In olden days, the profession of the
people decided their caste. This system has now been broken. Today,
individuals have the freedom to opt for any profession irrespective of
caste. The profession based caste system has now been transformed into
birth-based caste system. People of various castes and sub-castes reside in
Rajasthan. The Rajasthanis are sturdy, cheerful and simple folks relatively
untouched by the fast pace of modern times making Rajasthan one of the
safest destinations anywhere in the world.
Colourful and Ornamental
It is also one of the most colourful. To offset the barren, colourless
landscape and the monotony of its cloudless sky, the people of Rajasthan
show a distinct preference for bright costumes. From the simple village folk
or tribal to the Rajas and Ranis, the preferred colours are bright red,
dazzling yellow, lively green or brilliant orange, highlighted by a lavish
use of sparkling gold and Silver Zari or Gota.
Tribal and nomadic women are known for their love for silver jewellery
(although men too sport ear studs and earrings). The ornaments follow
age-old designs typical of a particular tribe. In daily use the ladies wear
normal ornaments of neck, hand, nose and ear but on special occasions and
social functions. Women wear all the ornaments of different parts of the
body to look beautiful and attractive. For its exquisite designs and
delicacy of art Rajasthan Jewelry is a rage not only for ladies of India but
also for women of foreign countries.
Mind-boggling Turbans
In India, the turban is popularly known as a pagdi. There are different
variations of the turban, depending on the religion and region. In fact, in
Rajasthan, it is said that the turban style changes with every 15km you
travel. And Rajput turbans are different from Sikh turbans, which are in
turn different from the classical Arab turbans. Then, there are the royal
turbans from different parts of India, and the rural turban which is often
just a towel wound round the head. India is a land of diversities. And it is
all the more pronounced in Rajasthan. An old local saying sums it up.
"The dialect, cuisine, water and turbans in Rajasthan change every 12
miles." In fact there are about 1,000 different styles and types of
turbans in Rajasthan, each denoting the class, caste and region of the
wearer.Turbans come in all shapes, sizes and colours; and there are specific
turbans for specific occasions as well.
A lineage of beautiful women
Rajasthani women have been renowned for their grace and beauty. Alauddin
Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, was so smitten by the beauty of the legendary
Maharani Padmini Devi of Chittaurgarh that he waged a war -in vain - for her
hand. In her heydays, the present day Rajmata of Jaipur, Maharani Gayatri
Devi, was considered by Vogue to be amongst the Ten Most Beautiful Women in
the World. And her charm hasn't diminished one bit till today!
