The festival of Holi celebrated at the Manek Chowk, City Palace Complex

Each year Holi is observed on the night of the full moon, Phalgun Purnima. This ancient festival marking the advent of spring, celebrated all over India, is marked by the burning of the effigy of all impurities, depicted in the ancient Indian myth story of Prahlad and Holika.
Celebrated on 21st March 2008, Holi is celebrated in its traditional form, in the City Palace Complex with a spectacular display of colours and flowers, prayer, song and dance.
Guests staying in Udaipur are encouraged to witness this age-old ritual that starts in the evening when a Royal Procession in which male attendants from Udaipur, precedes the 76th. Custodian of the House of Mewar, Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar from the royal residence of Shambhu Niwas to the Manek Chowk. The Palace Band plays The Maharana Salute on arrival of Shriji. Shriji and the members of the royal family than move to the Holika at the centre of the Chowk that has traditionally been in place for a month. After the puja ceremonies Shriji and members of the Royal family encircle the Holika effigy three times. On the fourth circuit Shriji lights the fire. This is a traditional sacred fire where the effigy of the evil Holika is burnt, signifying the achievement of good over evil. Haunting melodies accompany this celebration and the rhythmic beat of local people performing the traditional 'gair' dance by a group called specially for the occasion from the interiors of Jalore (district in Rajasthan) with absolute abandon. This ceremony is then followed by blessings from the attendant priests. Guests then precede to the Zenana Mahal where HRH Group of Hotels, as Hospitality Partner for the event, had organized a sumptuous feast. Chefs from Varanasi had been invited to prepare authentic chaats (traditional Indian snack).

A workshop - Diverse Mediums, Collective Voice
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation is instrumental in preserving the living heritage of Eternal Mewar. Diverse Mediums, Collective Voice: a collaborative traditional arts and crafts workshop was organized to coincide with the celebration of the Regal Festival of Holi. The workshop was held at Hastishala near Hathi Baithak, The Manek Chowk, from the 11th to 20th March.
The selected arts from Rajasthan included Phad painting –folklore and mythologies told in painted pictures on cloth; Mewar School of painting- painting on paper mainly depicting the grandeur of court life and royal pastimes; Kavad - painted stories depicting myths and folk gods on wooden cabinets serving as mobile temples; Molela terracotta - Baked earth sculptures depicting folk gods and rural life; Nathdwara painting – devotional paintings reenacting the Krishna myth.
One of the most significant achievements of this workshop was the nurturing of a sense of brotherhood and togetherness among the Mewari artists and a deeper understanding and respect for each other's art forms. Thus the final outcome of this spirit of combined discovery was highly innovative products which were not only rooted in tradition but in tradition multiplied.

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur arriving
at The Manek Chowk
in 1905 English Royal Landau, Six in Hand




Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur performing part of the Holi ritual with members of the royal family



The Mewar Royal Family encircling the Holika Effigy