Come
February and it's springtime! The time of the year when nature
dawns all it's colorful splendour and Agra bursts into colorful
celebrations. For 10 days there is a sheer celebration of Uttar
Pradesh's rich heritage of arts, crafts, culture, cuisine, dance
and music.
There are festivities all around and Agra truly puts on the
colors of joy and gets transformed into one non stop carnival.
Organised by Uttar Pradesh Tourism, and held as an annual event
at Shilpgram, literally next door to the Taj Mahal, the Taj
Mahotsav is indeed a fitting tribute to the legendary skills of
matercraftsmen and exponents of art, music and cuisine. Not only
this, it is also a gentle peep into the rich heritage and
extraordinary legacies of this wonderful land.
The festivities commence with a spectacular procession inspired
by Mughal splendour. Bedecked elephants and camels, drum
beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen.... all help to
recreate a visual delight reminiscent of the golden era of the
Mughal Darbars.
Taj Mahotsav is where the legendary artisans and master
craftsmen breathe life into their exquisite works of art. Marble
inlay apart, the Festival brings forth an array of other fine
crafts as well- wood carvings from Saharanpur, brass and other
metalware from Moradabad, handmade carpets of Badohi, the blue
pottery of Khurja, the Chikan work of Lucknow, the silk of
Banaras... to name a few. Agra with its legendry tradition of
exquisite craftsmanship is thus the ideal venue for holding a
crafts fair like the Taj Mahotsav.
At the Mahotsav, be sure to check out the Food Festival. Relish
the exotic cuisine's and delicacies prepared by some of the
oldest exponents and the typical preparations from the interiors
of Uttar Pradesh. Throughout the Mahotsav, one can experience a
profusion of folk music and dances of Dundelkhand, 'Nautanki'
(Drama), 'Sapera' dance of Rajasthan, Lavani of Maharashtra...
performed just the way they used to be centuries ago. Agra is
renowned for it's breathtaking, centuries old monuments. For
experiencing the pomp and glory of the eras gone by there are
classical performances held at these ageless sites, recreating
the splendor and ambience once associated with Mughal monarchs.
