Rajasthan

• 20 Jul 2022

Kalbelia Craft Revival

Why in News?

• The Kalbelia Crafts Revival Project Exhibition was launched at the India International Center in New Delhi on July 19, 2022 in an effort to uplift the Kalbelia community of Rajasthan.

Key Points

• The Kalbelia Crafts Revival Project Exhibition will prove to be an important medium for promoting handicraft products made by women from the Kalbelia community, especially the Kalbelia Quilts and Gudadi at the national and international level.
• It is worth mentioning that the Kalbelia community of Rajasthan is known all over the world for its art, but due to the limited resources of their employment and economic constraints, their art and crafts have to face a lot of difficulties in reaching the market.
• Dr. Madan Meena, the curator of the exhibition, said that the project was conceptualized from the time of Kovid, when many families of Kalbelia in Rajasthan returned to their native village due to the lockdown. The work of Kalbelia artists also stalled due to the slowness of tourism. In such a situation, Kalbelia Craft Revival Project was envisaged by Kota Heritage Society to provide them alternative livelihood opportunity within their village.
• It was initially sponsored by the NIFT-Jodhpur Centre and the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, Jaipur to provide internships to its students. Currently, The Kalbelia women of Bundi and Jaipur are working in this project.
• The objective of the project is to preserve the tradition of quilting of the Kalbelia community and to provide them with better livelihood opportunities within their villages for the maintenance of their community and their crafts.
• Dr. Madan Meena informed that Kalbelia women associated with this project are given Rs 300 per woman per day for making various artistic products. This money is raised from various sources and also money is received from sponsorship, which is being used to take this project forward.
• The Kalbelia women who participated in the project include Mewa Sapera from Jaipur, Meera Bai from Bundi, Lad Bai, Rekha Bai, Natti Bai and Bania Bai.
• Mewa Sapera, an internationally acclaimed Kalbelia singer from Jaipur and has showcased her art in different parts of the world, said that Kalbelia quilts and her quality reflect the richness, skill and talent of the women of the house. A family keeps heaps of quilts, which are taken out during the guests' visit. These quilts are part of gifting to daughters.
• He said that in their spare time, women from the Kalbelia community always make quilts for their collection. A quilt or Gudadi takes two to three months to complete.

Jamnalal Bajaj Auditorium

Why in News?

• On July 19, 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot laid the foundation stone of Jamnalal Bajaj Auditorium to be built in Sikar through video conferencing from the Chief Minister's residence.

Key Points

• Significantly, the state budget has made a provision for construction of auditoriums in 17 districts.
• The auditorium, which is going to be built at a cost of Rs.30 crores, is spread over 3 hectares and has a seating capacity of 800 people.
• The auditorium will have art galleries, libraries, 22 guest rooms, 2 banquet halls, multipurpose halls, conference rooms and offices as per local architecture. It will have all audio-video and live programs in line with modern technology.
• On this occasion, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that Jamnalal Bajaj, born in Sikar's Kashi Ka Vaas village, had an important contribution in the freedom movement.
• Impressed by Gandhiji's values, Jamnalal Bajaj started living in the ashram with his wife and children and went to jail in the freedom movement. In Wardha, he had entered the Laxminarayan temple for Harijans for the prevention of untouchability.

Utsav Portal

Why in News?

• Recently, Rajasthan has been chosen as the best state in the list released by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India on the 'Utsav Portal'. In this list, Kerala has got second place, Uttar Pradesh has got third and Andaman and Nicobar has got fourth place.

Key Points

• Rajasthan has got the first position on the basis of outstanding performance. Rajasthan has uploaded all the information related to maximum 22 fairs and festivals on the Festival Portal website.
• Rajasthan is known in the country and the world for its rich cultural, historical heritage, religious places, famous temples, ancient forts, palaces, delicious cuisine and natural beauty.
• In Rajasthan, apart from live darshan links of several religious places like Shri Govind Devji and Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple (Jaipur), Pushkar Mela (Ajmer), Mewar Utsav (Udaipur), Teej Utsav (Jaipur), Kumbhalgarh Utsav (Rajsamand), Braj Holi Festival (Jaipur) Information of several fairs and festivals like Bharatpur), Gangaur Utsav (Jaipur), Maru Mahotsav (Jaisalmer) have been recorded on the portal.
• It is worth mentioning that the Utsav portal website is a digital initiative. It was launched by the Union Ministry of Tourism in the year 2021 at the time of corona epidemic to bring the tourist places of the country on the global stage and to help the tourists.
• Its purpose is to popularize the famous tourist places of different states of the country and the world, live telecast of worship, aarti in fairs, festivals and major temples, so that people can enjoy them sitting at home. Also, they should be able to prepare the upcoming itinerary easily.
• Complete information related to tourism is easily available on the Utsav portal. Official social media links, official websites, brochures and contact details of the organizing committee and easy access to the destination by air, rail and road are being provided on the portal. This is helping the tourists in planning to reach the tourist destinations.
• Live Darshan of various religious temples, tourist places, events, fairs and festivals are given on the website. The website is constantly being updated keeping in mind the convenience of the tourists. New information related to all upcoming fairs and festivals in the tourism sector is being updated rapidly on the website.