Pink City set for Sawan-Teej festival

Jaipur, Aug 10 (UNI) The Rajasthan capital is set for the colourful Sawan-Teej festival, which begins tomorrow, keeping with the monsoon mood.

This time the annual festival, organised by the Department of tourism, has been extended from a two-day to a six-day (11 to 16 August) cultural extravaganza to make tourism a round the year event.

Apart from traditional processions and cultural programmes furthering the state's kaleidoscopic culture, eminent and popular singers like Shubha Mudgal, Vasundhara Das, Band Euphoria's Palash Sen are likely to delight Jaipurites and tourists alike.

The traditional royal procession of Goddess Teej comprising caparisoned elephants, camels, dancing folk artists, royal palanquins, chariots and bullock carts on August 15 and 16 will start from City Palace and will wind its way through Tripolia Bazar and Chhoti Chaupar' a major attraction for tourists.

Plays by noted dramatist Ashok Rahi, dramas, musical shows, Kathak performances will also add to the event.

The Sawan Teej festival is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and commemorates the day when she unites with Lord Shiva. Young girls, newly married women and others dress themselves up in traditional and coolourful bandhni and Leheriya saris and lehenga cholis during the festival.

The festival is held every year during the Hindu month of Shravan and marks the advent of monsoon.

UNI