India has a wealth of intangible cultural traditions – whether it is music, dance or festivals, each state of India has something unique to offer. In case of Rajasthan, it’s rich cultural heritage has attracted global fame and recognition. Did you know, almost 50 of its 191 towns and cities are “heritage” assets !
In the city of Udaipur, tangible and intangible cultural heritage co-exist amidst the familiar presence of tourists all year round. Centuries of traditions though, continue to be upheld by the city’s people and its royalty. The jigsaw today, gives us a glimpse of one such tradition.
In collaboration with the City Palace Udaipur, we bring you a detail from the painting ‘Maharana Sangram Singh at the Gangaur boat procession‘ (1715-1720).
Can you piece this masterpiece together?
What we love about jigsaw puzzles based on miniature paintings, is the amount of detail you get to focus on! Today’s jigsaw is only a part of a very fascinating painting. Here’s how we solved it: piecing the crowd on the right together was the easiest part. The night sky and the dwellings are great to observe; we pieced the lake Pichola in the end!
Helpful Tips:
# puzzle pieces might just be on top of each other – look carefully!
# make sure you have observed the painting before you start. In case you need to see the image again, scroll down or hit the picture icon on the bottom left
#Share your finished piece with us using #MuseumJigsaw and tag @theheritagelab & @city_palace_museum on Instagram; on Twitter, use @heritagelab and @CP_Museum ! Good Luck!
The Festival of Gangaur
The Gangaur festival of Rajasthan, is celebrated with great fervour, mostly by womenfolk. The festival honours the deep companionship and love between the Goddess Gauri (Parvati) and Lord Shiva; it is usually held around the month of March-April, coinciding with the celebration of spring. During the festival women dress in their bridal finery; unmarried women too, participate in the festivities seeking marital bliss. The traditional celebration is incomplete without the support of the Royal families.
At the end of the 18-day festival, clay idols of the divine pair are carried by the several families of the city, onto the streets and up to the Lake Pichola. A special Ghat on the lake, called Gangaur Ghat, is dedicated for the symbolic ablutions. The womenfolk engage in traditional song and circular dance formations that form an exclusive part of the festivities.
About the Painting
In this 18th century painting, you spot Maharana Sangram Singh making an appearance at the Gangaur Ghat with his ministers and nobles. The painting captures the post-sunset celebrations. The fireworks & the glittering night sky add festivity and grandeur to the painting. While in the original painting, you can spot the Maharana thrice, in this detail you will find the focus to be on the common people celebrating on the banks of the Lake Pichola, their humble dwellings forming the backdrop. As the boat makes its way around the northern banks of the lake, the Maharana is seen to be visiting the other images of Gauri.
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