Mojadi – The Pride of Jalore

The Jalore Festival is organized every year in the Jalore district of Rajasthan. Recently, from February 15-17, 2022, Jalore district administration, under the joint aegis of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) and Jalore Development Committee organized the Jalore Festival. A special program of Mojadi - Jalori Jutti was held on the opening day of the festival, which was named – ‘Mojadi hai shaan, Jalore ki pehchan’ (Mojadi is a pride, an identity of Jalore).

In this unique event, a large number of citizens of the district and surrounding areas, wearing their hand-crafted Mojadi, were invited to participate in the national anthem show at Shah Punjaji Genaji Stadium of Jalore on 15th February at 10.30 am. A group of 1,000 people from the district and surrounding region was targeted for the national anthem, but an additional 275 people reached the venue. The residents of Jalore, who reached the stadium in large numbers, including children and elders wearing Jalori Mojadi and colorful turban, created history and set a national record. District Collector Ms Namarata Vrishni, IAS and Superintendent of Police (SP) Mr Harsh Vardhan Agarwala, IPS also participated in the program wearing Mojadi.

Altogether 1,275 people wearing Mojadi took part in the national anthem (Jan Gan Man) enthusiastically. The gathering included men, women, government employees and common citizens. All were proudly wearing colorful Mojadis. On this occasion, district officers, officials of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and secretary of Jalore Development Committee were present. This information was given by the coordinator of the event, Mr Kulwant Kalma. He is working as Executive Engineer at Zila Parishad Jalore, under the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Government of Rajasthan.

A team from the India Book of Records (IBR) awarded the certificate and the medal to Jalore District Administration for setting a national record for singing the National Anthem collectively at one place during the Jalore Mahotsav 2022 where maximum number of participants were present in handmade Mojadis.

The special type of Mojadi made in Bhinmal and Badgaon of Jalore district is very popular across the country. For the first time such a show was organized with the aim of giving the Jalori Mojadi proper recognition at the international level.

This programme was also aimed at supporting the Vocal for Local initiative of the Government of India. People wearing Mojadi later also took part in a Shobha Yatra.

Jalore Mahotsav was started in 2013 to promote local tourism and this time it was the 6th event. Jalore, the Tapobhoomi of Maharishi Jabali Rishi, is located in the southwest part of Rajasthan. Jalore district, adjacent to Barmer district known for its oil and mineral deposits in the northwest, is close to the Pakistan border. Even today, the traditional and cultural identity is maintained in this part of Rajasthan. Whether it was a ‘Gair’ or ‘Chang’ the performing arts of this region are appreciated well in the country and abroad. Jalore is also famous for its ‘loor’ dance by female artists and the ‘dhol’ dance by men.