Day 3 – 25th March

Dancers from Kathak Kendra (National Institute of Kathak Dance, New Delhi) presented 'Hori Dhoom Machao Ri' at The Manek Chowk, The City Palace, Udaipur. Shriji also felicitated the artists who participated in the Rang workshop.

Dancers from Kathak Kendra
presenting‘Hori Dhoom Machao Ri'

From left: Mr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur,
Smt. Vijayraj Kumari Mewar of Udaipur and
Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur

Shriji with the artists of the Rang 2013 workshop

Day 4 – 26th March

Holika Dahan Ceremony

The Manek Chowk shimmered in the evening light as the Holika Dahan Ceremony was performed in regal splendour in The City Palace, Udaipur.

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur, the 76th Custodian of the House of Mewar and Chairman and Managing Trustee of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) with other royal family members performed the traditional rites and ritual of lighting the Holika on the auspicious full moon night of Phalguna, heralding the onset of spring. Guests from overseas and India joined residents from Udaipur to witness the festival that is performed according to the ancient traditions of Rajasthan and India.

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur and members of the family recited prayers with the Palace priests at The Manek Chowk. Sacred text from the Vedas and Hymns were read as Shriji lit the Holika and circled the holika effigy, accompanied by priests.

The Eternal Mewar Festival of Holika Dahan is organized by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation in association with HRH Group of Hotels, Udaipur. MMCF, established by the late Maharana Bhagwat Singh 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 for 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.

Arrival of Shriji in his English Royal Landau Six in hand

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur
receiving a guard of honour