Tag: Festivals

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Festivals of Uttar Pradesh one should not miss!!

Uttar Pradesh is one of the most well-liked spots in India popularly referred to as the ‘Heartland of India’. The state boasts of a rich cultural heritage where you can find and cherish all kinds of colorful festivals celebrated by all communities. Planning your tour to Uttar Pradesh? Then you should not miss the cultural and traditional festivals of UP. These festivals are the symbols of age-old traditions that those people are proud of and even though they have entered the 21st century, they celebrate these festivals with the same fervor.

Here, we list a few very famous festivals that the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is known for.

Ganga Dussehra- Ganga Dussehra is mostly celebrated in this particular state. The festival approaches in the excruciating summers in the month of June every year. Dedicated to the holy river Ganga, which acts as the lifeline of the people in here, the festival is highly awaited and the people participate in the celebrations with an insane level of excitement which is a great sight to savor. The festival lasts for 10 days.

Buddha Purnima- The festival gets celebrated in the rest of the country as well, but in UP it holds a special significance for the people. UP is one of the most populated states in the country and it has people from all the religions in abundance. The Buddhist community is one among them and they are known to celebrate the birth of their lord Gautam Buddha with great enthusiasm. This day is the most auspicious day for them in all year.

Ayudha Pooja- Hinduism followers constitute the biggest part of the population of the state and they are avid followers of Lord Rama. The festival falls in the months of October or November each year. Lord Rama is worshipped on this very auspicious day. It actually is celebrated around the time when the much-hyped festival of Dussehra is celebrated in rest of the country.

Makar Sankranti- Entire country celebrates Makar Sankranti, mostly in the second or third week of January. But the festivals takes an entirely different shape in UP. The festival gets celebrated here in the months of December/January and the people take their ritualistic bath in the holy river, Ganga. There are few other customs and traditions which get followed and that make the Makar Sankranti celebrations different from rest of the country.

Lath Mar Holi Lath Mar Holi is the most colorful and a prestigious festival in Barsana near Mathura not be missed in the state of UP.  The festival takes place just few days before actual Holi. This festival time is a great holiday option for visitors which captures attention from tourists and pilgrims from all over the world. During the Holi celebrations, Ladies are found hitting sticks (laths) at each man as the common custom during this fest.

Janmashtami- Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna celebrates and rejoices the festival of Janmashtami with great enthusiasm. The major festival celebrations take place at Dwarkadhish Temple.

Mathura the birth-place of Lord Krishna, and Vrindavan where he spent his childhood, both the cities celebrate the festival with equal fervor. Around more than four hundred temples are dedicated to Lord Krishna in this sacred city. Among the list of temples, some of the major temples are Banke Bihari, Rangaji, Shri Krishna Balaram Temple and Gopinath temple.

Taj Mahotsav- Experience a cultural bonanza with Taj Mahotsav

Taj Mahotsav 2017 will be held between 18-February to 27-February. The event is held annually in the historic city of Agra and is known to be one of the most spectacular and awaiting events in UP according to the Indian calendar. The event organized by Uttar Pradesh Tourism Dept in Shilpgram complex, 500 metres from Taj Mahal east gate encourages the unparalleled cultural heritage and cultural activities of the state and the country as a whole.

Durgotsav- Also known as Durga Pooja in rest of the country, the festival falls in the months of October/November. However, it can be said that the festival gets celebrated at its very best in West Bengal and other adjoining states but in UP as well, there is much hype about the festival every year.

Other festivals such as Diwali, Holi, Christmas, Eid, and Muharram are also being rejoiced with great enthusiasm among the people here. But the style with which these festivities are cherished and celebrated by the colorful people here brings an additional charm to the overall festivities.

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Central India Corporate Outings Culture Deserts

Ultimate Guide to Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

If not for the persistent advertisements by Amitabh Bachchan popularizing this spot, this land would have gone unnoticed for a long while. The vast white land merging with sky blue horizons was no less than a wondrous sight. While seeing this part of the Thar desert, one can be reminded of the Rajasthan’s sand dunes. As we were guided on camel-backs throughout the desert, a conversation kept brewing, telling us about the place. When monsoons hit, the place gets covered by Arabian sea and when the summers come, the water dries up, leaving behind salt marshes.

On our visit to the district, we found so many reasons to visit Rann of Kutch. And if you do believe in the truth ‘Nature is beautiful”, Rann of Kutch will prove you right. One look at the vast panorama was enough to convince us that ‘Kutch nhi dekha toh Kuch nhi dekha’. Though popular belief says, the real view of the shallow marshlands are seen under moonlight, we preferred the views of sunrise and sunset. The orange hues on clear blue sky contrasting with the white of the lands made for a picturesque scene.

The White Rann

It has to be the major highlight and yes, the biggest reason we found for our memorable trip to Rann of Kutch. As we stood there in the morning with the cold wind blowing, and the rays of sunlight brightening up the salt crystals, it was the most mesmerizing scene ever. We had goosebumps as we saw the beautiful transformations of the skies. The white desert of Rann of Kutch is something of an enigma with its calmness and charm.

Mandvi

Getting to dip your feet in the Arabian sea is an entirely different feeling than watching the sunset in the White Rann. Mandvi is one of the old ports in Gujarat and used to be a summer retreat for Maharajas. There are so many fascinating things to see over here, like the 400-year-old industry that built ships, Vijay Vilas Palace, and the harbour. As we walked around, we saw many ships in different stages of completion and the bird flocked to them.

Bird-watching

We didn’t have to go specifically for bird-watching because here in Kutch, these water birds flock together in abundance. All around the lakes, marshes, oceans, and swamps, you can see the variety of birds. We saw many pelicans as well as flamingos in the lakes near Mandvi. There were other birds like spot-billed ducks, black-winged stilts, and red-wattled lapwings as well, among other water birds. We did nothing but sit there for hours watching the birds and soaking in the sun until it got too much to handle and then we finally moved away.

Dhordo – Rann Utsav

Most of the tourists that do come to Kutch do it during the Rann Utsav which takes place mostly during the winter months. Starting from Bhuj, it covers entire districts and finally stops in Dhordo for the grand finale.

Amenities

There are many tents available in Dhordo that go from basic necessities to luxurious, depending on your requirement. It is established so as to be able to keep up with extreme temperatures of Kutch and provides basic comforts like air conditioners as well as heaters and hot water supply. Even the marketplace, adventure sports and exhibition centres are not far away placed. We stayed at White Rann Resort and had a great experience.

Exhibition and shopping

The exhibition centre showcases the real Kutch with its history, culture and traditions. It is such a vibrant place to be that we often forgot that we were there on a barren land.  We were amazed by the varieties available to us on sale. The selection of things you can buy in the markets is dazzling. Those handcrafted pieces with intricate work on them is a feast for the eyes. Most difficult part is trying to decide what to buy and what to leave behind.

Food

There are huge dining halls serving authentic, yummy Kutch delicacies and it doesn’t matter whether you are a foodie or not, you will want to eat everything. There are food corners all around and one can find something to munch on at all odd hours.

Culture

The evenings in Kutch are when we got to soak in the culture. With beautiful cultural performances going on, with music and dance by local artists, we couldn’t help but be dazzled. Those tunes are the kind we carried in our hearts for a long time and the whole performances were a nice mix of modern and ancient styles making it even more interesting.

Sightseeing

There is so much to Kutch that you cannot expect to see it just wandering around the ‘city’. So we decided to do what seemed the best idea at the time: Hot air ballooning.  A beautiful view of the whole of Kutch from amidst the air. It is a sight to behold. Don’t forget to visit the Narayan Sarovar and Charl Dhand. There are just so many places in Kutch that one can’t afford to miss out on. Just keep your camera handy because you don’t want to miss capturing the perfect shot. And those views are ones that will be imprinted on your memory forever but it is still better to capture the moment.

Adventure

Whether it is kids or adults, the Rann Utsav has something for everyone. The bikers get to have a solo ride on the desert on a Desert Patrol Vehicle. That is always a fun thing to do. There are also pool tables, paragliding and other modes of entertainment available.

Craft of Kutch

You can’t go to Kutch and not go Village hopping. As we went to the heart of Kutch, visiting village after village, we saw such beautiful craft and every hamlet specialized in one kind of craft. But the number of practitioners was so low. We saw weavers working in Bhujodi and printing practices in Ajrakpur. One of the must-see villages that we recommend would be Nirona where they still use castor oil for their art which is in Persian style. There were many other villages with their own specialization and we visited to see the craftsmen at work while getting tempted to buy some of the things.

Some Things to Know:

1.    You can fly straight to Bhuj and then travel to the venue. Also, there is a Kutch Express rail that travels from Mumbai to Gandhinagar. There is also a direct train to Bhuj. The place is well connected by roads as well.

2.    Look for the best packages and book them for Rann Utsav in advance.

3.    Do not miss the sunset from Kalo Dungar which is the highest point.

Everyone should get to experience the vibrant festivities of ran Utsav or witness the beauty of the White desert in Rann of Kutch. It is a sight to behold and you will leave with a light heart and a mind full of memories, each beautiful and unique. For any queries related to Rann of Kutch, drop us a note at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com

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Festival North-West India wildlife

Get ready to witness the wonderful sightings of Olive ridley turtles at Velas Turtle Festival

Turtles are interesting creatures, there is no doubt about it but we are accustomed to seeing them in the aquariums and zoos most often. People crave to see them live in their natural habitat and the Velas turtle festival provides them with the opportunity to do so. And without a doubt, it also attracts a lot of foreign tourists as well. Let’s know more about it.

Where

Velas is a small village in Ratnagiri in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. The annual event takes place during April every year and is a massive crowd puller. The village is located at about 220 Kilometres from Mumbai and the commute is easy, especially during the time of the festival. Take the bus from Mumbai or a train, which happens to be well connected and enjoy the festival.

About the festival

The village Velas is famous for the sightings of Olive ridley turtles, which are very rare and can hardly be found anywhere else. The turtles are there in the Arabian Sea and move to the village of Velas in order to lay eggs. A turtle conservation initiative has been taken by the villagers and that makes the event a safe one for the turtles and even the turtles, which are known to avoid human presence at all costs, can be seen behaving all natural. Many NGOs from across the country and the world have taken steps forward in order to conserve the population of the turtles by conserving their eggs and put them in the safe places. One mother turtle lays about a 100 eggs at one time and the incubation period is 50-55 days. The eggs laid by the turtles are then covered with baskets and the track is kept every day about their conditions.

 

However, the moment which everyone awaits with stopped breaths is the one when the eggs break and tiny turtles come out of them and as an instinct, they start moving towards the ocean. This is a grand event and gets covered by media and the general population alike in their phones. The baby steps they take stir some strange feelings of hope and life inside the observers and as they drift away into the ocean, the festival comes to its conclusion.

Timings

The festival goes on for an entire month and some great deals can be achieved from the travel websites and forums.

Tips

This isn’t a picnic spot but a conservation site. So the tourists need to remain calm and should act with caution. Littering around is an offense and the fine will be installed.

-Photography is although allowed, should be done with the flashlights off.

-The tourists need to wear sensible clothes. The locals here are somehow conservative in their approach towards decency and women in shorts or miniskirts may not be allowed.

-The timings may differ, so you may have to stay a bit longer to witness the baby turtles coming out of the eggs. Patience is mandatory.

Conclusion

This is a wonderful sight and everyone should at least one, come here to witness the pure magic.

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Asia Festival Travel Trends

The taste of Comic Con in India

San Diego in the United States has become a very important place for some reason, and that reason is the annual event that takes place there and goes by the name Comic-Con. The event happens to be a colorfully organized festival like the show where comic book nerds showcase their love to their all-time favorite comic book characters. San Diego has made it famous and as a result, it has been stated to spread its wings in other countries as well. India is the new on the line. But given the fact that Indians don’t have as much comic book superheroes to cherish, does the even hold any significance? Let’s read further and find out.

It’s a two-day event that mostly takes place in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad or Bangalore. The main purpose of hosting this event is to bring the comic book lovers, creators, and publishers under the same roof in order to exchange the mutual respect and admiration. Indian comic book scene wasn’t as big until a few years ago. However, there are still traces of the time when the Indian comic book industry was flourishing with the arrival of some beloved characters such as Chacha Chaudhary, Super Commando Dhruv, Nagraj, Bankelal among many others. But somewhere in between, the whole industry got lost while trying to follow the route taken by the international giants such as Marvels and DC comics. But over time, the publishers understood the fact that Indian sensibilities are different than rest of the world. Comic-con is an attempt to make people more excited about the comic books and the colorful characters that have the potential to tackle any other international superhero.

The first ever comic con in India was organized in the national capital New Delhi in 2011. The event was semi-successful and as more and more people are getting aware of that, the crowds are increasing wherever it takes place. The Indian popular culture is in its adolescent state and with the arrival of the international publishers and artists in the Indian comic cons; the future seems all bright for the Indian fans that go to either Iron Man or Superman and have forgotten Doga and Jwala.

Cosplay is another concept that is getting wildly popular with the Indians as they dress up as their favorite superheroes. This fun event has just started to attract the Indians and is expected to go big in the coming years.If you’re a huge fan of comic books and superheroes, it’s time to plan for the upcoming event of Comic Con 2016. Book your tickets and enjoy the event to the extreme. Experience the magical comic world, look around and see your favorite comic character came alive in the real world.

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Culture Festival North India

Holi in Barsana

Holi is known as the festival of colors and all around fun, but here in Barsana, the birthplace of Radha, Holi is having a completely different facade. The enjoyment level is no less, though. The Barsana village happens to be about 42 kilometers away from Mathura, the birthplace of lord Krishna.

The men have carried on the routine that has been there for ages and they make their trip to Barsana, in order to play Holi with the local girls and women. They play with colors but that is not the case with the women, they are there all prepared to welcome them with sticks. Some men get in the race of hoisting a flag over Radhikaji’s temple but they too get beaten up quite bad instead.

This is all in fun and there are no hard feelings. After all, the festival is popular for the pure fun that it provides all over the country. But as you can guess, in Barsana, the picture is completely different. But then there is the catch that many places nearby, especially in Haryana, the festival gets celebrated with more or less the same brutality as the Holi in Barsana, which also happens to be known as Lathmaar Holi.

But the real fun starts when the men from Mathura plan in advance about how to save themselves from the brutal hits they are going to get. However, they keep in mind the very fact that they can just not retaliate, they can just find ways to avoid the brutal beatings. The spirit of Holi is felt at its very best when despite all the planning, some men get captured by the women of Barsana and receive a tough dose of unconventional love from the women and the girls. And when the time is tougher for them, they are forced to wear women attire and roam around the village. Sounds like quite a lot of fun, but not for men really. The spirit and the level of enthusiasm in people about the festival are magnetic and there is not an ounce of doubt about why a lot of people from different parts of the country come to witness and participate in the madness. 

Poets like Surdas have mentioned in detail how Krishna was also made to suffer these atrocities once. He was known to be quite a charmer and usually went to Barsana to play Holi with the women there, especially Radha. He once got captured and received the severed beating from the women and was made to don a saari and makeup.

Despite all the fun, there are some things that do harm the spirit of the festival. The government has done enough to keep that away. A huge open ground has been allotted to the festivities on the outskirts of the village, where the men and women play freely. The celebrations go on for about a week.

This enthusiastic display of colors and happiness is what makes the country colorful and magnetic. In the recent few years, a few foreigners are also seen dwelling themselves in the colors of Holi and enjoying themselves with an open heart. That is when they give their heart to this beautiful charmer of a country.

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Culture Deserts Festival

Creator of beautiful ground for color, and carnival- Pushkar Fair

The Pushkar fair or the Pushkar Mela is a locally held cultural extravaganza that takes place in the Pushkar town of Rajasthan. The event is highly awaited and goes on for five days in a row. It began primarily as a business of selling and purchasing camels but eventually, it became one of the most sought after festivals taking place in the state. Every year when the event takes place, thousands of tourists from within the country and outside come here to witness the fun. Being one of the most religious of places in the entire country, the Hindus consider attending the event a holy ritual.

How to reach Pushkar

Pushkar is located close to Ajmer in Rajasthan, it is 14 km northwest of Ajmer. The nearest airport connected to Pushkar is in Jaipur, which is 140 kilometers away. By bus is not a great option for long distance travelers. Those who wish to reach here by train, you will need to take a train to Ajmer and take a 30-minute drive to Pushkar.

About the Festival

Out of the most prominent crowd pullers are the Matka Phod competitions and the longest mustache competition. Hundreds of people from across the state participate in the events and the winners are usually given cash prizes and given a space in the local newspapers as well. In the very recent years, the fair organizers have also started to organize a cricket match which takes place between local Pushkar cricket team and international tourists. However, the overall attendance in the event is still questioned. In the 1900’s it was said that more than 100,000 pilgrims visit the town of Pushkar during the event. And as it is assumed, the crowd is getting bigger by every passing year. The celebrations are widely awaited by the local people as they start preparing for the event in advance as it offers a great business opportunity for them as they get to sell their handmade handicrafts and put up stalls of snacks.

During the festival, thousands of people move to the Pushkar Lake, where the fair actually takes place. The camel breeders show off their animals and entice the potential buyers in order to make the deals. Other than camels, other livestock such as goats, buffalos and cows are also bought and sold at the place. For the women, the place becomes a well-equipped shopping mall where they can buy desired clothes, accessories, and other household items at some great prices. A camel race also takes place, which serves as a great attraction for primarily the foreign tourists. The race starts with wild folk music, songs, and dance routine along with some random exhibitions.

When does the festival take place

The festival takes place, according to the Hindu calendar, between Kartik ekadashi to Kartik purnima (full moon). For the western calendar, these days fall usually in the months of October and November.

The full moon day, the last day, is known to be the most auspicious of all the five days when the festival is celebrated. The legend behind the fair says that this was the day when Lord Brahma sprung up the Pushkar Lake. And as a result, Hindus find is religiously significant to take dips in the lake on the full moon lights.

Tip

During the fair, the accommodation prices can jump up to 10 times the normal rate. Although dozens of tented tourist camps are organized around the town for the fair, but still it is recommended to book a bed well in advance before visiting here.

Pushkar fair is a great reminiscent of what Indian culture stands for and the colourfulness of the event makes the day like nothing else.

 

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