Art, Architecture, Folk Culture, Fairs & Literature of Rajasthan — Practice

Question 1

Name the six forts inscribed as Hill Forts of Rajasthan by UNESCO.

Accepted Answer

Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Gagron, Amber and Jaisalmer, inscribed together in 2013.

Question 2

Which Rajasthani dance is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list, and which community performs it?

Accepted Answer

The Kalbeliya dance, performed by the Kalbelia community, traditionally snake charmers, and listed by UNESCO in 2010.

Question 3

What is a Phad, and how is it used?

Accepted Answer

A Phad is a long painted cloth scroll depicting the story of a folk hero, mainly Pabuji or Devnarayan. Made in the Bhilwara-Shahpura region, it is unrolled at night while bhopas, hereditary priest-singers, narrate the epic with music.

Question 4

Write a note on the Kishangarh school of painting.

Accepted Answer

The Kishangarh school flourished under Raja Savant Singh, a devotee-poet known as Nagari Das, and the artist Nihal Chand. Its hallmark is the elongated, idealised Radha-Krishna portrait in the Bani Thani style, with sharp features, large eyes and lyrical landscapes. It is among the most recognisable schools of Indian miniature painting.

Question 5

Write a note on the Pushkar Fair.

Accepted Answer

The Pushkar Fair, held near Ajmer around Kartik Purnima, combines a large cattle and camel trade with a religious pilgrimage to the Brahma temple and Pushkar lake. It also draws folk performers and tourists and is among Rajasthan's best-known fairs.

Question 6

Name the main dialects of Rajasthani and the two literary styles.

Accepted Answer

The main dialects are Marwari, Dhundhari, Mewari, Hadoti, Mewati and Wagdi. The literary styles are Dingal, a Marwari-based poetic tradition often associated with Charan poets, and Pingal, a Braj-influenced style.

Question 7

Discuss the architectural heritage of Rajasthan with reference to forts, palaces and temples. (~150 words)

Accepted Answer

Rajasthan's architecture reflects its warrior and devotional past. Hill forts such as Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Amber and Jaisalmer, inscribed by UNESCO in 2013, combine natural defences with palaces and temples. Palaces such as the City Palaces of Jaipur and Udaipur, Junagarh and Mehrangarh show Rajput-Mughal fusion, and Hawa Mahal (1799) is a landmark of Jaipur. Temples range from the Pratihara temples at Osian to the marble Jain temples of Dilwara and Ranakpur, Eklingji and Nathdwara. Water architecture, such as the Chand Baori stepwell at Abhaneri, answers the region's aridity. The planned city of Jaipur (1727) and Jantar Mantar show scientific and urban design. Together they anchor heritage tourism and demand conservation.

Question 8

Describe the handicrafts of Rajasthan and their regional centres. (~150 words)

Accepted Answer

Rajasthan's handicrafts are region-specific. Jaipur is known for blue pottery, kundan-meenakari jewellery, lac bangles and stone carving, and nearby Sanganer and Bagru for block printing. Bandhej and leheriya tie-dye are associated with Jodhpur and Shekhawati. Molela in Rajsamand produces terracotta plaques, Pratapgarh the Thewa gold-on-glass work, Bikaner the Usta gold work on camel hide, and Kota the Doria weave. Makrana and Kishangarh are marble centres, and Nathdwara is known for Pichwai paintings. Many crafts hold Geographical Indications and provide livelihoods to artisan communities. Their challenges include competition from machine-made goods, rising raw-material costs and weak marketing, which policies such as GI protection, craft clusters and e-commerce access try to address.

Practice — Art, Architecture, Folk Culture, Fairs & Literature of Rajasthan

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