Jaipur:
Some of India's finest jewellery is now glittering at a mega show in Jaipur.
Jewellers hope the show will help to revive the industry that's been crippled by global recession in the past year.
The show is a special tribute to Rajmata Gayatri Devi, Jaipur's legendary former queen, who passed away a few months ago.
Jaipur is the largest centre of gemstones in the world and exports gemstones of over Rs 1200 crore annually.
The show is an elegant tribute to royal India's iconic figure. Rajmata Gayatri Devi's remarkable life journey is reflected in all its variety and grandeur in the rare photographs and paintings on display at the jewellery show.
And the jeweller who organised this exhibition hopes to capture the beauty and grace of Rajmata's timeless legacy.
"She was closely involved in all activities in Jaipur. Whether it's this jewellery show or vintage car rallies or the game of polo, she used to love contributing to everything. Through these photographs, we hope to showcase her entire personality," said Sudhir Kasliwal, the curator of the exhibition.
The exhibition is a virtual history of Jaipur's transition from its princely past to the modern era.
Besides reflecting her fondness for jewellery, it depicts the Rajmata's multiple moods and gives a flavour of her unique persona.
Most viewers are clearly thrilled. "The jewellery here is very nice. But the way they have presented Gayatri Devi's show is really very beautiful. I have always looked upto Gayatri Devi. They have presented all the stages of her life. It is really wonderful," says one of them.
Over 60 per cent of the world's coloured gemstones are crafted in Jaipur.
But jewelers, hit hard by global recession, hope this four-day fair will help to bring back the shine to the jewellery industry.
With sparkling jewellery all around, this is a delightful feast for the eyes. But it's this pictographic tribute to Jaipur's most precious jewel, Gayatri Devi, that's captivating the eye of most visitors here.