Taj Mahotsav 2024: Date, Events, Theme and About Taj Mahal

PWOnlyIAS February 16, 2024 04:44 1635 0

Taj Mahotsav 2024 will be organized from February 17th to 27th at Shilpgram near the Eastern gate of Taj Mahal, Agra.

Taj Mahotsav 2024: Date, Events, Theme and About Taj Mahal

Context

Taj Mahotsav 2024 will be organized from February 17th to 27th at Shilpgram near the Eastern gate of Taj Mahal, Agra.

About Taj Mahotsav 2024

It is a 14 days long festival, providing vibrant platform to India’s rich arts, crafts, cultures, cuisine, dance and music. Taj Mahotsav is organized by the Taj Mahotsav Committee presented by Commissioner, Agra Division Agra under the patronage of the Department of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh Government.

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Inception: It was started in 1992. 2024 is the 33th year celebration of this Mahotsav.
Taj mahotsav 2024 Theme: ‘Sanskriti & Samriddhi,’ echoing the profound connection between culture and prosperity.
Objective: To provide encouragement to the Artisans.
Timing

Taj Mahotsav 2024 Dates	17th Feb – 27th Feb’ 2024
Taj Mahotsav 2024 Venue	Shilpgram, Agra
Official Website	www.tajmahotsav.org

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Promotion of Art	Description
Arts & Crafts	About 400 legendary artisans from different parts of the country get an opportunity to display their exquisite works of art. Example: Wood/stone carvings from Tamil Nadu, Bamboo/cane work from North East India, Paper mash work from South India and Kashmir, the 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 and hand printing from Farrukhabad and Kantha stitch from west Bengal etc.
Culture	Mahotsav provide a fusion of folk & classical music & dances of various regions, especially the Brij Bhumi, performed the way they used to be centuries ago. It exhibits performances from the world renowned artistes from classical, semi-classical and popular art forms.

About Agra City

Agra, a city on the bank of River Yamuna, finds mention in the epic Mahabharatha as Agravan. Ptolemy, the famous 2nd centaury geographer, marked Agra on the world map.

Founder: Sultan Sikandar Lodi, the ruler of Delhi Sultanate founded it in the year 1504 but the golden age of the city began with Mughals after 1526.
It was then known as Akbarabad and remained the Capital of the Mughal empire under Emperor Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan.
Agra’s significance as a political centre ended with the transfer of the capital to Delhi by Shah Jahan.

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About Taj Mahal: A Monument of Love and Beauty

It is a mausoleum complex built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century to honor his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, India, on the banks of the Yamuna River. It is a symbol of eternal love and devotion, as well as a testament to the artistic and cultural achievements of the Mughal dynasty.

History of the Taj Mahal

Conceptualisation: The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1631, shortly after the death of his wife Mumtaz Mahal (Third wife).
Duration: The project took 22 years to complete, and involved more than 20,000 workers and 1,000 elephants.
Budget: The total cost of the Taj Mahal was estimated to be around 32 million rupees, equivalent to about 1 billion US dollars today.

Architectural Marvel: It is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture, blending elements of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. Taj Mahal consists of several buildings and structures, arranged in a symmetrical and harmonious layout.

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Taj Mahotsav 2024

White Marble Mausoleum: It houses the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.
- The mausoleum is an octagonal structure, with four minarets at each corner.
Carvings on Wall: The exterior walls are decorated with intricate carvings and inlays of precious and semi-precious stones, forming floral and geometric patterns.

Pietra Dura

Also called as “parchin kari”, is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished colored stones to create images.

Originated in Italy.

Taj Mahotsav 2024

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Calligraphy: It was used as a means of decoration as well as arabesque method which involved the use of geometrical ornamentation.
- Further, the decorations followed a symmetrical pattern.
- It was done by Amanat Khan, calligraphy expert.
Shape of Dome: Dome is crowned by a lotus-shaped finial, and the spire is topped by a crescent moon, symbolizing the Islamic faith of the Mughals.
- Dome is a perfect hemisphere, and the height of the dome is equal to the width of the base.
Minaret: They are proportionate to the mausoleum, and their height is equal to the width of the dome.
- Used around the mosques and the mausoleums.
- They are slightly tilted outwards to prevent them from falling on the mausoleum in case of an earthquake.
Tessellation: Taj Mahal uses the concept of self-replicating geometry, or tessellation, which creates patterns that repeat themselves at different scales.
- For example, the main dome is surrounded by four smaller domes, which are in turn surrounded by four even smaller domes.
Arabesque Method: Arabesque has been defines as a vegetal design consisting of full and half palmettes as an unending continuous pattern in which each leaf grows out of another.

Taj Mahotsav 2024

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Optical Illusions Effects: Mausoleum appears to change colors depending on the time of the day and the season.
- It reflects the colors of the sky, ranging from pink at dawn, to white at noon, to golden at sunset, to blue at night.
- Mausoleum appears to be larger or smaller depending on the distance and angle of the viewer.
- The minarets, for example, look taller when viewed from close up, and shorter when viewed from far away.
Bilateral Symmetry: Taj Mahal uses the concept of bilateral symmetry, which means that the structure is identical on both sides of a central axis.
- This creates a sense of balance and harmony, as well as a reflection effect on the water channels
Charbagh Style: The mausoleum is surrounded by four gardens, divided by four water channels that represent the four rivers of paradise in Islamic tradition.
- The gardens are filled with flowers, trees, fountains, and pavilions, creating a serene and beautiful environment.
Massive Gate: Entrance to the Taj Mahal is through a massive red sandstone gate, which has an arched doorway and a domed roof.
- The gate is inscribed with verses from the Quran, and has a calligraphic panel that reads “O Soul, thou art at rest.Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you.”
- The gate also serves as a transition from the chaotic and noisy outside world to the peaceful and sacred inner world of the Taj Mahal.
Import of Stones: The white marble was brought from Makrana, Rajasthan, and the red sandstone from Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh.
- The other stones, such as jade, turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral, and onyx, were imported from various regions of Asia and Africa.

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Other Unique Features

Arches and Domes: Known as ‘arcuade’ style of architecture replaced the traditional Trabeat style of architecture.
Mortar: Used as a cementing agent in their constructions.
Natural Figurines were used. Human and Animal figures are avoided.
Spaciousness, massiveness and breadth of buildings and structures.
Jaali work: a feature allowing light into the structures.
Water: pools in the premises of the building used for cooling, decorative and religious purposes.
Foreshortening technique: in the buildings, such that the inscriptions appear to be closer than it really is.

Legacy of the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is not only a monument of architecture and art, but also of love and culture. It is a tribute to the love and devotion of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a symbol of the rich and diverse culture of the Mughal era, which was marked by religious tolerance, artistic innovation, and scientific advancement. ‘

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Symbol of Coexistence: The Taj Mahal reflects the fusion and harmony of different cultures and traditions, such as Hindu, Muslim, Persian, and Turkish.
Civilisation Progress: It showcases the achievements and contributions of the Mughal civilization, which was one of the most powerful and influential in history.
Source of pride and identity: It is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Taj Mahotsav 2024 will be held from February 17th to 27th.

The festival will be held at Shilpgram near the Eastern gate of Taj Mahal, Agra.

Taj Mahotsav was inaugurated in 1992.

The theme for Taj Mahotsav 2024 is ‘Sanskriti & Samriddhi.’

Taj Mahotsav is organized by the Taj Mahotsav Committee under the Department of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh Government.

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Taj Mahotsav 2024: Date, Events, Theme and About Taj Mahal

Context

About Taj Mahotsav 2024

About Agra City

About Taj Mahal: A Monument of Love and Beauty

History of the Taj Mahal

Pietra Dura

Other Unique Features

Legacy of the Taj Mahal

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the duration of Taj Mahotsav 2024?

Where is Taj Mahotsav 2024 taking place?

When was Taj Mahotsav first started?

What is the theme for Taj Mahotsav 2024?

Who organizes Taj Mahotsav?

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