General Information
Location : Mount Abu, Rajasthan
Significance : Devoted to the tribal culture and folk music and dances
Time of Celebration: Summer Festival held in June
The Summer Festival is organized in the Month of June in Mount Abu, Rajasthan's only hill station. Folk dance, traditional music marinades the atmosphere with fun and frolic.
History
The history of Mount Abu is as diverse as the city itself. At one point of time, it was a section of the  Chauhankingdom of Rajasthan and served as a summer resort for the Rajput kings of the region. Later, it was leased by the British government from the then Maharaja of Sirohi to use it as headquarters of the residents to Rajputana (another name for Rajasthan).
During the British rule in India, it was the favorite summer destination of the British. Moreover, it served as an infirmary for the troops. The small huts and cottages bear testimony of those times.
In ancient days, Mount Abu was the abode of saints and sages. Legends have it that all the 330 million gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon paid frequent visits to this sacred mountain. It is also the place where the great saint Vashishth lived and performed a yagna (sacrificial worship on a fire pit) to create four Agnikula (four clans of fire) to protect the earth from demons. The yagna is believed to have been performed near a natural spring, which emerged from a rock shaped like a cow's head.
Another legend has it that once sage Vashishth's cow Nandini was trapped in a deep ravine and could not free herself. The sage prayed to Lord Shiva for help. The Lord sent Saraswati, the divine stream, to help flood the chasm so that the cow could float up. Vashishth then decided to ensure that such mishaps did not occur in future. He asked the youngest son of Himalaya, the king of mountains to fill the arroyo permanently. This he did with the assistance of Arbud, the mighty snake. This spot came to be known as Mount Arbud and was later changed to its present form - Mount Abu.
This place is of great significance for the Jains because according to Jain scriptures Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankar (spiritual leader) visited Mount Abu and blessed the city.
Activities
The summer festival is held every year at Mount Abu during the month of June. The three-day summer festival is characterized by folk music, dance performances, sporting events like boat races. The festival starts off with the singing of a traditional ballad followed by traditional Ghoomar, Gair and Dhap dance performances. A special qawwali singing extravaganza is organized to enthrall the tourists
How to Reach
By Air : Udaipur airport lies closest to Mount Abu, 185 km away. A number of domestic airlines have their scheduled flight to Udaipur, which connect the city to the major cities in the country.
By Road : Mount Abu is well-connected by roads. A good network of roads makes Mount Abu accessible to other important places in the state. Tourists can also opt for private car/taxi.
By Train : The railway station at Abu Road is a two-hour drive from Mount Abu and is well-connected to the rest of the country through a number of trains. |
