The traditional practices followed in Rajasthan can be traced through the Vedas and all the rituals have to be performed as per the process which is mentioned in the Vedas. All the customs have evolved from Rajasthani version of the Vedas which is followed by the priests and the gurus. The local residents of Rajasthan have firm belief in the Vedas and this is the reason that every ritual is performed in a traditional style from birth to death. There are total 16 Samskaras which relate to three important phases; birth, marriage and death.
Well known for its rich customs and traditions, the tourists can get the glimpse as soon as they enter the boundaries of Rajasthan. It is a city of Maharajas, therefore you will get to explore the rituals and the ethnic culture which still exists even today. No matter which area to start with but the traditions can be found in every city of Rajasthan and this is the best part about the state. If you are looking forward to a fabulous experience, do not miss the adventure of exploring the interiors which are full of fun and take you back in the ancient times. You will come across some of the old traditions that were practiced by the Maharajas and the queens. It is definitely a wonderful experience to be a part of such old customs that take you to a different world.

The state consists of all types of people including Hindu, Jains and Muslims. Despite of the diverse culture, the people live together and have a special bond with one another. Maa Durga is one of the most worshipped deities by the people together with other God and Goddess too.

Religion

Hinduism

Most of the people living in Rajasthan are basically Hindu. There are a lot of myths when it comes to the origin of this religion within the state. Even today most of the people are very strict with their customs and follow it strongly. Their faith in the religion is very strong and deepens the roots of culture and rich traditions.

The state is known for many heroes whose paintings are worshipped by the people. These small statues are either kept in the small temples under one of the trees or they are also worshipped near the wells.

A few famous names of the hero are Baba Ramdeo, Pabuji, Mehaji, Harbhuji and Gogaji. The people of Rajasthan are also attracted towards the Aryan custom and worship nature as well. Every area is renowned for a particular deity who is worshipped with complete faith and enthusiasm.

The important religious places of Rajasthan are Ajmer, Pushkar, Nathdwara and Deshnok. People turn out in large numbers and visit these destinations.

Though most of the Hindus are Vaishnavites still other Goddess are also worshipped with the same faith and zeal. The worshippers not include the Hindus but even Jain’s and Muslims who love to be a part of such activities.

The special Meena community believes in the Vedic form and worship Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna and Goddess Durga. On the other hand Rajputs used to worship Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga and Sun.

Even Gurjar community has their own customs and they worship God Devnarayan, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Bhavani, Sun and Lord Shiva.

Jainism

Many people of Rajasthan follow Jainism and there are many beautiful temples located in Ranakpur, Jaisalmer, Chittaurgarh, Osian, Shree Mahaveerji and Mount Abu.
The community which follows Jainism is Oswal and there are lots of people who are a part of it.

Islam

Ajmer is considered the finest Islamic destination known for Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. The Atarki Dargah is the tomb of Hamiuddin Nagori and holds an important place in the Islamic culture. The Dargah is situated in Nagaur and forms the part of the Sunni caste.

There are many people who have converted their religion and following the practices of their respective religion now. Even the communities are highly strict with their practices and ensure that followers abide by the rules and customs.

Dadupanthi

Even Dadupanthi is also a popular religion that many people follow and worship Dadu who is known to support the principles like equality of man, no alcohol, complete restraint and total vegetarianism.

Sikhism and Christianity

There quite a few people who also follow Sikhism as well as Christianity. Other religions that you will come across are Buddhism as well as Parsi. In the recent times, there has been a sudden increase in the people of the Sikh community, thus making this state more colorful and lively.

Rituals & Traditions

Lots of traditions are followed by the people of Rajasthan, some of them are:-

Birth

As per the Rajasthani traditions, when a boy is born into any family, it is considered to be a sign of royalty and grand celebrations take place in the community. On the other hand, if a girl is born in the family, she is considered to be a curse and people are not very happy with it. Special prayers are offered after the birth to overcome the evil spirits like dakins and chureils which can create problems in your life.

Marriage

Though marriages are made in heaven but the Rajasthani culture is quite unique when it comes to marriage. First the horoscope of both the girl and boy are matched by a priest. If it is found compatible, the father of the girl will send a coconut to the would be father-in-law. If the coconut is accepted, the marriage will be confirmed and the arrangements will be started soon.

Purdah

Purdah system holds a great significance in the Rajasthani culture. The motive of this purdah is to keep men away from seeing the women. This custom was first started by the Rajputs and most of the people of the upper class followed this custom. During that time keeping a woman under the purdah was considered to be a sign of wealth and even today some of the villages still practice this custom. Mostly the royal families did not allow their women to appear before the men hence special arrangements were made to give them a glimpse of what is happening outside.

Dowry System

Giving away huge amounts of money and jewelry during the girl’s marriage was considered royal and the girl’s father would go into debts just to keep up his honor. This practice was definitely wrong as the rich people found it easy to spend the lump amount of money on their daughter’s marriage but the same could not be made possible by poor people. Many gifts were also given to the in-laws together fulfilling other demands raised by them. If the demands were not accomplished, they would torture the girl and even force her to die.

Divorce and Remarriage

Remarriage was only prevalent among the Jats and Gurjars while the rest of the community did not allow this custom. In such case, the new husband has to offer a little amount of money to the girl’s parents and also to the family of her former husband. Even the custom of divorce was not so common as today. Both the men and women could seek divorce if they were not willing to live with one another and spend their life. Compensation had to be paid, in case the girl wanted to marry someone else.

Death

Once the person dies, his or her body was burnt to allow the soul to rest in peace. After 12 days a special turban typing custom was performed among the family members and the son was brought before the community. On the 13th day, Terwa or Kariyawar was performed and close relatives were called to the feast. Such a practice was only popular among the Hindus as they performed this ritual in full form and offered their prayers to the person who died.

Music and Dance

The Rajasthani music is very lively and full of enjoyment. Most of the religious songs are really heart touching and you will surely love the way people put their devotion and sing the folk songs. A few of the songs were also dedicated to people like Surdas, Mirabai, Kabirdas and other important saints. Most of these songs can be heard only in the villages of Rajasthan.