Matsya Festival 2017 is the cultural extravaganza and will take place this month staring from November 25.
The three-day long event is held in Alwar every year to glorify the colorful customs and traditions of the state. It’s considered among the most important fairs and festivals of the state. As the festival is soon going to commence here is all the information that you need to know about Matsya Festival 2017.
The meaning of Matsya:
The term Matsya is a Sanskrit term for Fish and according to Hindu mythology it is used as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. In fact, Matsya is one of the most primary avatars of Lord Vishnu which is believed to have rescued Manu, the first man, from the great floods.
In the late Vedic Period, one of the Indo-Aryan tribes established their kingdom named Matsya Mahajanpada. It was located south of Kurus and west of Yamuna River which presently corresponds to Alwar, Bharatpur, and Jaipur cities. The capital of Matsya was Viratnagari which is now known as Bairat.
History of Alwar
It’s believed that the history of Alwar dates back to 1500 BC. Under the reign of Maharana Pratap, the region was known as Mewat and was known for its rich art and culture. Back in the time, Alwar was called Matsya Desh or the Land of Fish while the inhabitants were known as Matsyas.
Matsya Festival 2017
In order to pay respect to the forefathers and valuing the ancient culture of the region, Matsya Festival is celebrated in Alwar. The festival is organized in Alwar and is known for its cultural programs, a wide range of sports events, art exhibitions and vibrant processions. It is attended by thousands of tourists from within and outside India.
Matsya Festival 2017 Programme Highlights
- The district authorities and tourism department will organize Matsya Utsav 2017 from 25th to 27th November. For the visitors’ entertainment, several cultural programs will be organized at Sariska gate and the tourists will be given a tour from Sariska to Kankwari fort.
- The event will kick off with Maha Aarti at 5:30 am on 25th November at Jagannath Temple after which the heritage walk will commence. This will include a tour of places like Tripolia, Mahal Chowk, Jagannath Temple, Mathuradheesh and Kishan Kund.
- Moving on, there will be an open air Photo exhibition which will showcase pictures from ancient history, heritage, museums and wildlife of Sariska. For college and school students, there will be Rangoli and Mehndi competitions.
- The event will also have a Kavi Sammelan where poets like Balveer Karun, Poonam Verma, and Vineet Chauhan will be reciting poetries. The Indira Gandhi Stadium will have Hot Air Balloon adventure and other sports like Kho-kho, Kabbadi, and Tug of War.
- There will also be a grand procession whereby various folk artists will take part along with Police Band, Horses and Scout Guide. It will be full of flowers and vibrant colors.
- The cultural evening will be studded with artists performing dance forms from various states like Laavni from Maharashtra and Bihu from Assam. The local artists will also perform Bhapang Vaadan, Matka Bhavai, and Mayur Nritya. The entire event will be concluded by Sufi song performance by Artists Lakhwinder Wadali.
Schedule for Matsya Festival 2017
As per the official post of Matsya Utsav on Facebook, the programs are scheduled as follows-
25-26 November 2017
- Hot Air Balloon and Traditional Games (10:00 am to 5:00 pm)
- Excursions to Kankwari Fort (7:00 am to 10:30 am and 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm)
Day 1 (25 November 2017)
- Maha Arti (5:30 am)
- Heritage Walk (7:00 am)
- Photo Exhibition (9:00 am)
- Cultural Program (10:00 am to 2:30 pm)
- Mehndi & Rangoli Competition (11:00 am)
- Kavi Sammelan (7:00 pm)
Day 2 (26th November 2017)
- Paddle Boat Race (10:00am)
- ‘Lok Kala Sangam’ Cultural Program (11:00 am)
- Traditional Procession (3:30 pm)
- ‘Jhilmil’ Deep Maala (6:00 pm)
- ‘Lok Rang’ Cultural Program (7:00 pm)
Day 3 (27th November 2017)
- Trekking Event (7:00 am)
- Painting Competition (10:00 am)
- ‘Sufi Night’ by Lakhwinder Wadali (7:00 pm)
