Jodhpur Local Customs

There are supposed to be more than 300.000 gods according to Hindu belief. Wherever you go you will find temples, shrines and god statues or symbols on every corner. There is a god for every need - and my personal favourite is Ganesha - the god of good luck and wealth. This statue of Ghanesha can be seen at the foot of the mighty Meherangarh Fort.

The people of India are one of the friendliest and most hospitable people Ive ever met. And they love to celebrate. When we returned from Meherangarh Fort we passed another celebration and without knowing what was really going on we were asked to come in!

It is a pitty I only have this pic, showing me being nicely greeted by those kids.

3 more images

The city is situated on the southern fringe of the Thar Desert. Known as the Blue City due to a great deal of the homes and buildings in the old town being painted in a shade of indigo blue. The blue intensifies as the days bright rays fade. Blue was the colour of the Brahim (member of a priestly section of Hindu society) houses but today even non-Brahim houses are painted blue.

In October there is an annual festival of dance and music. This festival celebrates the classical ‘Maand’ style of folk music - music centred on the romantic lifestyle of Rajasthan's rulers. The festival is held over 2 days during the full moon of Sharad Purnima. Other attractions of the festival include horse riding and horse polo.

Jodhpur in earlier days became the epi-centre of western Rajasthan as far as enamelling of jewellery is concerned. Silver and gold ornaments were enamelled for the neck called timniya. The city is known for specialised cottage industries which sell glass bangles, cutlery, carpets, and marble products. A unique craft of Jodhpur is also the painting of camel hide skins with gold to make small containers for asha (a blended liqueur which is a popular beverage in Jodhur). Asha is made up of distilled rose or saffron which is embellished with crushed pearls and ground gold with chunks of goat and sheep brains. IT was conceived and prepared by the great Moghuls.

1 more image

The best time to visit Jodhpur is November and March. They city has a typical desert climate, hot and dry. Monsoon time is around July and August. The maximum temperature during summer is around 40ºC. Winter’s minimum ranges an average temperature of around 11ºC.

Music and dance is a way of life here.Almost all people love music here.The street singer carry local musical instrument and mostly acompnay a child dancer.You find them at all sight seeings ;in Mehrangarh fort, Jaswant Thada,Mandore or even in streets.They require a small tip and you can enjoy the best of local tribe music and folk songs.The famous dance is here Goomer and Kalbelia dance.Kalbelia dance is very exciting one and thrill is difficult describe here.Must see it.

Just inside the entrance gate to Mehrangarh Fort, you'll come across this relief of handprints on the wall, with flowers strung across and scattered below.

Numerous royal satis, or self-immolations, took place in Jodhpur. Sati is the now-outlawed custom of sacrificing one's life at the funeral pyre of the husband. This decoration honours the memory of those lives. . .