful dress is going on. If you have come here today, then
you will get a wonderful imagining of the beautiful dressing
sense of Rajasthan.

Today, there are information about different types of adorable

Rajasthani dress. When the traditional dress of Rajasthan is
filled with some new modern color, it seems as if Rajasthani
dress leaves an impact on everyone’s mind. Rajasthani
traditional dress which has been going on for centuries and is
becoming more beautiful and attractive with time.

Turban, also known as paag, safa, and Pagri is an important

part of Rajasthani dress. People feel proud of wearing it. The
turban represents the royalty of Rajasthanis. It also displays
the beautiful civilization of Rajasthan along with pride and
honor. It is part of a large cloth that the people of Rajasthan
proudly wrap and tie on their heads. The style of wearing a
turban also changes in different cities of Rajasthan.

Although these turbans are available in different colors as per

the choice of the people, but most people wear only a red and
yellow turban and both these colors look very attractive and
beautiful.

At a festival or event, when men go around wearing beautiful

turbans of different colors and different designs, then people
become enchanted by seeing such unique beautiful scenes.
The turban of Rajasthan has been the center of royalty and
beauty of its people throughout history.

Angrakha is Traditional dress of Rajasthan

Angarkha is an essential part of the Rajasthani dress. People
of Rajasthan wear it as a protective shield. After wearing it,
there seems to be the enthusiasm and style of a soldier in the
people. The Angrakha is worn over the chest to secure it.
These Angrakha are mainly of two types and they are Long
Angarkha and Kamari Angarkha. Both of these types of
Angrakha are very popular among the people of Rajasthan.
The Angrakha worn daily is small and is tied with laces.

At the same time, the Angrakha worn on festivals and

occasions have a lot of mirrorwork and is very much designer.
These Angrakha in events are the center of attraction of the
people and they are worked on for much design.

Dhoti and Pajamas is traditional dress of

Rajasthan

Dhoti and pajama is an important full dresses in Rajasthan

clothes. This garment is worn on the lower part of the body.
Dhoti and pajamas are mostly worn with Angrakha or a kurta.
The dhoti is made of a large cloth that is wrapped in the waist
and tied between the two legs and carried at the waist.

The dhoti is made of cotton. The dhotis worn daily are

predominantly white and the dhotis worn at events and
festivals are made of silk with zari and embroidery work
done. Dhotis take some time to wear.
Pajamas are a little loose like normal pants. These, like dhotis,
are predominantly white in color, and pajamas are worn
during festivals are designed. Dhoti and pajamas add beauty
to the beautiful Rajasthan dress. The designs, styles, and
colors of dhotis and pajamas change at events and festivals
according to time and place.

Bandhgala is Traditional dress of Rajasthan

Bandhgala is a part of the Rajasthani dress that is mostly worn
at wedding ceremonies, festivals, and other big occasions.
Bandhgala looks like a blazer that is made of fabric. Wearing
a Bandhgala on a Rajasthani dress like a dhoti and a kurta
adds beauty to the moon. Bandhgala is sold in the market of
Rajasthan in an attractive and beautiful style. When this
Bandhgala decorates the shops, then the tourists visiting there
are unable to stop themselves from buying.

Accessories

Accessories are not a dress, these are some of the

embellishments worn above the traditional Rajasthani dress to
look beautiful. These accessories add beauty to the beautiful
Rajasthani dress. Some accessories are very expensive, which
are held by rich people, and some accessories are available in
the market at very cheap prices that anyone can buy easily.
The men of Rajasthan wear round-shaped studs to the ears and
wear semi-precious stones and beads and beads of beads
around the neck.
Gold chain is often worn by rich people of Rajasthan. The
waistband, which is a very beautiful garment, is mostly worn
by the rich people there. The silver hansli, which is well-liked
by the common people there, is worn around the neck.

Ghagras is traditional dress of

Rajasthan for Women
Ghaghra looks like a skirt and is slightly larger. Ghaghra is a
famous garment of women in the Rajasthani dress. It is worn
in the lower part of the body. It starts from the waist and goes
down to the ankle. It is slightly above the ground so that the
ornaments worn on the feet remain visible. They are near the
distance from Jaipur to delhiower near the waist and widen as
they go down to the ankle. Ghaghra is seen in various colors
and various designs. Beautiful and attractive design works are
also done on them.

These skirts are often worn at weddings in the form of

lehngas. There is also plenty of Gotta Patti and Embroidery on
them to make them beautiful to look at. A lot of
embellishment is used on this ghagra. Ghaghra is mainly
made of cotton and has beautiful and attractive design
borders.

Choli or Kanchli is Traditional dress of

Rajasthan

An important dress in the traditional attire of Rajasthan is the

Kanchi. The snatch is of the short sleeve which is worn over
the blouse. The latch is mainly made of cotton or silk and
embroidery work is done to make it beautiful. To make it
attractive, embellishments like mirrorwork, beads, and shells
are used. This dress worn above the blouse goes to the waist
and the ghagra starts below it.

Odhni or Chunari is the Traditional dress of

Rajasthan

Odhni or Chunri is performed by the women of Rajasthan

with Ghaghra choli. The Odhni puts the moon in women’s
Rajasthani attire. It is a cloth of 2.5 to 3 meters long with a
width ranging from 1.5 to 2 meters.

Odhni is made from a large variety of fabrics and to make it

beautiful and attractive, it has a print work and different
colors. Women mostly keep the odhni on their heads and it is
also used to hide their faces from elder people. The color of
the odhni often resembles the color of the Ghaghra.

Since the ancient period of India, the veiling of women (what

became known as ghoonghat) has been practiced. Today,
facial veiling by Hindu women as part of everyday attire is
now mostly limited to the Hindi Belt region of India,
particularly Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Himachal
Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya
Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, and some parts of Sindh and Punjab.
It has been both romanticized and criticized in religious and
folk literature.

Dishes of Rajasthan
This state is also known for its snacks like Bikaneri bhujia,
Mirchi bada and Pyaaj kachori. Other famous dishes
include Dal Baati, malaidar special lassi (lassi) and Lashun ki
chutney (hot garlic paste), Mawa lassi from Jodhpur, Alwar
ka mawa, Malpauas from Pushkar and rasgulla from Bikaner,
"paniya"and "gheriya" from Mewar. Rajasthan is the cuisine
of the rugged Rajasthan region in North West India. It was
influenced by both the warlike lifestyles of its inhabitants and
the availability of ingredients in an arid region. Food that
could last for several days and could be eaten without heating
was preferred. Scarcity of water and fresh green vegetables
have all had their effect on the cooking. It is also known for
its snacks like Bikaneri bhujia, Mirchi bada and Pyaaj
kachori. Other famous dishes include Dal Baati, malaidar
special lassi (lassi) and Lashun ki chutney (hot garlic
paste), Mawa lassi from Jodhpur, Alwar ka
mawa, Malpauas from Pushkar and rasgulla from Bikaner,
"paniya"and "gheriya" from Mewar. Originating for
the Marwar region of the state is the concept Marwari
Bhojnalaya, or vegetarian restaurants, today found in many
parts of India, which offer vegetarian food of the Marwari
people. The history also has its effect on the diet as the
Rajputs preferred majorly a non-vegetarian diet while the
Brahmin, Jains, and others preferred a vegetarian diet. So, the
state has a myriad of both types of delicacies.

Dal-Baati-Churma

It is one of the signature Rajasthani dishes that have earned

popularity across the globe. This delicious platter comprise of
a combination of three different items namely a spicy Dal, a
deep-fried Baati and a mouth-watering and slightly sweetish
churma cooked uniquely with different ingredients. The baatis
are baked flaky round breads made of gehun ka atta (wheat
flour), rava (semolina), besan (Bengal gram flour), salt, milk
and ghee that are typically served after dipping with ghee. The
unsalted version of the baatis deep fried in ghee are crushed
and mixed with jaggery and sugar thus forming the churma.
The dal item is prepared of five different dals namely chana
dal (split Bengal gram), toovar (arhar) dal, moong dal (split
green gram), urad dal (split black lentils) and whole moong
(whole green gram) and referred as panchmel dal or panch
kutti dal.

Panchmel ki Sabzi
It is a very popular, healthy and delectable dish from
Rajasthan that derives its name from the combination of
five ingredients used to prepare it. This extremely luscious
and dry vegetable dish is prepared out of five vegetables
seasoned with a mix of aromatic spices and gets its tangy
flavour from the use of dried mango powder called amchur.
It is best savoured with roti/chapatti and rice.

Khichdi
Whenever we talk of Khichdi, we consider a wholesome
and healthy meal made out of rice and different pulses.
However, people of Rajasthan have some innovative and
nutritious preparations of khichdi that are made using
wheat, jowar and bajra in place of rice. Some of the popular
ones are Gehun ki Bikaneri Khichdi made of wheat and
moong dal that can be enjoyed with ghee, curd and mango
pickle; and Bajra khichdi made of bajra (black millet) and
yellow moong dal (split yellow gram) and served with
either curd or raita.

Gatte ki sabzi
This is an easy to digest and popular curry of Rajasthan
made of gram flour balls with the gravy being prepared of
buttermilk and different spices. It can be relished with both
roti and rice.

Shahi Gatte
Shahi Gatte or Govind Gatte, is a rich and popular dish
which consists of a gravy with fried besan dumplings that
are stuffed with nuts. It can be savoured both with roti and
rice.

Rajasthani Kadhi
Unlike the kadhi preparations of many of the other states
like Punjab and Maharashtra, the Rajasthani Kadhi does not
contain pakoras or gram flour dumplings. It is a very quick
and easy preparation that is made with spiced yogurt based
gravy that is thickened with gram flour.

O rnaments of Rajasthan
With its glorious history of Rajputs endowed with magnificent
forts and palaces, invincible architecture, and a lot more,
Rajasthan is known as the land of royalty and kingdoms.

But did you know that in earlier times in Rajasthan, due to

hostile desert environments and continuous warfare, the
people started to invest in gold and precious jewellery to
secure their future.

The warrior clan of the Rajputs in Rajasthan made lavish use

of the jewellery encrusted weapons that signified the sanctity
of their caste and enhanced their social status.

Lac Jewellery

Firstly, the striking colours of the Lac jewellery pose a stark

difference against the backdrop of the desert of Rajasthan,
where the art first flourished. Lac jewellery is an ornate
assemblage of elements of absolute precision by adroit
artisans. The art of making lacquered jewellery descends from
generations of artisans to keep the heritage alive. Lac bangles
are also a sacred symbol of marriage. They are worn with
great pride by married women.

Borla

Classic traditional maang tika, Borla is the staple jewellery for

Rajasthani women. It comes in a plethora of designs and
styles. You can go for a kundan studded gold borla with the
attached strands of matha patti or a simple silver
jewellery based minimal borla.

Earrings (Kaanbali)
Rajasthani earrings or Kaanbali have gained quite the
popularity. In Rajasthan, they are also known as Surliya or
Jhaale.

Handcrafted with perfection and mixed with a hint of tradition

and fashion, Rajasthani earrings are immaculately designed
with intricate Kundan or Meenakari work.

Nath and Choker Necklace

Golden choker necklaces were crafted by Sumerian artisans
around 2500 BC and according to curators from the Jewelry
Museum of Fine Arts, chokers have been around for
thousands of years, first gracing the world's earliest
civilizations: Ancient Egypt, in addition to the Sumerians in
Mesopotamia. Often made with gold or lapis, the necklaces
were thought to be protective and imbued with special
powers. Chokers were also later worn in the First Century
A.D. They are mentioned in the Talmud, book Shabbat,
chapter 6 as a common women's accessory.
A choker is a close-fitting necklace worn around the neck,
typically 14 inch to 16 inch in length. Chokers can be made of
a variety of materials,
including velvet, plastic, beads, latex, leather, metal, such as
silver, gold, or platinum, etc. They can be adorned in a variety
of ways, including with sequins, studs, or a pendant.
Folk Dance of Assam
Assam is a state in north-eastern India, south of the
eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak
River valleys. Assam covers an area of
2
78,438 km (30,285 sq mi). The state is bordered
by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the
north; Nagaland and Manipur to the
east; Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Bangladesh to the
south; and West Bengal to the west via the Siliguri Corridor, a
22 kilometres (14 mi) wide strip of land that connects the state
to the rest of India. Assamese and Boro are the official
languages of Assam, while Bengali is an additional official
language in the Barak Valley.

Its folk dance.

Folk dances of Assam include the Bihu and

the Bagurumba (both danced during festivals held in the
spring), the Bhortal, the Ojapali dance. Assam is home to
many groups: Muslim, Indo-
Aryan, Rabha, Bodo, Dimasa, Karbi, Mising, Sonowal
Kacharis, Mishmi and Tiwa (Lalung) etc. These cultures come
together to create an Assamese culture. Residents of the state
of Assam are known as "Axomiya" (Assamese). Most tribes
have their own language, although Assamese is the primary
language of the state.
Many fairs and festivals are held in Assam. Nearly all tribal
festivals are held in spring and celebrate cultivation or
harvest. Among festivals in Assam, the Bihu is most
noteworthy; it brings together all Assamese people, regardless
of background.

Bihu dances
Although the origins of Bihu dance (Assamese: বিহু নৃত্য) are
unknown, the first official record of it is said to be when the
Ahom king Rudra Singha invited Bihu dancers to perform at
the Rang Ghar fields in about 1694 for the Rongali Bihu.
The Bihu is a group dance in which males and females dance
together, but maintain separate gender roles. In general,
females follow stricter line or circle formations. The male
dancers and musicians enter the dancing area first, maintain
their lines and follow synchronized patterns. When the female
dancers enter, the male dancers break up their lines to mingle
with the female dancers (who maintain their stricter formation
and the order of the dance). It is usually characterized by
specific postures: movements of the hips, arms and wrists;
twirls, squats and bends. Male and female dance movements
are very similar, with only subtle differences.
The dance is performed to traditional Bihu music. The most
important musicians are the drummers (dhulia), who play a
twin-faced drum (the dhol, which is hung from the neck) with
one stick and a palm. There are usually more than
one dhulia in a performance; each plays different rhythms at
different sections of the performance. These rhythmic
compositions, called seus, are traditionally formal. Before
entering the dancing area, the drummers play a short and brisk
rhythm. The seu is changed, and the drummers usually enter
the dance area in line. The mohor xingor pepa is played
(usually at the beginning) by a single player, who lays out an
initial plaintive motif which sets the mood for the dance. The
male dancers then enter the area in formation and perform
(accompanied by singing, in which all participate). Other
instruments which accompany this dance are the taal, a type
of cymbal; the gogona, a reed-and-bamboo instrument;
the toka, a bamboo clapper and the xutuli, a clay whistle.
Bamboo flutes are also often used. The songs (bihu geet)
accompanying the dance have been handed down for
generations. Subjects of the lyrics include welcoming the
Assamese new year, describing the life of a farmer, history
and satire. Although males and females perform Bihu dance,
the female Bihu dance has more variations (including
freehand, twisting, with a rhythmic pepa, with
a kahi (traditional metal plate) and with a jaapi (Assamese
conical woven hat). The performance may be long, but is
enlivened by rapid changes in rhythm, mood, movements,
pace and improvisation. Dancers and musicians are given
opportunities to showcase their talents.

Bagurumba Dance
Bagurumba is a folk dance in Assam which is performed by
the Bodos. It is the usually practiced during Bwisagu, a Bodo
festival in the Vishuva Sankranti (mid-April). Bwisagu begins
with cow worship; then, young people reverentially bow
down to their parents and elders.
After that, Bathow is worshiped by offering the deity chicken
and zou (rice beer). Bodo women wearing
colourful dokhna and aronai perform the Bagurumba dance
(also known as the Bardwisikhla dance). It is accompanied by
instruments such as the serja (a bowed
instrument), sifung (flute), tharkha (split
bamboo), kham or madal (long drum, made of wood and
goatskin). The festival ends with a community prayer at
Garjasali. This dance is performed in the Bodo-inhabited
areas of Udalguri, Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang, Bongaigaon,
Nalbari, Darrang and Sonitpur Districts.

Jhumur dance
Jhumur is a traditional dance form of "Adivasi" or Tea
tribes community of Assam. The dance is performed by young
girls and boys together. The male members wear long
traditional dresses and keep the rhythm with few traditional
musical instruments, generally a Dhol or Mandar, hung on
shoulders, a flute and a pair of "Taal" (two metallic discs).
The girls mostly perform the dancing part, holding each
other's waist and moving hands and legs forward and
backward synchronously. The dance has a huge following in
the "Tea tribe" dominated districts like
Udalguri, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh an
d Tinsukia