Jaipur is also known as the City of Arts. It is famous for a variety of art forms in various fields of art and culture. There is a saying, ‘Like King, Like People'. The Kings of Jaipur knew their art and loved it dearly. That is the reason why Jaipur is a historically known art centre. Art is not limited to the walls and minarets of the traditional city, it is minced with the very air that its citizens breathe. The kingly tradition of art still flows strong in Jaipur and can be located at its epicentre- Jawahar Kala Kendra
Located on Jawaharlal Nehru, better known as JLN Marg, near Rajasthan University, this centre for arts and culture is an architectural marvel in itself. At present, ever inch of Jawahar Kala Kendra is full of people associated with art, whether art lovers or artists themselves. If you come visit the renowned Indian Coffee House at Jawahar Kala Kendra, you will find art blended in the rich aroma of the coffee served here!
Many art programmes are conducted and organised simultaneously at Jawahar Kala Kendra. It was constructed mainly to preserve Rajasthani art and sculpture by the Rajasthan government. Jawahar Kala Kendra is divided into eight blocks where offices, indoor theatre space, an open air theatre, art galleries, a coffee house, library, art studio, garden and a sculpture village are housed in an attractive formation. The weekly programmes organised on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are attended by people in large numbers. The centre also conducts all India Annual Craft Fairs, cultural programmes and art promotion events every year.
Jawahar Kala Kendra was completed in the year 1991. It was designed by the world renowned architect in the year 1986. He imagined Jawahar Kala Kendra keeping in mind Jaipur's landscape and its building construction style. Jawahar Kala Kendra now has distinctly local features and an indigenous design.
It was designed based on Indian Vaastu tradition and Indian astrology. It is divided into various blocks. Each block depicts a feature of its own. For example, the library is constructed into the Guru, or the Brahaspati, or the Jupiter block. Jupiter is the planet of knowledge according to Indian astrology. The coffee house is constructed in the moon block, the seats and tables are designed to depict the phases of the moon and the walls are painted to tell the raison d'être for the moon design. This design makes the coffee house especially attractive to people visiting the coffee house, particularly tourists and researchers. A special feature is that the astrologically calculated construction at Jawahar Kala Kendra is painted onto the walls of the Kendra.
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This monument of art was inaugurated on 8th April 1993. Jawahar Kala Kendra has endlessly hosted classical and folk tradition related shows since then. Such has been its growth since its inception that it now has the capacity to host national and international shows without batting an eyelid. More or less the shows conducted range from theatre, singing, dance, seminars to painting and sculpture and craft shows. Also on special occasions like festivals there are various community events organised at Jawahar Kala Kendra. From these particularly various art and craft festivals, book festivals, Rajasthani folk art festivals etc. are organised on a large scale at the sculpture village. The auditoriums are jam packed with theatre lovers ever Friday of the week at Jawahar Kala Kendra. Various discussions, seminars and film shows are also held at the auditoriums here. Jawahar Kala Kendra is the home of art not only for Jaipur and Rajasthan but also for the country as well. Art lovers appreciate this avatar of the centre.
Those living in Jaipur, or visiting the city, who still haven't soaked into the pleasures of Jawahar Kala Kendra's rich offerings are missing out on a plethora of rich art and culture offerings. Jawahar Kala Kendra is to be bookmarked and thoroughly perused if one is in the city.
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