Makar Sankranti

The Hindu calender of India is full of festivals and among them one is Makar Sankranti. It is celebrated on the month of January either 13th or 14th. It is celebrated all over India with different names. Like in South India people celebrate it as Pongal, in Bengal as Sankranti, Gujrati call it Uttarayan, Assamese celebrate Bihu and in North India people celebrate Lohri just one day before the Makar sankranti. But all of them celebrate it as the harvest festival. It is one of the auspicious day in the Hindu calender and marks the beginning of the Magh and ascent of the sun to the North.

Celebration
People all over India celebrate this festival with great pomp and gaiety. Different Part of India celebrate this festival with different traditional rituals.
Southern India – The Southern part of India celebrate this festival as Pongal. In Andhra Pradesh and Kerala this festival lasts for a couple of days. Besides the Puja people boil rice and pulses with milk and offer to the family deity. Bull fights and other activities are also held during the festival.

Northern India – The people of North India specially the punjabis celebrate this festival as Lohri with huge bonfire. According to the custom they throw sweets, sugar cane, rice on the fire and dance and sing with families and friends.

Uttar Pradesh – In Uttar Pradesh it is known as Khichiri,. People take holy dip in the river Ganga with a belief that all the sins will be washed away.

Bengal – In Bengal a famous fair is organised at Ganga Sagar on that special day. Pilgrims also gather there to witness the fair. People make different types of petha (different types of sweets with combination of pulses) and til tikka on this occasion.

Maharashtra – The people of Maharashtra make Til Laddu on the day of sankranti and exchange it and greet each other with saying til-gul ghya, god god bola’ means ‘accept these tilguls and speak sweet words’. There is also a rituals of sharing gifts to the newly married women.

Gujarat – Apart from the family get together and exchange of gifts the people of Gujarat fly kites on this special day. It is now an internationally famous event.

Assam – In Assam this festival is known as Bhogali Bihu. People celebrate it by burning thatches and preparing variety of foods.

Though the different parts of India celebrate this festival in different ways but the main reason behind the celebration is to celebrate the harvest and thanks giving to the Almighty.

Christmas

Christmas is an important religious festival not only India but also in other parts of the globe. 25^th of December is celebrated as Christmas around the world with great enthusiasm, pomp and gaiety. It also marks the happy ending of the year. Like Diwali and Dashwara, Christmas is also celebrated in India with full spirit. It is the main festival of the Christian. Christmas is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Jesus Christ.

Christmas celebration

Christmas is the time to celebration. People around the world decorate their house with lights, make delicious food and distribute gifts. In India the celebration of Christmas varies from place to place. In some area people decorate their house with earthen lamps and in some areas people decorate the house and X- mas tree with light, stars and small gifts and place the tree in front of the house. Churches all over the country are decorated with candles and light. The theme of good will and peace are celebrated during Christmas. Parties, dancing and singing are an integral part of Christmas. Hotels, restaurants and clubs arranges parties and Christmas carol. Another interesting part of Christmas celebration is the people dress like Santa Clause and distribute gifts to the children.

Preparation for the celebration of Christmas starts at the beginning of the December. People start the cleaning of the house and give the house a fresh look. People start shopping new clothes and gifts for near and dear ones. Women in the houses start making Christmas cakes not only for the family members but also for the near neighborhood.

India is a secular country. Like Holi, diwali and Id, Christmas also celebrated all over the India withgreat spirit. Different schools arranges play depicting the stories of Jesus Christ and students participate in great enthusiasm.

No celebration is complete with out food. And the popular Christmas food are cakes, pastries, meat, turkey roast etc. Oh! the mouth watering dishes make Christmas a grand event - which is in fact.

Mahabalipuram Dance Festival

The annual dance festival of Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is a grand festival in the Tamil Nadu region. It is an internationally acclaimed and globally renowned event. This festival presents the Indian classical dance in a huge scale. Every year in the month of December or January with the co-incidence of Pongal, the artists from all over India gather there there to perform their traditional dance form. Exponents of classical dances like Bharatnatyam, Kuchipuri, Kathak, Odissi, Kathakali, Mohinonattam perform on the backdrop of Pallava rock culture. Folk dances of India are an additional attractions of the festival.

Mahabalipuram is situated just 60 km. Off to Chennai and every year the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department organises this dance festival and continues for 1 month but only on saturdays, sundays and on Government holidays during that span of time. This dance festival is one of the prominent cultural attractions of these area.

The back ground of this world famous festival is the Arjuna penance, a beautifully sculpted rock.
The back ground really gives an aesthetic effect to the event. Artist give their best performances in an open air theatre of Mahabalipuram. Folk dancers of India show the world their best culture during this time. And the dance lovers of the world are highly thrilled and satiated by such astonishing performances. As the event overs the countdown for the next year they start.

Konark Dance Festival

India is well known for pampering of art and dance. One such example is the Konark dance festival in Orissa. Every year in the month of December, Orissa Tourism and Odissi Research Centre, organises this dance festival, accompanied by a craft fair and a food festival. It is an aesthetic feast to the dance lovers. Celebrated dancers across the country perform Odissy, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Manipuri etc in the open air auditorium at the Sun temple in Konark.

The Sun Temple in Konark has been designated as a world heritage site. It is an architectural wonder specially for its 'Natamandir' or 'dancing hall'. The artistic designs like musician playing drums, cymbals, odissy dance poses are very intricately sculptured on the wall of the mandir. And it is the venue of the world famous dance festival. The festival takes place in open air in the auditorium.

During the festival the beats of ghungroo, tabla, and rag take the people in a completely different world. These five days festival is a great tribute to the majestic monument. Famous classical dancers around the world get together during these five days festival to give the world their best performances. And during this time the whole Konark dance with them. The place becomes so lively with music, tal, loy and sound that it looks like the court of Lord Indra.

Konark dance festival provides a platform to performing artists of the world and to the upcoming artists ,who are yet to get international recognition. There is also a craft mela and food festival during that time, where variety of handi crafts and tasty cuisines can be enjoyed. This experience of life time is definitely a cocktail of art, craft, music, dance and food.
The first Konark dance festival was organized in 1989 to promote tourism in Orissa. And now it is one of the famous festivals in India.

In 2008 this famous festival is from 1st - 5th December.

Diwali and Bhai-dooj

Diwali is the festival of light. It is the most auspicious and grand festival celebrated in India with great enthusiasm and warmth. Being a festival of light diwali symbolizes victory of light over darkness. During the festival the whole India is illuminated with light, lamps, candles and diyas. People all over the country decorate their house with lights and diyas and burn crackers.

On this special day people exchange gifts, buy jewellary and worship Lakshmi for prosperity. All this celebrations has mythological significance. Diwali is the main festival of Hindu in India and it is a festival of family get togetherness. It is an occassion of feasting and exchanging gifts.

Two days after diwali is the bhaidooj. This festival glorifies the relation ship of brother and sister. During the festival the sisters pray for brothers by performing special puja and put 'tilak' on their forhead for their welbeing and the brothers swear to protect their sisters when need arises.

Hampi festival Karnataka

Every year in the month of November the Govt of Karnataka organizes the Hampi festival to revive the spirit of Hampi. Hampi was once the capital of glorious Vijaynagar Empire now only has the ruins of temple, elephant stables, stones and palaces. Vijayanagar Empire is one of the greatest empires in the history of India comes alive during the Hampi festival.

The festival lasts for three days. Renowned artists from all over the India gather there with their best performances. This festival is also known as the vijaya Utsav. During the Hampi festival the quaint life of Hampi revivrates with dance, drama, music, fire work, puppet show and specular procession.

During the festival the whole place is mesmerized by the graceful dance stepings, soothing music and other artistic activities. Firework, procession, puppet show take people to their by gone era. The festival revolves round the local culture and people of Hampi and they also bring their art and culture to the rest of the world and entertain the wide eyed tourist. Once again during the festival the local people boast of their Hampi culture.

Hampi is 354 km. From Bangalore and is always folked with tourist but during the festival it gets colourful and lively with various display of arts.

Getting there
Hampi is well connected from Bangalore or other south Indian states.

Staying there
There are neither plenty of hotels nor deluxe hotels in Hampi. Only economic class hotels are available with proper arrangements for fooding and lodging. There are some lodges available with hygienic and basic amenities. The hotels of Hampi are best place to explore the place and they really give the feel of the place.

In 2008 the Hampi festival is on 3rd 0 5th Nov.

Id ul Fitr

Id ul Fitr is one of the important festivals of Muslims. In India it is celebrated all over the country. Idul Fitr is celebrated on the first day of the Shawwal, the tenth month of the Muslim calender. Id is the end of the month long fast of Ramjan. And it is the occasion for celebration and thanking Allah.


During Ramjan, devotees fast from sun rise to sun set. No food or drink is allowed to be taken during this period. On the day of Id, they break their fast, wear new clothes and go to mosque. Women prepare sweets at home and children get presents from their elders. They go for 'Id Miloni' or get together of friends and relatives. One most important aspect of this festival is charity. Muslims contribute money to the poor people. It is the day declared by the prophet Mohammad to establish peace and harmony. People celebrate the day with great spirit and happiness.


In 2008 the Id ul Fitr will be either on 1st or 2nd October, depending upon the moon. All the mosques of India organize prayer (namaz) in the open area on this auspicious day.

Wishing you all Id Mubarak.