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Area : |
342.239 square kilometres |
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Capital : |
Jaipur |
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Language : |
Rajasthani, Hindi |
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Economy : |
Mainly an agricultural state. Crops grown include
Rice, Barley, Gram, Wheat, Oilseeds, Pulses, Cotton, Tobacco, Red
chillies, Mustard, Cumin seeds, Fenugreek seeds and Asafoetida. Largest
wool-producing state. |
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Minerals : |
Zinc and Copper |
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Population : |
5,64,73,122 |
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People : |
The people include the Minas, the Meos, the Banjara, who are
travelling tradesmen and artisans; the Bhils, one of
the oldest peoples in India, and the Rabans of Marwar who are cattle
breeders. The Rajputs, famed in legend, represent only a small percentage
of the population. |
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Climate : |
In Summer Rajasthan is very hot characterized by hot winds and dust
storms especially in the desert. In the winter temperatures vary from 20
C to 24.50 C. |
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Culture : |
Rajasthan has a well-known folk
dance called "ghoomar", that is performed by women on
festive occasions. The folk dance called "geer" is performed by men and
women, the "panihari" is a graceful dance for women, and the popular "kacchi
ghori" dance involves male
dancers riding dummy horses.
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History : |
Rajasthan was a part of Ashoka's empire in the 3rd century BC. Later
in the 7th century AD the Bactrians, the Scythians, the Guptas, and
Harshavardhana ruled this region.
In the 7th to 11th century Rajasthan was ruled by several Rajput
dynasties. Under Bhoja I (836-885),their territory stretched from the
Himalayan foothills to the Narmada and from the middle Ganges Valley to
Sindh.
Later the Mughal invader, Babur, defeated Rana Sangram of Mewarand
capitalised his region. In the 16th century the Mughal emperor Akbar
tried to subdue the Rajputs through diplomacy and military action. While
the strongholds of Ranthambore and Chittor were besieged and
destroyed, other Rajput ruling houses were won over when Akbar married
their princesses and appointed their nobles to important positions in
the Mughal army. This practice of contracting matrimonial alliances with
the Rajputs continued after Akbar, and both the emperors, Jahangir and
Shah Jahan had Rajput mothers.
After the death of the emperor Aurangzeb the last believed emperor of
Mughal dynasty Maratha came into influence in the region. In the 18th
century Maratha power began to decline and the British stepped in.
During the freedom struggle Ajmer became the centre of political
activity. After independence, the Rajput princes gradually surrendered
their powers to the central government and the state of Rajasthan came
into being. |
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