SHEKHAWATI FESTIVAL 2008

SHEKHAWATI Festival, a three-day celebration, in Nawalgarh, Rajasthan, marks the end of Autumn. During the festival, cultural evening swayed away the hearts of the tourists. This festival was organised jointly by M.R. Morarka- GDC Rural Research Foundation, Rajasthan Tourism and District administration of Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu.
Both local and foreign tourists equally enjoyed the folk music, folk dances, cart race, camel rides, rural sports and fireworks. Musical nights at Sand Dunes near Mukundgarh fort, was the highlight of the festival and added more colours to the already mesmerising days at Shekhawati festival.
Tourists enjoyed the varieties of food served at the festival. This food was prepared from the organic products grown at the Morarka farms. Tourists also visited these organic farms and experienced the rural lifestyle. They met the farmers working at these farms, to produce the organic food and saw the agricultural revolution of the villages.
Every year the number of women participants has been increasing due to the introduction of women oriented items at the festival. Women love to participate in Mehendi and drawing competitions.
Besides these, Shekhawati is famous for Morarka Haveli Museum, also known as the largest "Open Air Art Gallery" in the world. There are about 5000 havelis which are open for the tourists as museum. During the years between 1750 A.D. and 1900 A.D., these Havelis were decorated by the artists from different parts of the country. The havelis were decorated with frescoes in Rajasthani style on wet plastics with pigments from vegetable and earth colours.
Morarka Foundation has taken the responsibility to conserve these havelis and takes care of its regular maintenance. Morarka Haveli, a landmark in Nawalgarh was built in 1900 A.D. by Shri Jairamdas Morarka, a Great Patron of Art.
These havelis attract lot of tourists every year due to its original fresco paintings, which makes it unique in style. Tourists admired the way Morarka Foundation are dedicated to conserve its centuries old heritage.
The celebration ended with a speech by Ex-Vice President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, in which he urged the people of Shekhawati to preserve rich culture and heritage of the region with dedication so the world can enjoy it for centuries to come.
Shri Kamal Morarka promised that Morarka Foundation will continue to work for the progress of the farmers and villagers of the region and will take necessary steps to conserve the heritage.
The festival was a memorable experience for each tourist, villager and the organisers.

MORARKA HAVELI MUSEUM

The Morarka Haveli a landmark in Nawalgarh was built in 1900 A.D. by Shri Jairamdas Morarka - A Great connoisseur and patron of Art. This Haveli is opened to the Tourists as Museum by its Present owner and decedent Shri Kamal Morarka an industrialist and art connoisseur. This haveli with an oddly aligned facade situated in Naya Bazar in between Poddar gate and Roop Niwas Palace Just in front of Gher Ka Temple.
It is the Morarka Haveli Museum in Shekhawati that has paintings of Jesus on the outer west wall and inner court yard. There are Scenes depicting marriage procession, inscribed folk stories, Dhola Maru on the outer facades. Other themes of Krishna Leela, Ramayan, Shiva, Ganesh and Laxmi. are abundantly depicted on the walls inside of the court yards and Nohra of the Haveli.
All the four walls, forecourt, Zenana (inner court, Nohra, west side wall and front facades are embellished with Rajasthan frescoes. It has given it a perfect view of an open air art gallery. There is a good decorative art of mirror work on the facades of the entrance gate and main door.
The beautifully carved massive wooden gate open into a forecourt with two Baithaks facing each other. From the forecourt steps lead into the inner (Zenana) courtyard serving for the family women members. From the inner court staircases leads to the upper floor, having eleven Bed rooms and then open to roof or chandani. The Wide roof over the first floor gives a bird’s eye view of the Town.
The primary decorative feature of the Haveli is in its exquisite frescoes in Rajasthani style done on wet plaster with pigments from vegetable and earth colors. Indigenous processes of beating, burnishing and polishing are adopted while drying of the painting under the effect of natural carbonatization. Efforts are made in their conservation but without restoration of the frescoes and also that of the carved doors, windows and stone architectural members of the Haveli under supervision of a conservation expert.
Morarka Haveli Museum is also a destination as heritage Conservation Centre to provide technical Know-how for the conservation of Painted Haveli heritage in shekhawati region.
This Haveli has a fair status for tourism attraction due to its original fresco paintings and live - in museum in the region. Literature on Rajasthan Tourism is displayed in the waiting room (Baithak) here. Toilet facilities are available in the Nohra of the Haveli.
Tourists have shown admiral expression for such kind of conservation work of Haveli Heritage in Shekhawati region for the future generation.

Gopendra Nath Bhatt