Holi Festival at The City Palace Complex, Udaipur

The festival of colours, Holi was celebrated with great zeal at The City Palace Complex, Udaipur. Festivities started with
the Holika Ropan ceremony, constructing the Holika Effigy on the purnima (Full moon day) in the Magh month that fell
on the 7th February 2012. A series of events were organized at The City Palace Complex, Udaipur to mark the Holi Festival.

Rang - Celebrating the tones and hues of our living heritage
The courtly painting traditions of Mewar are among India's finest contributions to the visual arts. Students, buyers, aficionados and art lovers from all over the world seek to understand these traditions and to acquire artworks of undeniable quality. But as the texture and politics of contemporary commerce dictate more and more of the artists' choices, the tradition is losing its very essence, particularly in the absence of discerning patronage.

The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), Udaipur now seeks to draw fresh attention to the superlative artistry of this living heritage and to support its evolution. RANG 2012 focused on the work of three master artists and their continuing legacy. In addition to a modest display of their artwork, visitors to RANG 2012 were given a rare opportunity to dialogue and interact with these masters.

On the 3rd March RANG 2012 celebrated the work of Shri Reva Shankar Sharma in the classical miniature tradition, Shri Rajaram Sharma of the Nathdwara Pichwai tradition and Shri Lalit Sharma's contemporary works. The exhibition was inaugurated by Shilpguru and artist Shri Badrilal in the presence of Mr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur MMCF acknowledges and honours their lifelong commitment to their practice and dedication to sustaining their living inheritance.

In honour of the painting traditions of Mewar and as a commitment of support, Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur has commissioned a special painting in the classical miniature tradition, depicting the Holika Dahan celebrations, to be acquired by MMCF for its collection. This will be the first such commission on the occasion of Holi in over 150 years.

But where there is painting, music can't be far behind... the myriad tones and tunes of our musical heritage are astounding. With RANG 2012 MMCF initiated a fresh beginning of celebration of our musical traditions - a dawn concert, unusual folk music from different parts of Rajasthan and an internationally acclaimed master.

On the 4th March music at RANG 2012 began with a magical early morning recital - rare morning ragas in the mellifluous vocals of the Mewar maestro Pandit Krishna Kumar Dehlvi and the superb sarangi vadan of Patti Khan sahib; the bam lahiri of the Jogiya sarangi artists in the museum and a live concert in the evening of the 6th March by the reigning queen of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana of Hindustani classical music, Smt. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande followed by a felicitation of Rang artists.

Shri Badrilal and Mr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur
having a close look at a painting at Rang

Pt. Krishna Kumar Dehlvi, Patti Khan Sahib and other artists performing at Rang

Smt. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande performing
at The Manek Chowk, The City Palace Complex, Udaipur

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur with a painting gifted by the artists Shri Reva Shankar Sharma, Shri Rajaram Sharma and Shri Lalit Sharma