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The Rajasthanis are sturdy, cheerful and simple folks relatively
untouched by the fast pace of modern times - making Rajasthan one
of the safest destinations anywhere in the world.
It is also one of the most colourful. To offset the barren,
colourless landscape and the monotony of its cloudless sky, the
people of Rajasthan show a distinct preference for bright
costumes.
 From
the simple village folk or tribal to the rajas and ranis, the
preferred colours are bright red, dazzling yellow, lively green or
brilliant orange, highlighted by a lavish use of sparkling gold
and silver zari or gota.
Tribal and nomadic women are known for their love for silver
jewellery (although men too sport ear studs and earrings). The
ornaments follow age-old designs typical of a particular tribe.
India is a land of diversities. And it is all the more pronounced
in Rajasthan. An old local saying sums it up - "The dialect,
cuisine, water and turbans in Rajasthan change every 12 miles."
In fact there are about 1,000 different styles and types of
turbans in Rajasthan, each denoting the class, caste and region of
the wearer.
Turbans come in all shapes, sizes and colours; and there are
specific turbans for specific occassions as well.
Artistes of international repute
 Its
rich cultural heritage has produced some of the finest artistes of
international repute... the celebrated sitar maestro
Pandit Ravi Shankar, the Grammy
winner Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt, the Dhrupad singers - Dagar
Brothers, the legendary oriental dancer Uday Shankar and the noted
ghazal singer Jagjit Singh, to name a few.
 Rajasthani
women have been renowned for their grace and beauty. Alauddin
Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, was so smitten by the beauty of the
legendary Maharani Padmini Devi of Chittaurgarh that he waged a
war - in vain - for her hand.
In her heydays, the present day Rajmata of Jaipur, Maharani
Gayatri Devi, was considered by Vogue to be amongst the
Ten Most Beautiful Women in the World. And her charm hasn't
diminished one bit till today!
Marwaris - the Jews of India
Late Mr.
G.D.Birla
One of India's foremost
industrialists hails from
the Shekhavati region. |
Rajasthan's greatest contribution to the country's economy has
been in the field of Human Resources.
The term Marwari is a misnomer. Literally speaking, it
signifies a person from the Marwar(Jodhpur) region of Rajasthan,
although the majority of Rajasthan's businessmen are from the
Shekhavati belt.
However, colloquially it has come to denote emigrant businessmen
from the vicinity of Rajasthan.
Traditionally, traders par excellence, they migrated from their
home state way back in the 16th century and established trading
outposts as far away as Assam - the eastern corner of India. With
their ingrained thrift and perseverance (in those days, people had
to walk miles and miles over scorching sands for a pot of water!)
and business acumen, they soon converted these small businesses
into industrial empires.
Today, the marwaris dominate India's business and
economy. As an American sociologist put it, "more than half
the assets in the modern sector of the Indian economy are
controlled by the trading castes originating in the northern half
of Rajasthan."
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