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Situated on the banks of the
river Yamuna, this little city of Agra is one of the major tourist
destinations of the world due to the presence of many splendid
Mughal-era buildings as Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. The
three are aclaimed as the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. These
monuments are the heritage sites of our country. Agra is the third
biggest city in Uttar Pradesh.
Agra is a city of the past filled with graveyards and stones. It is
a vibrant center of Culture, Art and Religious philosophies. Agra is
famous for handicrafts products as leatherwork, footwear, brass
wear, carpets, jewelry, zari and embroidery work.
Origin of name of Agra
Agra was perhaps named after the Indian city where the great
monument, Taj Mahal was located. Some say that the city was named
after the daughter of an official of the Rock Island Railroad.
History of Agra
Taj mahalAgra finds mention in the Mhabharata, where it is mentioned
as Agrabana. Ptolemy the famous second century A.D. geographer,
marked it on his map as Agra. It is believed that Sultan Sikandar
Lodi, the Ruler of Delhi Sultanate founded Agra in the year 1504.
After his death the city passed on to the hands of his son Sultan
Ibrahim Lodi. He ruled the Sultanate from Agra until he fell
fighting to Babur in the First battle of Panipat. It is said that
the golden age of Agra began with the Mughals. It was then the
capital of the Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar, Jahangir and Shah
Jahan. The city was known then as Akbarabad. It was one of the
important cities in India under the rule of Mughals.
Laal KilaIt was Babur( Mughal Dynasty), who laid the first Persian
garden on the banks of River Yamuna. His grandson Akbar raised the
towering ramparts of the Great Red Fort. He also made Agra a center
for learning arts, commerce and religion. Akbar also built a new
city on the outskirts of Akbarabad called Fatehpur Sikri. Akbar`s
son Jahangir laid many gardens inside the Red Fort or Laal Kila.
Shah Jahan gifted Akbarabad the most eternal monument of love, The
Taj Mahal, which he built in the loving memory of his wife Mumtaz
Mahal. Taj Mahal was complete in 1648. His son Aurangazeb later
shifted his capital to Akbarabad and imprisoned his father in a fort
there. Akbarabad remained capital of India during the rule of
Aurangzeb until he shifted it to Aurangabad in 1653.
After the downfall of the Mughal Empire, the city came under the
influence of Marathas and Jats and was called Agra, before the land
fell into the clutches of the British Raj in 1803.
Culture of Agra
Agra is an amalgamation of various cultures. The traces of the
different cultures can be seen in each and every part of the
country. The city is a mixture of both rustic and modern lifestyle.
As Agra falls under the Brij region in Uttar Pradesh. The city is
influenced by the Brij culture. People`s food habits, language and
attires have influences from the Brij culture. The culture of Agra
can be described as amalgamation of Brij culture and Mughal culture.
We see that two different cultures come together to form the culture
of Agra India. Men were dhoti and kurta and women wear traditional
sarees.
eid festival The festivals celebrated in Agra are Eid-ul-Fitr,
Eid-ul-Adha, Muharrum, Diwali,Taj Mahotsav etc. Agra is also popular
for its Id Melas and the colourful Tazias taken out on Muharram.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is popularly celebrated here. The
Taj Mahotsav festival is a culturally vibrant platform that brings
together the finest Indian crafts and cultural nuances. There are
celebrations ranging from folk music, poetry, classical dance
performances, elephant and camel rides to games and a food festival.
There are possessions with decorated elephants, camels, drumbeaters,
folk artists and master craftsmen. The Taj food festival is an
experience to savor exotic cuisines and delicacies and the Craft
Mela exhibits exquisite crafts like marble inlays, wood carvings,
brass and metal ware, handmade carpets, the blue pottery, the Chikan
works, Banares Silk etc. There are other festivals that are common
to other regions of the country.
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