Taj Mahotsav at AGRA

The city remains gripped in the festive mood during the 10 days - Taj Mahotsava, cultural extravaganza is to it end and here is my experience about Taj Mahotsav! Every year the Mahotsav began on February 17th and ended on Feb 27th, this year however the event was extended for two more days!

Taj Mahotsav is being celebrated in the city of Taj since 1993. Tourism department started this event to increase tourism in the city. The days were also selected carefully, where people could enjoy the pink winter in the city of Love! 

Taj Mahotsav, Derived its name from the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, the festival gives visitors a chance to enjoy India's rich arts, crafts, culture, cuisine, dance and music, all under the same roof.


Tourism department celebrate the festival under various themes, this year's theme is 'Sanskriti ka Satrangi Utsav'. The entry to Mahotsav is free for children below five years and foreign tourists, while all Indians above five years of age have to pay rupees 50 as entry fee.

Performers: Taj Mahotsav organized around several cultural programmes by various performers, local as well as nation. This year's major attractions were folk singer Kailash Kher, Ghazal singer Peenaz Masani, comedian Sunil Grover (Gutthi), Rajiv Thakur, Ahsan Qureshi, Warsi Brothers and singer Shaan.




Apart from these, the festival also presents India's folk, classical, semi-classical and other cultural dances, songs, lesser show,poetry recitation and dramas performed by renowned artistes from across the nation.

Arts and Crafts Display: Every year at least 400 artisans get an opportunity to put on display their exquisite works of art at the festival. Some special attractions at the festival are wood/stone carvings from Tamil Nadu, Bamboo/cane work from North East India, paper mash work from South India and Kashmir, marble and zardozi work from Agra, wood carving from Saharanpur, brass wares from Moradabad, hand made carpets from Bhadohi, pottery from Khurja, Chikan work from Lucknow, silk & zari work from Banaras, shawls & carpets from Kashmir/Gujarat, hand printing from Farrukhabad and Kantha stitch from West Bengal. 




This year around 350 craftsmen from Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal have displayed their art at the Mahotsav.

Cuisines: Taj Mahotsava treats visitors with the best of India's traditional dishes. The oldest masters of the art of cuisine are brought here to prepare scrumptious cuisines. This year's highlights were, Kebab, Biryani, Bhelpuri/Sevpuri/Panipuri, sweets from various states etc.



This carnival is not just an amalgam for art-lovers or connoisseurs, but has things of amusement for people of all ages. Even children and teenagers get to enjoy merry-go-round, train-rides, roller coaster, ferris wheel and other adventurous rides. 


Thanks for reading :)

Mugdha 

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