Rajasthan Day celebrations end with colourful pageant

Jaipur, Mar 31: The ten-day Rajasthan Day celebrations came to a glorious end last evening with a grand procession showcasing many endearing facets of the desert state, viewed by various dignitaries including Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The ceremony, held against the backdrop of the picturesque Vidhan Sabha here, formally began with a group of 82 'Nishan' or 'Marker Elephants,' leading the procession of over 32 tableaux, horses and camels in all their colourful finery and cultural performances and folk dances by people belonging to various districts of the state.

The Prince of Wales and his wife, who were seated along with state Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Governor Pratibha Patil, keenly watched the ceremony and were seen asking plenty of questions about the colourful pageant unfolding before them.

Among the various shows put up to entertain Their Royal Highnesses were a dance by a group of three 'Marwari' Horses, famous for their grace and agility and the shape of their ears.

The government is using these graceful and rare animals to promote tourism in the state.

A piece performed by BSF's unique camel band also impressed many.

This band has the distinction of being the only one to perform on camels and is even mentioned in the Guiness Book of World Records.

Ajmer, Bhilwara, Churu, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Jhunjunu were the various regions that had prepared tableaux who showcase their unique heritage and customs.

Adding panache to the grand ceremony were bands belonging to the three Armed Forces, who serenaded the visiting Royals and audience with melodious and foot-tapping tunes including ''Swagatam,'' followed by the ever-popular ''Colonel Bogey's March',''Vijay Bharat' and ''Indian Fleet March.''

A flypast by six Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft also figured during the ceremony. They were preceded by two helicopters which rained rose petals on the gathering. Later, Prince Charles was visibly amused when the elephants on the parade stopped to eat up the petals strewn on the ground. The state government, which has emerged as a frontrunner in the tourism industry, announced state-wide celebrations from March 21 to 30, with the aim of showcasing the state's culture and heritage and reviving the traditional sports, cuisine and folk art.

The 'Pink City' seemed to be the center of all activities with all the government and heritage buildings, including Albert Hall, Vidhan Sabha, the Sawai Man Singh stadium, and the roundabouts, illuminated with lights after sunset.

The ten day celebration witnessed a host of activities including Craft bazaar, International food festival, sports competitions, fireworks, and cultural events among others.

''We have spent around 10 crore for these celebrations across 10 days,'' Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) official Daya Shankar Mathur told UNI, adding that in the last three years, they had seen an increase in tourist influx by 15-20 per cent.

''In 2005, we are expecting an increase of 30 per cent,'' he said, adding these celebrations ''are a step to promote the rich culture and heritage the state is blessed with, in a big way.''

UNI