Rajasthan Summer festival is an immensely colourful Indian festival which is observed in the area of Mount Abu which is celebrated in the honour of its cheerful inhabitants, whose beautiful lifestyles, customs and traditions are admired through this festive event. The festival draws a huge congregation due to the general generosity of the local residents and the unique charm of their very own culture, apart from the spectacular location. It is celebrated in the month of June during `Boodhi Purnima`, for three days and begins with the traditional presentation of a ballad followed by various performances of folk dances and a series of other interesting events. Visitors to the Summer Festival will imbibe a considerable amount of knowledge abut the tribal folklores and culture of the state of Rajasthan. The picturesque natural beauty of Mount Abu which is decorated with serene lakes, steep rocks and a comfortable climate makes the festival even more alluring.
Summer Festival of Rajasthan becomes more impressive on the second and third day of the festive event which witnesses some of the grandest activities like `Boat Race`, `Tug of War`, `Skating Race`, `CRPF Band Show`, `Skater`s Show`, `Deepdan` and `Panihari Matka Race`. A beautiful Boat Race is observed on the Nakki Lake, as well as the Rowing Competition which adds flavour to the Summer Festival. There exists a local legendary tale which claims that Gods had created the bed of this lake by digging the land with their finger-nails which are referred to as `Nakh` according to the Hindi language. Thereafter, the lake had been termed as Nakki Lake, which is why it is deeply revered by the local inhabitants of Mount Abu. Classical music and numerable folk dances which include `Daph`, `Gair`, `Ghoomer`, etc. are performed in this festival.
The audience is successfully entertained by means of the `Sham-e-Qawwali` which is a wonderful musical show, participated by singers and `qawwals` from many portions of the country. Mesmerising fireworks illuminate the sky during this festival, which fill the tourists with awe. Reaching the Summer Festival at Mount Abu is quite simple and the nearest airport to Mount Abu is Udaipur which is located at a distance of 185 kms from Mount Abu. One can avail buses and taxis from the railway station and the airport, while on can also enjoy bus services from Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur and Udaipur.
