Summer Festival in Mount Abu is the specialty of the hill station of Mount Abu. Summer festival held in the month of June, where innumerable number of tourists make it even more colorful. The air resonates with folk dances and one experiences the festive mood everywhere. The only hill station of Rajasthan sport a different look during this festival.
Summer festival of Mount Abu stretches for three days which showcase the beautiful culture of Rajasthan.It begins with a ceremonial procession. The procession begins from the RTDC Hotel Shikhar and gather at the Nakki Lake Chowk. Several noted dancers mainly folk dancers from Rajasthan and Gujarat come out with their finest performances. Ballad is also sung. Their performances set the stage on fire and the festival actually begins. Folk dance and classical music dominate the festival. It is a great time to visit the place as the finest aspect of the hospitality of Rajasthan can be experience during this period.
On the second and third day of the festival, various competitions are held. Some of the popular competitions are Horse Race, Tug of War, Panihari Matka Race, Skating Race and a whole lot more. The boat racing competition in the Nakki Lake is a real treat for the onlookers. These competitions add more vigour and colour to the festival.
The Sham-e-Qawwali is a musical extravaganza where famous qawwals or singers across the country assemble to entertain the audience by rendering soulful melody. The festival ends with a lovely display of shimmering fireworks.
Rajasthan's only hill station and a major pilgrim center, Mount Abu is located in the South Western corner of Rajasthan. It is the part of the Aravalli Mountain range. The highest point, Guru Shikha, is situated at its northern end, and is the highest point between the Nilgiris in the south and the Himalaya range up north.
Mount Abu, has the richest vegetation in Rajasthan with a wide variety of trees and shrubs. The Padam Purana relates how Mount Abu came into being. Once Nandini, sage Vashista's cow, was trapped in a deep chasm and could not free herself. The sage appealed to Lord Shiva for assistance and Saraswati, the divine stream, flooded the pit and the cow floated up. Vashista then asked Himalaya to fill the gorge permanently to avoid further mishaps.
Major Attractions of Summer Festival
Folk dances and a general atmosphere of cheerfulness prevail in this tiny hill resort and the tourists have sufficient time to relax and enjoy. The Summer festival of Rajasthan is a feast of folk and classical music and a window to the tribal life and culture of Rajasthan. Some of the prominent attractions of the Summer Festival of Rajasthan are dance forms like the ballads, Gair, Ghoomar and Daph folk dances, which attract the viewers with their grace and variety. The hospitality of the people, their dynamic traditions and interesting location make this Summer festival an unforgettable experience during your visit to Mount Abu.
Summer festival of Rajasthan starts with a traditional parade, which starts from the RTDC Hotel Shikhar and assemble at the Nakki Lake Chowk, in this procession folk performances are performed from artists of Rajasthan and Gujarat. During the 3 days, at the end of the festival, there is an exhibition of amazing fire works. This three day colourful festival is arranged by the Rajasthan Tourism, Municipal Board, Mt. Abu & District Administration. Summer festival of Rajasthan is one of the most popular fairs and festivals of Rajasthan.
How to Reach
Mount Abu is the only Hill Station of Rajasthan situated near Udaipur in South West of the state of Rajasthan in India. Udaipur of Rajasthan (185 kms) is the nearest airport to Mount Abu. Abu Road (29 kms) is the nearest railway station. Taxis and buses are available from both the airport and the railway station. There is also a good network of bus services linking Mount Abu of Rajasthan to significant places like Ahmedabad, Udaipur of Rajasthan, Jodhpur of Rajasthan, and Jaipur of Rajasthan.
By Rail :
The railway station at Abu Road of Rajasthan is a two-hour drive from Mount Abu of Rajasthan and is well-connected to the rest of the country through a number of trains. It is a major stoppage for a number of important long-distance trains of the Western and Northern Railways.
By Road :
Mount Abu of Rajasthan is well-connected by roads, as it is in close closeness to National Highway No 8 and 14. A small roadway connects the city to National Highway no 8, which in turn connects it to major cities like Jodhpur of Rajasthan and Delhi. There is also a good network of roads making it accessible to other significant places in the state. With good road conditions you can also travel by private car / taxi.
By Air :
Udaipur of Rajasthan is the nearest airport to Mount Abu, 185 km away. Tourists can simply select for a variety of road transport facilities available at the airport for reaching Mount Abu of Rajasthan. A number of domestic airlines have their scheduled flight to Udaipur of Rajasthan, which connect the city of Rajasthan to the major cities in the country.
Rajasthan is all about royalty, culture, color, camel and celebration. Rajasthan is also famous for mesmerising lakes, dessert, historical places & forts. A Rajasthan festival includes interesting rituals,ethnicity, tradition festivals and celebrations. Numerous fairs and festivals are celebrated in Rajasthan. All the fairs and festivals feature display of the state’s legacy, colorful artifacts, lip- smacking delicacies, traditional Rajasthani attires, folk songs, folk dance and various interesting competitions. fairs and festivals in Rajasthan offer a chance to travellers to have a glimpse into the art, culture, customs and history of the state. Some of the popular Rajasthan fairs and festivals are Camel Festival, Desert Festival, Pushkar Fair and Urs Fair. Other festivals include Gangaur Festival, Diwali Festival, Kite Festival, Teej, Marwar Festival, Summer Festival. Travel to Rajasthan and participate in the jubilant activities.