This year's regal festival witnessed a special promotion and exhibition of Mewar and Rajasthan's famous arts and crafts, titled 'Rang – Mewar Textile Art & Craft Bazaar and Workshop' at The Manek Chowk. Dr. Skye Morrison, a renowned folklorist, storyteller and textile designer helped documenting a report on textile traditions that she will be sharing with academicians, researchers, students, civil servants and tourists many of whom had the opportunity of attending the workshop and interacting with her.
Baijilal Sahiba Bhargavi Kumari Mewar of Udaipur and Baijilal Sahiba Padmaja Kumari Mewar of Udaipur participated in the proceedings and applauded the endeavour to make Rang a successful event for all its stakeholders.
Aashka – The Lifestyle Boutique – conceptualized and established by Baijilal Sahiba Bhargavi Kumari Mewar of Udaipur has made a valuable contribution to Mewar's arts and crafts. The Lifestyle Boutique has been a constant partner in the commitment by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation to promote and propagate Mewar's rich heritage.
Baijilal Sahiba Bhargavi Kumari Mewar has recently introduced a selection of embroidered pashmina shawls at Aashka which were also on display at Rang. The shawls stocked by Aashka, are made from hair shed during the Spring from specially bred goats who roam freely throughout the year. The shorn hair re-grows in winter. Some are hand-embroidered by craftspeople using motifs inspired by Indian art, Mughal designs. The blends of colour are often a projection of the vivid hues of the skies during the Monsoon season.
The INTACH chapter of Udaipur, the Department of Textiles and Apparel Design, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology were major partners in this exhibition. Sadhna, a women's enterprise was also involved in Rang as an active partner.
The regal festival of Holika Dahan is organized by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation in association with HRH Group of Hotels, Udaipur. The HRH Group organised 'Rangoli – A Thai Food Festival' at Palki Khana, the European style café at The Manek Chowk. Chefs captured the festive spirit of Holi with colourful culinary dishes as well as serving Thai cuisine, a selection of desserts and heritage liqueurs.
Baijilal Sahiba Padmaja Kumari Mewar of Udaipur, Joint Managing Director, HRH Group of Hotels, said, “We want every guest to experience the original and authentic heritage of Mewar; the regal festival of Holika Dahan and the food festival at Palki Khana are just one example of our commitment to make it memorable for all guests to Udaipur.”
Holika Dahan occupies a pride of place in calendar of regal festivals organized every year by the MMCF. Ashwa Poojan and Kartik Poornima are the other regal festivals celebrated with traditional dignity at the City Palace complex by Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF).

MMCF, established by His late Highness Maharana Bhagwat Singhji Mewar in 1969, has been facilitating the development of Udaipur as a heritage-city. MMCF has launched innumerable developmental activities to enhance the quality of life of the people of this historic city.
Education and outreach programmes, health care, heritage preservation and conservation, museum management and preservation of places of religious worship are some of the key activities of MMCF. The foundation has instituted annual international and national awards granted for services of a permanent value rendered to society. In addition, MMCF has set up a number of subsidiary trusts for religious and charitable purposes to give assistance to the underprivileged without distinction of caste, creed or religion.

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur and his family
at the Holika Dahan Ceremony

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur and his family
encircling the royal effigy