VikasSThan
Rajasthan Through Eyes of Vikas
Vikas | June 14th, 2018
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Summer Festival at Mount Abu
A boiling pot of enthusiasm, music and dance, fantasy, food, and camaraderie, the Mount Abu Summer Festival is an ultimate fanfare which encapsulates the true essence of Rajasthan. No matter what you like to do for entertainment, the Summer Festival is bound to leave you entertained and inspired. Revel in the musical evenings, relish the local foods, experience rural sports in a new light, and lose yourself in the mesmerizing panorama of Mount Abu - this three-day festival calls for cheering on about the good things in life!
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The Story Behind the Festival
The Summer Festival is held every year in Mount Abu - the only hill station in Rajasthan. The festival commemorates the hospitality, goodwill and warmth of the people of Mount Abu, who welcome tourists with an open heart. It puts the hill station in a new light, and portrays the colorful and vivacious life of Rajasthan. It is a three-day festival scheduled in the second week of May, and it celebrates the joie de vivre of the Rajasthani culture. This year, the Summer Festival was held in Mount Abu from 11th to 13th May, 2018.
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Start of the Festival
The Summer Festival is one of the most spectacular festivals of Rajasthan, and the scenic beauty of Mount Abu further adds to its festive spirit. The beginning of the festival was marked with ballad singing and a traditional procession or heritage walk, which was followed by Rajasthani and Gujarati folk dances and music. The heritage walk starts from the RTDC Hotel Shikhar, and at the end, the crowd gathers at the Nakki Lake Chowk where various Rajasthani and Gujarati folk performances are organized. Soulful ballads and mesmerizing folk dance styles of Gair, Ghoomar and Daph take the center stage at the start.
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Main Attractions
After the inaugural folk performances, various games and events are organized, such as skating races, tug of war, football match, treasure hunt, and many more fun events. This year, mostly the events were organized around the beautiful Nakki Lake. The highlight of the festival is undoubtedly the cultural evenings which bring together folk singers from various parts of India to the mountains of Mount Abu. The Sham-e-Qawwali an intriguing musical extravaganza is another attraction at the festival, as famous qawwals or singers from all over the country entertain the audience. During the three-day festival, the days are booked for an exciting set of competitions, and the evenings for cultural performances and entertainment programmes. Other highlights include events like mehendi applying and turban tying. Another fascination at the festival this year was the arms and ammunition display by the Defence Forces. For the lovers of food, there was a food festival which included local delicacies which left all craving for more!
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The Charismatic Ending
The festival concluded on the third day with a dazzling display of fireworks when the skies were filled with colorful sparklers. The spectacular landscape of Mount Abu came alive with this gorgeous firework display which never ceases to amaze year on year. The Summer Festival at Mount Abu offers a one-of-a-kind festival experience- the music, food, events, and last but not the least, the illuminated skies!