Category: Festival

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Festival Ghoomophiro Blog

All you need to know Kawad Yatra including 2023 guidelines

While Hinduism has several pilgrimages, the Kawad Yatra has gained considerable popularity over the years, and it attracts a large number of devotees from different parts of India. It is particularly prominent in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan, where the yatra has been a part of the local culture for generations. This blog shall cover all you need to know about Kawad Yatra, with a special focus on 2023.

All you need to know about Kawad Yatra

Kawad Yatra is a religious pilgrimage in India that is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the holy trinities of Hindus and the God of destruction. It is an annual event that takes place during the Hindu calendar month of Shravan. Normally, Shravan or Savan covers a period of nearly 29 days from July to August. However, this year it shall have a total of 59 days, making the Kawad Yatra even more special. The yatra involves devotees carrying water from the holy river Ganges in Haridwar or other sacred places and walking long distances to offer it at Shiva temples.

Kawad Yatar is an arduous pilgrimage, and the people carrying it are called Kawadiyas. Kawadiyas carry special pots called Kawads on their shoulders by suspending them from a bamboo pole. The awards are filled with water from Ganga, which is the holiest river according to the Hindu religion. The award is decorated with colorful cloth, flowers, and many religious symbols. The devotees must undertake this arduous journey on foot, which often involves covering long distances of several kilometers or even hundreds of kilometers, depending on their dedication.

The history of the Kawad Yatra dates back to India’s ancient times and is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and religious traditions. The origins of the yatra can be traced at least to the Puranas, which are ancient Hindu scriptures.

The mythological legend related to Kawad Yatra is that of Samudra Manthan. Samundra Manthan literally means churning of the ocean and refers to the Hindu legend of the churning of the cosmic ocean by gods and demons who were trying to obtain the elixir of immortality (Amrit). According to Hindu mythology, a pot of poison called halahal emerged from the ocean during the Samudra Manthan. This poison was so potent, according to myth, that it had the potential to destroy the entire universe. To save the universe, Lord Shiva drank the poison. However, instead of swallowing it, he held it in his throat, which turned blue. Thus earning him the nickname “Neelkanth,” meaning “the one with a blue throat.”

The Kawad Yatra is celebrated as a way of showing gratefulness to Lord Shiva. Devotees undertake the pilgrimage to carry the holy water from the Ganges, which symbolizes the divine nectar, and offer it to Lord Shiva at various temples as a sign of their gratitude and as a small gesture of offering relief to the almighty Shiva, who still holds poison in his throat to save the universe.

By participating in this arduous journey, devotees seek blessings and forgiveness for their sins, and they express their devotion and gratitude to Lord Shiva. The Kawad Yatra is a significant event for devotees of Lord Shiva, and it is believed to fulfill their wishes and bring blessings. The yatra is also an excellent way for devotees to demonstrate their devotion and seek spiritual growth. Along the way, devotees chant various prayers and hymns dedicated to Lord Shiva, sing Shiva artis and bhajans (devotional songs), and participate in religious rituals.

As for the route of the yatra, different regions in India have their own traditions and rituals associated with the Kawad Yatra. For example, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, devotees might undertake the yatra to the famous Shiva temple in Sultanganj, while in Rajasthan, the yatra is often associated with the temple of Neelkanth Mahadev in Pali district.

The Kawad Yatra is not only a pilgrimage but also has also become a cultural event, attracting not only religious devotees but also tourists who are fascinated by the grandeur and devotion displayed during the pilgrimage.

Kawad Yatra, sometimes called Kanwar Yatra, is just one of the ways in which devotees show their devotion to Lord Shiva; there are also Sawan Somwar vets – the fasts associated with the cosmic couple, that is, Lord Shiva and his consort Maa Parvati. That is why the two-month-long Savan holds special spiritual importance for Hindus.

There are also some other reasons for the importance of this month for Shiva Bhakta. For example, Lord Shiva would go to his in-law’s house every monsoon, and he was welcomed to earth with a Jalabhishek. On Shiva Purnima, which is the full month day of this month (and will come twice this year), Lord Shiva himself takes the form of water and receives cosmic energies from the same.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s)

There are several questions that the readers may have about Kawad Yatra. The following are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s):

Question: Why does Savan this year has 59 days? Isn’t that twice as long as a typical month in the Indian calendar?

Answer: Savan this year has 59 days which means there will be two months of Savan this year. The extra month is also called Adhik Mas (additional month), Malmas, or Purusthotam Mas. This is a periodic but rare phenomenon that occurs after 19 years. The Hindu calendar is a lunar one and has 29.5 days in a month to ensure that it doesn’t deviate too much from seasons; an extra month is added every 19 years.

Question: What are some of the rules for Kawad Yatra?

Answer: The following are rules to be followed for Kawad Yatra:

  • No transportation is allowed. The whole pilgrimage must be made by foot.
  • The pilgrim cannot drink or even touch any type of intoxication, drugs, drinks, or meat. No form of tamasic food is allowed.
  • Don’t touch Kawad without bathing first.
  • Don’t let Kawad ever be touched by leather.
  • Don’t ever place Kawad below a bed or any piece of furniture.
  • Don’t place Kawad over your head.

If the reader has any other questions, they should feel free to ask them here.

Ten Most Famous Shiva Temples of India

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Festival

Celebration of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti in Punjab

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is celebrated every year on the 5 January.  The Guru Gobind was the tenth guru of Sikhs and he was born in Patna. But in Punjab, this Jayanti also celebrates grandly. This day all gurudwara decorates from the lights and candles. Most of the pilgrimages visit Punjab for celebrating Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti. Recently I went to Punjab at this grand celebration and enjoyed really. So I suggest once you should visit Punjab on this day. Here I am sharing my experience and some enjoyable moments.

The beginning of my trip

Most of the pilgrimage visited the Amritsar because of the golden temple. And I also visited the golden temple in Amritsar. I reached Amritsar before 2 or 3 days ago because the celebration started in 2 days ago. So I visited other places in the mornings like Paonta village and Anandpur villages. The Paonta village is famous because here guru Gobind Singh writes rules and books for Sikhs dharmas. And the place of Anandpur is the birthplace of Shri Keshargarh sahib. I visited both villages and ate food in Anandpur villages. On the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti in Amritsar, I saw the better arrangement of managing people.

Exploring the culture

As I mentioned above the city is decorated with lights and candles. And here I stay in the hotel that is near to gurudwara.  At night the celebration started with prayer. However, the festival of Jayanti is started 2 days ago of Akhand Panth and it culminates on 5 January. When I entered the gurudwara the pundits were reading holy Shri Granth sahib that is written by guru Gobind sahib. Before 2 days of Jayanti, the Prabhat Pheri start. In this Pheri, many processions were singing hymns and others were offering tea or sweets of the pilgrimage who visited. On the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh the kirtan start. I enjoyed the kirtan but when you visit gurudwara you have to wear a kurta salwar.

The most awaited moment

On the 5th of January this day I was really excited to see the golden temple. So I went temple after ready and prayed to the god. However, in gurudwara, you can eat langar every day, but today’s langar is special. Today, the food prepared of Sarson ka sag with ghee or other vegetables for the langar. I really enjoy the food that I ate in the langar.  This day I saw the culture of Punjab many pilgrimage sing prayers and bhangra dance. I also joined bhangra dance and learn other cultures as well. At night I visit some gardens like a rock garden, Jalliawala bagh, and many more.

The end

I enjoyed too much my journey and I suggest you should also visit Punjab on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti. Not only Amritsar but also on the Paonta villages also celebrates this day. So I visited so many places on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti.

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Festival South India Travel Trends

Human By Nature making Kerala truly God’s Country

Kerala has always been fascinating for us as ghoomophirosisters. The first time we went to meet a friend in Kochi, we extended our vacation to explore the humans of Kerala. We are penning down this article to support and spread the word of the latest campaign of Kerala Tourism Board “Human by Nature”, which truly resonates with our experience too. 

Keralites are diverse and colorful

Kerala boasts of having some of the most diverse folks. During your stroll in the morning, you can find fishermen’s getting ready for their day working out with their nets, while some of the women would be busy drawing creative Rangolis, where-as there are homestays, where you would be surprised to see kids learning local martial art Kalaripayattu. For us, it was about imbibing their day journey within us. 

Not only this, like any other Indian state, Keralites are firm believers of “athithi devo bhav”, meaning “guests are god”. You can truly live this experience while you are staying with locals in homestays like we did or in the house-boats of Alleppey. They are too eager to share their culture, their lifestyle with us, which makes us feel very overwhelming. During our visit to Munnar, few ladies who were busy plucking tea-leaves even agree to share how their day look like and much more. The broad smile on their faces and the kids with them was heartening and radiating positivity about the place. We were completely submerged in their non-fussy, simplistic, uncomplicated culture which was evident in everything they were pursuing.

An open-minded approach and a multicultural attitude have, undoubtedly, allowed Kerala to become one of the most progressive states in India.

We were lucky to visit the place during Onam and the residents of the homestay, where we chose to stay, made sure we both participate with our full enthusiasm. Their hospitality was unmatchable.

Sharing this video from Kerala Tourism Board, which will make you believe what exactly we just said. This 3-minute clip encapsulates the power of humans, the inclusivity and magnificence that Keralites behold to make the state furthermore beautiful.

“The Food”, to satiate your coconut craving

Well, being a vegetarian, we were delighted to have such a wide variety of cuisines, though coconut and rice were the key ingredients. Thoroughly enjoyed the permutations and combinations that we ate.

Nature at its best 

Nothing could be more romantic than viewing the green Munnar tea-plantation to cruising in the backwaters of Alleppey to lazing in the white beaches of Kovalam with your special someone. The beauty of Kerala is the result of its landscape diversity which includes almost 600km of gorgeous beaches; a slow-paced network of jungle backwaters, the tea-covered hills. We still recall our key itinerary spots. Adding them here, so that you add them in your itinerary too.

  • Kochi, famous for its amazing Chinese fishing nets and the sunsets.
  • Thekkady, where you will rejoice yourself with elephants.
  • Munnar, a hill station that will make you fall in love with its green tree-plantation
  • Alleppey, Cruise in its backwaters and stay in the houseboat
  • Kovalam, beachside scenic place
  • Wayanad, part of Kerala which is an adventure-lovers paradise.

And last but not least, there is a reason why Kerala boasts of being amongst top travel destinations and that reason is wonderful people of  Kerala apart from its quintessential beauty. Summing up the post with the sunset at Cherai Beach!!

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Kerala Tourism 

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Festival Travel Tips Travel Trends

Best Sound and Light Shows in India

Eyes, the perceiver of light, are our most used sense organ – in fact, used more than all the other senses combined. Ears, perceivers of sound, take the second spot. And they are also the sense organs with which we take most of our pleasure in – whether it be through music or physical beauty of Alia Bhat. Light and Sound show combined the ability of these two organs to receive pleasure much as movies and theatre do. What sets light and sound shows is that they have lesser involvement of artists compared to theatres. They sprung up during the 1960s and 1970s when music concerts which were immensely popular at that time started using theatrical techniques that controlled lights to enhance the aesthetic of the experience they offered.

The sound and light shows have seen a decline in popularity but have survived and might find revival as new technologies enhance the experience they are capable of providing. With air pollution creating intense health hazards during festival season in Delhi, the government of Delhi had held a new Lights and Sound show to deflect people from using crackers that are a major source of the decline in the quality of air around that time of year.

Today, we shall bring you a list of Light and Sound shows in India that simply can not be missed. :

1. Light and Sound Show at Purana Qila, Delhi

This light show is probably the best and most entertaining way of learning about culture during the time of Mughal rulers and thus makes it to our list of best Light and Sound Shows in India. Locally known by the beautiful name of ‘Ishq-e-Dilli’ or ‘love of Delhi’, the show celebrates the 5000-year-old history of India.

The show is managed by Delhi tourism and the ticket for the show is 100 INR for adults and 50 INR for children (3 to 12 years) and senior citizens.

How to reach Light and Sound Show at Purana Qila, Delhi?

The festival, being held in one of the oldest forts of New Delhi, is easiest to reach.

When is Light and Sound Show at Purana Qila, Delhi held?

Every day except Sunday. If you wish to see it in Hindi go for the 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. show whereas if you will like to see it in English, go from 9.00 p.m.To 10.00 p.m. show.

2. Light and Sound Show at Red Fort, Delhi

Another Light and sound show from the capital city, Light and Sound Show at Red Fort is next in our list best light shows in India. A Light and Sound Show that has to find a mention in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, the Booker prize nominated and shortlisted book by Arundhati Roy; it also has the advantage of being held at one of the most important landmarks of the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be early to have your fill of this historical site before you move on to Light and Sound Show.

The show has a ticket costing 60 INR on weekdays and 80 INR on weekends and government holidays for adults. For children between 3 to 12 years of age, the ticket costs 20 INR for weekdays and 30 INR on weekends.

How to reach Light and Sound Show at Red Fort, Delhi?

Red Fort is a landmark in Delhi and thus very easy to reach.

When is the Light and Sound Show at Red Fort, Delhi held?

Every day except Mondays from 7.30. p.m. to 8.30. p.m. for shows in Hindi language and 9.00 p. m. to 10.00 p.m. in the English language.

3. Light and Sound Show at Amber Fort, Jaipur

The Light and Sound Show of Jaipur is the best way to learn about the beautiful Pink city. The shower covers the history of Amber Fort along with the stories of 28 kings of the Kachhwaha told through music which is sometimes folk and sometimes Bollywood combined with just the right amounts of commentary.

The well preserved Amber Fort is located near Aravalli mountains and Jaipur’s City lights complement the light show immensely well. And the Light and Sound Show is hardly the only attraction for tourists in Jaipur. There is a ticket of 250 INR for the show.

How to reach Light and Sound Show at Amber fort, Jaipur?

Jaipur is well connected to the rest of the country having its airport – Sanganer International Airport. It also is a major railway junction. By roadways, it is connected to the rest of the country via National Highways 8, 11 and 12.

When is Light and Sound Show at Amber fort, Jaipur held?

The show is held all seven days of the week but the timings of the show vary according to the time of the year. There are shows in both Hindi and English and are normally held in evenings and nights. The Hindi shows start at 8 PM in April, 8:30 from May to September and for the rest of the year, the show starts at 7:30 P.M.

The English show starts an hour earlier than the Hindi show – that is, at 7 PM from  March and April, 7:30 P.M. from May to September and 6:30 P.M. for the rest of the year.

4. Light and Sound Show at Golconda Fort, Hyderabad

Hyderabad is one of the most beautiful cities in India and is adorned with a rich history. The best way to learn about its rich history is the Light and Sound show held at Golconda Fort of the city – which makes it to the fourth position in our list of Light and Sound shows. This Light and Sound Show narrated the history of the city when it was ruled by the Qutub Shahi dynasty.

How to reach Light and Sound Show at Golconda Fort?

Hyderabad has its own international airport – Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and 3 railway stations. The city also enjoys great road connectivity. Thus the city enjoys great connectivity by rail, road, and air. Golconda Fort is a local landmark and you will have no trouble reaching it.

When does the Light and Sound Show at Golconda Fort start?

The show has a capacity of 400 people strong audience. The timings vary a lot. For English shows, the timings are 7:00 P.M. from March to October and 6:30 P.M. for November through February.

The other show can either be in Hindi or Telugu – and you must confirm the language if that is the show you are after. It starts an hour and a quarter after the English show – that is 8:15 P.M. from March to October and 7:45 P.M from November to February. The show has a ticket the cost 140 INR for Executive class adults and 110 INR for other adults. For children, it 80 INR for executive class and 60 INR for the rest.

5. Light and Sound Show at Somnath Temple, Gujarat

Leaving History alone for a while, let us now take up Light and Sound show that promise a spiritual experience.

The Somnath Temple of Gujrat doesn’t need a Light and Sound show to attract tourists as it is a Temple of great religious importance to Hindus being one of 12 jyotirlingas of the world. The temple is dedicated to great god Lord Shiva.

That said it does have a brilliant light and sound show using laser lights called Jai Somnath Show. The shows tell you about the history of the temple that was destroyed and reconstructed several times. If that is not enough, the evening arti too is quite a light show in itself.

The show has a ticket of mere 25 INR.

How to reach Light and Sound Show at Somnath Temple, Gujarat?

The nearest airport is at Diu which is 63 kilometers away and you can take taxis from there. The nearest railway station is at Veraval, only 5 kilometers from Somnath. The best way to travel to Somnath is by road and the city enjoys immense road connectivity. We highly recommend combining your trip with that to Dwarka and Diu.

When is Light and Sound Show at Somnath Temple, Gujarat held?

The show is held throughout the year from 8 P.M. to 9 P.M. every day.

6. Sound and Light Show at City Palace, Udaipur

Next in our list of Light and Sound Shows is one held at City Palace, Udaipur. It is the first privately owned Sound and Light show of India. It has its own script titles “Yash Ki Dharohar” written by the respected writer Pandit Narendra Mishra.

The amazing show is carried out in an open area between the palace known as the Manek chowk. The show has a set of 12 episodes, which are showcased one after the other. It is based upon the rich history of the Mewar dynasty. The city palace is immensely well maintained and sitting arrangements are unparalleled for such shows in India.

How to reach Sound and Light Show at City Palace, Udaipur?

The city has its own domestic airport although it is still 22 kilometers away from the city and you might have to hire a cab. The bus stand is within the city and enjoys good road connectivity. The railway connectivity is also good as the city has its own railway station.

When is Sound and Light Show at City Palace, Udaipur held?

The Sound and Light Show at City Palace, Udaipur has its timings from 8:00 pm to 9:00 p.m. from May to August and 8:30 to 9:30 P.M. for the rest of the year. One of the major perks is that the tickets can be booked online and so you don’t have to stand in long queues.

7. Light and Sound Show at Victoria Memorable, Kolkata

Victoria Memorable at Kolkata was constructed in the honor of Queen Victoria. The building that is over a hundred-year-old is a monument of colonial heritage but has been converted into a museum. Come early in order to have your fill of the amazing artifacts the museum has to offer. In the evenings, it holds a Sound and Light Show named pride and glory of the city of Kolkata – celebrating the rich history of the city which was always at the root of India’s freedom struggle.

How to reach Kolkata?

Kolkatta has its own airport – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU). The railway and road connectivity are equally brilliant.

When is Light and Sound Show at Victoria Memorable held?

The timings for the show in Bengali Show from October to February are 6.15 pm to 07.00 pm and from 06.45 pm to 07.30 pm from March to June. While English shows are held from 07.15 pm to 08.00 pm from October to February and from 07.45 pm to 08.30 pm from March to June. There are no shows for months of July and September. Also, there are no shows on Mondays and National holidays.

8. Light and Sound Show at Mysore Palace, Mysore

Mysore Palace is one of the best palaces in India. One element, for example, has shown the Hindu mythological Goddess Chamundi slew the demon Mahishasure. It has a rich history in India’s freedom struggle – and all the better, if you don’t know about it as then you can learn it from the Sound and Light show held in the city palace.

How to reach Light and Sound Show at Mysore Palace, Mysore?

The nearest airport is at Bangalore only which is a good 170 kilometers away but you can catch a bus from there as Mysore enjoys good road connectivity. Railways are another good option and are only at a distance of 2 kilometers from the city.

How to reach Light and Sound Show at Mysore Palace, Mysore?

If you are going to visit this place, then the timing which you take into consideration is 07.00 pm to 07.40 pm, and the show will remain closed on Sundays along with the national holidays.

Last words

This is all from us today however these are not all the sound and light shows, there are many others such as –

1. Brindaban Sound and Light Show, Mysore, Karnataka

2. Sound and Light Show at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Panjab

3. Sound and Light Show, Hampi, Karnataka

4. Sound and Light Show, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh

5. Sound and Light Show, Port Blair, Andaman, and the Nicobar Islands

6. Sound and Light Show, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

This is all from us. We hope you give this unique form of entertainment a chance because the experience they have to offer is enchanting.

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Culture Festival Travel Trends

Best Festivals of India in March that will leave you backpacking

India is a land of festivals. There is no end to festivals that are celebrated in this land rightly popular for the diversity of its cultures, traditions, religions, and celebrations.

Today we bring you a list of best festivals of India in March that will leave you backpacking:

1. International Yoga Festival

The International Yoga Festival is gaining popularity along with Yoga as a welcome break from our busy lives. The best place to experience this festival to be held during the first week of 2020 (March 1 to 7) is Rishikesh – more specifically at Parmarth Niketan. Though yoga training sessions will be held throughout the city as well as the country. Rishikesh is immensely gifted with nature’s beauty with the Ganga river flowing through this little city of temples and Himalayas creating Panoramic views.

How to reach Rishikesh?

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant airport at Dehra Dun 35 kilometers while the nearest railway station is at a distance of 25 kilometers at Haridwar. The best way to reach Rishikesh is by road and the city enjoys some credible road connectivity.

2. Parippally Gajamela

The word ‘Gajam’ in the name means elephant and ‘mela’ means fair. The festival held on March 4 every year is observed in Paripally Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakaali Temple, Kollam district in the state of Kerala. It was originally a profession where wealthy families of Kerala flaunted their wealth by ornamenting their elephants. Besides the procession of elephants, the Mela is an awesome place to enjoy local cultural shows and folk music.

How to reach Kollam for Parippally Gajamela?

The nearest bus stand is Kollam Junction, about 22 km away from Paripally whereas the nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport about 45 km away. The road transportation is available.

3. Eternal Mewar Holika Dahan

When it comes to Holi, Mathura and Vrindavan are of course the first place comes to mind as Lord Krishna born there used to popularly celebrate the festival with Gopis.

However, we will wish you to head to Udaipur for this festival which was an obvious member in our list of best Festivals of India in March that will leave you backpacking.

Holi is probably the second most popular Hindu festival after Diwali. The festival is marked with the symbolism of victory of Good over evil. In 2020, it falls from March 9 to March 10. among the most celebrated festival in the country. Holika Dehan is held on the evening of the first day and the next morning, people play with colors and water. We recommend you celebrate this is Udaipur City Palace where the royal family has still upheld the traditions of celebrating the festival.

How to reach Udaipur for Eternal Mewar Holika Dehan?

The city has its own domestic airport although it is still 22 kilometers away from the city and you might have to hire a cab. The bus stand is within the city and enjoys good road connectivity. The railway connectivity is also good as the city has its own railway station.

4. Lathmar Holi

Another form of Holi called Lathmar Holi is next in our list of Best Festivals of India in March that will leave you backpacking is Lathmar Holi. Here it is celebrated with the modification that women use bamboos on men while men try to throw colors at women. Feel guarantee to have a choice of the best cuisine. We recommend you head to Barsana and Nandgaon near Mathura to enjoy this strange form of a festival.

How to reach Barsana and Nandgaon for Lathmar Holi?

You can catch the bus from Mathura. Agra airport is nearest to Mathura but has very few flights. Mathura is a major railway junction and the city enjoys both road and rail connectivity.

5. Deccan Festival

The 5-day festival celebrated from February 25 to March 1 and makes the next item in our Best Festivals of India in March that will leave you backpacking. Head to Qutub Shahi Tombs of Hyderabad to be a part of this festival which is marked by a display of art, culture, music, poetry and culinary delight. Plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs as you have the option of choosing from countless souvenirs from around the region. Mushairas and Qwalies held here are world-famous.

How to reach Hyderabad?

Hyderabad has its own international airport – Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and 3 railway stations. The city also enjoys great road connectivity. Thus the city enjoys great connectivity by rail, road, and air. Golconda Fort is a local landmark and you will have no trouble reaching it.

5. Basanta Utsav

The Basanta Utsav falling on March 10 next year is a festival celebrated much the same as Holi – that is with music and colors and falls on the same day as Holi.

However, if colors are not your thing, head to Shantinikaten – a quiet place in West Bengal dedicated to studying of arts. It is famous for Vishwa Bharati University which was started by the renowned and Asia’s first Nobel Prize for literature winner Sir Rabindranath Tagore. The festival is celebrated here by holding a number of cultural festivals. The aesthetic experience is simply unique and thrilling. The festival is also known as ‘Dol Jatra’ or the ‘Dol Utsav’ and “Rabindrik Basanta Utsav”.

The students wear yellow clothes and the shows are simply amazing. Art, music, and dance come together to create an incredible celebration.

Another reason why you should visit Shantiniketan is there are several places of interest near it including :

Amar Kutir which displays several locally made handicrafts

Tagore’s Aashram – an ashram built by father

Chattimtala – the spot where Tagore’s Father used to meditate.

Deer Park which is home to a naturally bred large family of deer

Khoai Mela which is a weekly fair where artisans from nearby places set up stalls.

How to reach Santiniketan?

The nearest airport to Shantiniketan is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) which lies at a distance of 139 km. Bolpur Railway Station is only 2.8 km away. Santiniketan is very easily accessible by roads from nearby cities like Guwahati, Kolkata, and Durgapur.

6. Jaipur Elephant Festival

If Kerala is too far for you, you can head to Jaipur to appease the Elephant lover in you where Jaipur Elephant festival will be held on March 10, 2020. The festival is dedicated to Lord Ganesha who bears the head of an elephant. The elephants are adorned, cultural events are organized, the whole city is decorated with beautiful colors and there is festive air throughout the pink city.

How to reach Jaipur?

Jaipur is well connected to the rest of the country having its own airport – Sanganer International Airport. It also is a major railway junction. By roadways, it is connected to the rest of the country via National Highways 8, 11 and 12.

7. Vela’s Turtle Festival

The nature lover in you is gonna love the next festival in our list of Best Festivals of India in March that will leave you backpacking. Vela’s Turtle festival is held in March every year. It is a conservation program which you watch tiny, rare and of course cute highly endangered Olive Ridley turtle babies making their way to the sea at Velas Beach, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The date of the festival varies highly and depends on hatching time and you will have to keep a look at websites throughout the month of March. As many as 4 batches are made for the purpose.

How to reach Ratnagiri to celebrate Vela’s Turtle Festival?

The nearest airport – Goa International Airport is located at a distance of 188 kilometers away. The city enjoys better railway connectivity. By road, it is connected to nearby cities like Mumbai, Cochin, Madgaon, Mangalore, Udupi, Karwar by National Highway 17.

8. Arratu Festival

One of the most important festivals in our list Best Festivals of India in March that will leave you backpacking is Arratu Festival. One of the most well-known festivals of Kerala, Arratu Festival is a 10-day celebration which falls from March 15 to March 24 in 2020. Though it is held in several days, the best place to enjoy it is Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram where the idols are taken to the Shankumugham Beach for the holy bath. The procession is led by the head of the royal family of what was once the empire of Travancore.

How to reach Thiruvananthapuram for Arratu Festival?

The city is well connected by air, rail, and road to the rest of the country with its own international airport and as many as five railway stations.

9. Shigmotsav

The next festival in our list of Best Festivals of India in March that will leave you backpacking Shigmotsav gives you amazing opportunities to enjoy the unique culture of Goa as people of the state dress in fleshy, colorful costumes and dance to local folk music and give live performances to celebrate the coming of Spring. The Float Parade is the best thing about this festival.

How to reach Goa?

The state enjoys brilliant connectivity by air, road, and railways. And you will feel spoilt for the choices.

10. Panguni Uthiram

Panguni Uthiram is next in our list of Best Festivals of India in March that will leave you backpacking. It is an important Tamil festival in which thousands of devotees flocking to all Murugan temples. The ten-day festival falls from March 28 to April 6 in 2020. Head to the Subrahmanya temple to be a part of the celebration of this festival auspicious to Lord Vishnu as well as Lord Shiva.

How to reach Subrahmanya temple for Panguini?

The nearest airport Mangalore International is 84 kilometers away. Your best bet is to depend on road transportation which is quite good.

11. Hoysala Mahotsav

Hoysala Mahotsav falls on March 16 next year and thus makes to our list of Best Festivals of India in March that will leave you backpacking. This one-day celebration at Hoysala Mahotsav held at Hoysala temple Belur and Halebid in Karnataka is joined by a number of Bollywood celebrities.

How to reach Belur Halebid?

Mangalore airport and Bangalore have the closest airports while Hassan railway station accepts trains from Mangalore, Mysore, and Bangalore. You can use cabs locally.

Last words

This is all from us on the Best Festivals of India in March that will leave you backpacking. Did we miss one? Tell us in the comments below. 🙂

Categories
Culture Festival Foodie

Experience of a Vegetarian in Delhi Street Food Festival 2019

We recently attended the Delhi street food festival 2019 that is organized by NASVI (national association of street vendor of India) people come to different states from India in this festival. In Delhi many types of food festivals organized. The food festival I attend where I saw up to 150 food stalls and performances like music, dance, many lip-smacking cuisines from different states of India. It’s not necessary that the only participant attend this festival. But if you are crazy about food like me then you should go and attend this festival once a time. Sharing a few glimpses from the event.

Category of food that you find in Delhi street food festival

At this festival, I ate panipuri, chole bhature, momos, pav bhaji, etc.  But I ate tasty and delicious veg food then I’m sure nonveg must be tasty. So back to veg food- I started from the panipuri or golgappa because I love it. So I ate the first variety of golgappa like Dahi, meetha, tikha, and then I moved on pav bhaji. Apart from all this food I love Chinese but I visited this stall at last because there was too much crowd. During eating food I also enjoyed music and dance. But the time when I was visiting the Chinese stall I ate all types of noodles, momos, Manchurian, paneer tikka, etc. You can eat here samosa kachori, aloo chaat, Bishan Swaroop chaat, paratha, puri sabzi and many more.

You should visit once, I’m sure you also enjoy this food festival. You can make friends. The festival was for 2 or 3 days. So in this festival, the chef also came to taste food and given a rating of the stall. According to the rating or marks, the stall owner becomes the winner. The last day of this festival music band performed and I really enjoyed this music with my favorite food.

Here I shared my experience of the Delhi street food festival 2019. Thank you!!!

Categories
Beaches Culture Festival Relax Travel Trends

Cashew Trail in Goa

In many ways, Goa is a fragment of West dislocated to the shores of India. The state has a culture as diverse as it’s cuisine – finding its inspiration from the Portuguese that once ruled it, Hinduism which was once prominent religion here, Christianity which has dug its roots deep inside its soil, the English speaking world which the youth here or the tourists have adopted themselves into.

There are many unique things in which this unique mixture of culture and values shows itself. One of them is increasingly popular Cashew Trail festival. If you have been to Goa, you probably would have drink feni, Goa’s national drink. Feni is made out of cashew.

Cashew Trail Festival is a 10-day festival organized by Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa. The festival celebrates cashew and drinks created from it – and their rich history.

Cashew tree was brought to Goa by Portuguese over 500 years ago. The impact of this fruit, well, technically it is not fruit but you know what I mean, Cashew’s impact on local culture has been so strong that it has inspired Thomas Abraham, general manager, Park Hyatt Goa to trademark the phrase ‘Cashew trail’ and initiate efforts to turn the harvesting time into a cultural event.

Launched in 2017 in collaboration with Vazs — Valentino, Mac, and Cedric of Madame Rosa Distillery, which Goa’s largest feni maker; Cashew festival refuses to be just another encyclopedic or museum activity. Instead, what we got to experience here was a diverse range of activity – cooking classes, cocktail lessons, cycle rides, barbeques.

You do however get to see the entire process from harvesting of cashews to the creation of Feni. The cashew orchids are a world apart from the rest of the Goa, suddenly you are in a place that doesn’t look like Goa or for that matter anywhere in India. The orchids present amazing sights of tranquil beauty to feed one’s eyes upon. And you can just pluck a fruit straight from the tree and start sucking on it! (Yummy!)

The cashew fruits are only used when ripened, they are thus picked from ground Instead of being plucked. A long stick with a pointed end is used for the purpose which is called Kanta

The feni-appreciation is probably the biggest highlight of this annual festival. With 42 percent liquor content, it tastes delicious and can easily make you tipsy if you drink too much of it which you probably will because like we said … Delicious. Just one sip of any of countless variations it comes in will help one realize that no other drink deserves to become a cultural symbol of Goa than Feni.

It is thus natural that the 10 day festival of Cashew Trail should make one forget all about everything else, the rest of world simply must lose itself to irrelevance as Goa gets high on its Feni lust.

There are two more drinks that we must mention. One of them is Urrak – formed at first distillation of Cashews. It has lower alcohol content (about 15 percent) and goes well with lime or lemonade substitute. If you were looking for a stronger drink, Goa’s special brew King’s bear beats them all.

Where to stay?

Park Hyatt Goa is a natural favorite for residence. The hotel is expensive but the experiences it offers are more than worth it, especially during this festival. The rooms are spacious, clean and full of all kind of amenities and there is also a spa facility available.

In so many ways, it has an experience you can’t put into words – a ‘you have to be there to know about it’ thing and we do hope that this article inspires you to be in Goa in time to experience this unique festival.

Conclusion

Cashew Trail festival is a uniquely Goan experience and something that, because of its amazing combination of experiences must be a part of everyone’s bucket list items. Are you already considering it to ornament your next trip to Goa or not? J

Categories
Culture Festival Spiritual Hubs

Things you would not want to miss while in Dwarka

The ancient city and capital of the Kingdom of Lord Krishna, Dwarka is a popular choice among tourists for its religious history. The tourists keep pouring into the place because of its intimacy with mythology and imperialism.

Dwarka is truly an ancient city and is known to pre-date even the period of Mahabharata. It is located in the western region of the Indian state of Gujarat in the Saurashtra peninsula on the Arabian Sea.

Here are 15 things you can do in Dwarka:

Dwarkadhish Temple Darshan

The most popular thing that attracts people to the city of Dwarka is this temple. The best time to visit the temple is early in the morning for the Aarti at 7:00 am and also in the evening. It has crowds of pilgrims and a spiritual aura around it.

Watch the Flag Change at Dwarkadhish Temple

The flag changing at the Dwarkadheesh temple that takes place in the morning, as well as the evening, is one wonderful sight to watch. The 52-yard flag is brought by the family that is sponsoring it in what seems like a ceremonial procession. There is singing as well as dancing. As the Brahmin climbs the Shikhara of the temple to change the flag, the crowd bursts into happy cheers.

Visit the Rukmini Temple

Dedicated to Krishna’s Chief Queen Rukmini, this temple is inferred to belong to the 12th century. It is another one of Dwarka’s must-see temples.

Tulabhar

The meaning of Tulabhar is weighing some things according to your weight to be donated or given to charity. Tulabhar has much importance in the mythology and even the story related to Rukmini. Therefore, as we started walking along the Gomti River, we saw the weighing scales that hung from the ceiling. There was a person sitting on one side of it with grains on the other side.

Upon asking, the priest told us how much money it would cost to do a Tulabhar according to our weights. He talked with precision and professional expertise and then explained to us the significance as well as details of Tulabhar.

It is said that if you donate seven items, the weight of which would be equal to yours, it will grant you Moksha. These seven items include- Desi ghee, Wheat, Urad Daal and Moong Daal, Sugar, Clarified Butter & Oil. This is written in the scriptures, that tulabhar in Dwarka will get you liberation.

The Pandit told us that all this donation went to widows and poor Brahmins if you were curious to know.

Ride a camel on either bank of Gomti River

There are two banks of Gomti where you are allowed to take a camel ride. We saw kids having fun riding it but were a little apprehensive of it ourselves. On one side of Gomti, there are various temples and ghats while there is a small beach on the other side of it. The camel walks close to the river showing wondrous sights.

There are also five wells that one crosses by and it is said that these sweet water wells are supposedly five rivers that were brought to this place by rishis. There are boards that mention this story as well as the names of the rishis and the rivers. There are two temples there as well, one of which contains the footprint of those five rishis who brought the river there. These temples are Laxmi Narayan temple and Ambaji temple. The former has an old cave that also houses footprints of the Pandavas.

The camel ride actually turned out to be quite fun and afterwards, we just sat there on the sandy patch watching others ride, or seeing the camels run occasionally. It was a funny sight.

Sunrise at Sudama Setu on Gomti River

Dwarka is one such place where you can see the view of a lovely sunset that gets imprinted on your mind. Though it is hard to wake up on time and reach Sudama Setu by the time of Sunrise, yet there is no better place for watching the sunrise than here. As the cable bridge(newly built) joins the two edges of the Gomti River, you have to buy a ticket for it. The ticket window is open early in the morning.

All these elements join together, seeing the morning sunshine falling on Gomti in the meeting point with the sea, standing on the bridge, it is an amazing experience to be had.

There are walking paths along with sitting benches across the bridge. We sat down and relaxed for a while, watching the Dwarikadhish temple being reflected in the river Gomti. We saw people taking baths at the ghats and just diving in for a dip. The morning rituals began at the temples and the city slowly came to life. The view of the river (though it is the sea water that flows in the river now), yet the illusion of it is so stunning that we couldn’t quite take our eyes off of it for a long time.

At the edge of Gomti, there is another temple—one of the oldest in the city called the Samudra Narayan temple. Do visit it if you get the time and remember to visit the ghats as well. There are plenty of small temples all around Dwarka city.

Sunset at the Dwarka beach

If the Sudama Setu is the best place for watching the sunrise, the best place for seeing the setting sun would have to be Badkeshwar Mahadev Temple. It is a small and old temple from where you can have an unobstructed and magnificent view of the sunset.

The temple must have been located on an island at some point because the path still gets filled up with water when there are high waves. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case when we were visiting. We also saw a great view of Dwarka city from here and it looked like it sat on top of rocks with waves crashing on the rocks.

We took long walks along the edges of the city, looking at camel rides on one side and beautiful rock formations on the other side of it. There is also a black and white lighthouse that looks glorious standing tall. The sunset adds more beauty to it all and creates a perfect setting for clicking incredible pictures.

Gomti Arti

One can easily find out the timings of the Arti from visiting the Gomti Temple near the Gomti Ghat. While we were visiting, the aarti happened around 6:30 am. Though the whole thing is not as elaborate or grand like the Ganga Arti in Kashi, Haridwar and Rishikesh, it has a certain charm of its own. And if you are visiting Dwarka, you should stick around to see it.

Visit the presiding deities of Dwarka

Bhadrakali Mandir and Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple – Dwarka

Though it is true, that Dwarikadhish is known to be the foremost presiding deity of the city, there are deities who presided in the city even before Lord Krishna who is the King of Dwarika and is worshipped as such. These deities are Lord Shiva and Ma Bhadrakali who also have temples dedicated to them in the city at present. The temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Ma Bhadrakali are quite small and underwhelming. One will have to ask the locals, in order to reach them. The Siddheshwar Mahadev temple has a beautiful ceremony of lamp lighting every evening, that one should see. Bhadrakali temple, on the other hand, is located on the main road with other temples close by.

Visit the Sharda Peeth

Dwarka houses one of the four Peethas that was set up by Adi Shankaracharya. It is a part of the Dwarikadhish Temple complex and they have some wonderful libraries and a nice temple. It also has many intellectuals and knowledgeable people you can talk to. We picked up a book here telling us about Dwarka city. The students of the Sharda Peeth also do a chanting which is an out-worldly experience in itself.

Visit More Temples in Dwarka

 

A few other interesting temples in Dwarka city are as below:

  • Swaminarayan Temple
  • ISCKON Temple
  • Gayatri Devi Temple
  • Shankaracharya Temple (which is mainly in ruins but still worth it to see the remains of what was once a great ancient temple.)
  • Mira Bai Temple (which is in the same temple as Samudra Narayan temple)

Birding

There are many birds in Dwarka city, especially around the water bodies. There are some around the bushes as well. We spotted Demoiselle Cranes on our way to the city which remained the highlight of the bird-watching escapade. It was sheer joy to see them.

Ride a Chhakda

These Chhakdas of various colours run all around the city. It is basically a kind of vehicle which is quite unique. The vehicle runs on a motorcycle engine and can carry around 12-14 people in it. Try riding on them. It is quite fun actually.

Visit the Oldest Stone Inscription of Dwarka City

The oldest stone inscription in Dwarka is situated at ASI Dwarika office. It dates back to 2nd BCE and is quite a large stone which is triangular in shape. Though the inscription is hard to head and we didn’t quite get it, it was still good to see.

Buy some Dwarka Souvenirs

Take some souvenirs back for your own memories or some for friends or family. The best thing is, of course, a picture of Dwarikadhish, whether it is a photograph or a glass box.

Chakrashila – These are basically corals from the sea that feel hard like a stone in your hand and have a wheel-like formation on them. Some of these are quite lightweight and even float on water. These can be used for decoration purposes or even as a paperweight. Seeing them float in water outside temples is quite a common sight in Dwarka.

There are conch-shaped seashells as well that you can get or traditional style conch shells, whatever suits you. There is also a type of Chandan, that is basically dried soil from Gopi Talaav and can be bought from almost any souvenir shop in Dwarka. It is called Gopi Chandan.

 

Best Time to visit:

October to March is the best time to visit.

Festivals:

Somnath Mahadev Fair and Mahashivratri are the two major festivals that are celebrated in Dwarka with much enthusiasm. Janmashtami is also one of the major festivals, that is celebrated in the month of August/ September.

Tip to Remember: In Dwarka, people start their days early and sleep their afternoons away, so plan your travels for the day accordingly.

You may drop us a note at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com for further queries.

Categories
Culture Festival North India

The most vibrant festivals of Rajasthan you just can’t miss!

Arguably, Rajasthan is the only state in the entire country that has the most colorful culture and traditions. No wonder why most of the foreign tourists choose this north Indian dry state to start their Indian tour. The major credit goes to the festivals that get celebrated all across the year in this wonderful historic land.

Here are few such festivals that are celebrated in Rajasthan that you must visit.

Bikaner Camel Festival

Known as the ship of the desert, the camel is one of the most favorite animals of the state. In order to celebrate the grandeur of this huge animal, the annual camel festival takes place in the city of Bikaner in the month of January each year. This festival is a must visit as the camel owners from all over the state arrive here and showcase the talents their animals possess.

 

Desert Festival

The festival takes place in the beginning of the year, in January or February. It happens to be a three day event that celebrates the wide Thar Desert in the state. The event takes place in the desert and would be better to call it a desert fare. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state and a great way to experience Rajasthan in all its might.

Mewar Festival

The month of March-April is considered to be the best to visit the colorful city of Udaipur. This is the time when the Mewar festival takes place and the entire city is bathed in colors and brightness. A grand celebration follows and the locals can be seen organizing it with high octane energy. This is one of the most visited festivals by the tourists after the annual camel race.

Teej Festival

The Teej festival is also known as the celebration for the arrival of the beautiful spring season. The festival originated in Rajasthan and now it gets celebrated in almost all the major parts of the country. The women tie ropes on the trees and enjoy swinging on them. This is a very ancient festival that is around for quite a lot of time.

Marwar Festival

Jodhpur is the location and October/November is the time when this festival takes place. The Marwar festival is the celebration of the folk heroes that constitutes the glorious history of the state. The city comes alive as the day approaches and everyone celebrates it with a great joy and enthusiasm that perfectly showcases the greatness of Rajasthan as a state.

Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Jodhpur

RIFF is an annual music and art festival that promotes traditional folk music and arts. Celebrated around Sharad Purnima, the festival offers a delightful time to the visitors. The festival is held in the month of October during 23rd October to 27th October.

If you are a folk music lover, this festival is a must visit for you.

 

The distinctively exceptional festival is hailed as a “People’s Platform for Creativity and Sustainable Development” and supported by the Maharaja of Jodhpur and Sir Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones.

Pushkar Fair, Pushkar

The Pushkar Fair is the most well known of all desert festivals. It’s a spectacular five-day camel and livestock fair, fair held in the town of Pushkar, where thousand of devotees take plunge in the sacred lake of Pushkar.

The celebrations of this festival also coincide with the religious occasion of Kartik Ekadashi, when the Pushkar lake was supposed to be created by Lord Brahma. Primarily a livestock fair which observes the buying and selling of camels, the Pushkar fair is a center of attention for hordes of tourists and this is what makes it a true cultural bonanza of art.

There are many other festivals such as the Gangaur festival and Jaipur Literature festival which are as important as the ones we have just mentioned. Rajasthan’s essence lies in its people and the different ways in which they are known to celebrate these festivals. It makes the people to keep themselves in touch with the age old customs that they are very proud of.

Categories
Culture Festival

Experiencing the Kumbh in Himalayas- Naropa Festival

Commemorating the millennial birth anniversary of Naropa, the Naropa Festival sees the enthusiasm of thousands of Ladakhis who wait under the sun, with the chants of music, drums, cymbals adding spiritual chants to increase the level of festivity, giving the literal Kumbh Mela feel surrounded by the Himalayas. The festival is held just once every twelve years and the crowd that gathers is massive with people from all over- Bhutan,  Thailand, Nepal and of course, Ladakh joining together. The festival begins even before reaching the region as one sees beautiful views of Ladakh on the way.

We were there to see the magnificent festival- often referred to as the Kumbh of the Himalayas. Though, it is our belief that the festival need not attach itself to the Kumbh since it is majestic in its own space. The festival takes place near the Hemis Monastery of Ladakh which is also the largest Monastery of the reason along with being most distinguished where millions of people gather around to witness it in entirety. It is located at a distance of approximately 40km from Leh. Though Buddhism is at the core of the festival, that isn’t entirely what it is all about. There are music, dance and excitement like any other festival, perhaps even a college fest but with a vast population. One is surprised even looking at the various types of crowds, some braving the sun with the colorful umbrellas while families and nuns sit patiently waiting for something to happen, often chatting with each other and even chanting occasionally. The festival was a historical event made special by the disciplined crowd along with the events.

Many Buddhist philosophers have come and gone, preaching about life, learning, patience and just living in general.  Saint Naropa (1016-1100 CE) was one such saint who preached about learning through experience and pioneered the thought of infinite love. He was once a philosopher in the Nalanda University who later on moved to Ladakh, around a 1000 years ago gradually attaining the highest level of spiritualization (becoming one of the mahasiddhas). His thoughts and ideology shaped the Drukpa sect of Buddhism. He is also credited as a fundamental pillar in Vajrayana tradition for creating the Six Yogas. His life reflects perseverance, endurance, and compassion. His teachings are still followed largely in Ladakh region. He was adorned with the six bone ornament by Dakinis after his enlightenment, the same ornament which is now donned by His Holiness.

When we reached the place, the whole stage was set, with artificial lotuses and dragons hanging all around. The picturesque view of the mountains and the Naropa palace could be seen. For as long as the festival lasted, that was the only destination for every traveler on the road. The people gathered together, passing the local ‘tsampa’ dish to each other while chit-chatting, until it was time for His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa’s speech because, at that point, everyone fell silent. We weren’t allowed to click the picture of the six bone ornament but its unveiling was done in a beautiful manner. There was this spiritual air all around us. The six bone ornament is protected with strict levels of security since it has a holy and sacred status for the people. But we still felt special for having a glimpse of it since people in thousands gathered to have just one look through the display. As strong as the philosophies are of Saint Naropa, the ornament manifests itself to be a physical legacy and as such holds a lot of importance for the people.

We were quite awed by the presence of His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa as well. With millions of followers worldwide, he has such great power among a whole set of people, who came to the festival specifically to see him live. The devotees bowed down before him as he passed and it just showed the level of devotion and love they had. We had plenty of opportunities to observe him during the week and it just seemed like a sharing of mutual faith and good humor. He used the stage to address all the people to spread social messages, while marveling at the performances, clapping excitedly whenever he liked something

The various important events for one to look out for are:

Thangka Unfurling- Thangka was a mammoth silk brocade which has the incidents from the life of Padmasambhava (a Buddhist master) embroidered on it. It is the largest brocade of Ladakh and spreads far, hanging from the roof of the monastery to the floor.

Then there are the various song and dance performances to look forward to, especially by lamas. It was the first time in our life that we saw the dragon dance in reality and we were awed by it. Another type of dance to look out for would be the Tsam Dance. There was a light show coordinated by French lighting experts who showed 3D images mapping the images of Ladakh’s culture and wildlife while projecting them on the monastery walls.

When the prayer session of Drupka masters begin, with one of the largest assemblies of people witnessing and watching them, it is an out of the world experience. The Kung-fu monks had conducted a bike ride from Nepal to Ladakh which turned out to be the major highlight of the event. They also spoke and spread great messages to the people about various issues like animal cruelty, gender inequality, environmental pollution and education. These talks rose over the boundaries of spiritualism and it was amazing for us to see the spiritual leaders rising above the religious bounds.

This festival has never been all about spiritual activities like we just described, it has social welfare, the picturesque views, the incredible art and culture performances and another special highlight would be the Bollywood performances. There were a number of Bollywood performers who came attracting the audience and captivating them with their performances. There was also one Ladakhi instrumental session which we were quite pleased with.

Those 7-days that we spent in Ladakh for the festival would be our most memorable times in Ladakh. It was so many different cultures, different kind of entertainment all together in one beautiful valley. From the exotic dancers to the cultural performances, to the small shops and souvenirs, everything was perfectly managed and coordinated. Even after we returned to our home, we could still hear the ringing of those chants, cymbals and music in our ears because this was the experience of a lifetime. If you would like to experience all this firsthand, plan a trip to Ladakh, for when the festival happens again in twelve years.

A simple tip for first-time travellers though, give yourself some time to acclimatize with the environment. Try the local roadside food, it is amazing. Strike random conversations with people and try to make the most of your trip to Ladakh.

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