Fair and Festivals in Pondicherry
Events &
Festivals of Pondicherry
Festivals celebrated in Pondicherry offer insights of vibrant
culture and tradition of the people of Pondicherry. Along with the major
national festivals like Deepawali and Dussera Pondicherry celebrates its
several regional festivals with great zeal and zest. International Yoga
Festival is a major event organized in Pondicherry. The festival is held every
year in the month of January and is participated by hundreds of people from
across the globe. Celebration of the festival includes seminar on the basic
theme of Yoga, demonstration of Yoga techniques and other cultural activities
like classical dance and music show.
Pongal is another prominent festival celebrated in
Pondicherry with great enthusiasm. It is the harvest festival of Pondicherry
and comes in the month of January. Pondicherry celebrates Masi Magma festival
in the month of February. The festival is mainly celebrated at sea-shore and
witnesses the people taking holy baths early in the morning and taking out a
huge religious procession in the evening. Karthigai Deepam, Bastile day, Ayudha Puja,
Villianur Temple Car Festival are other important festivals and cultural events
hosted and celebrated in Pondicherry with much fanfare.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Vishu festival
Vishu is Malayalam festival celebrated in Kerala and some parts of the Tamil Nadu and it comes on the first day of Malayalam month of Medam (April-May). Vishu festival is also celebrated as Malayalam New Year day and therefore it has significance in Malayalam society. People take part in the celebration of the festival irrespective of their cast and religion.
Vishukkani is an important event in Vishu festival. Vishukkani literally means " the first things seen on the day of Vishu Festival after waking up”. Vishukkani contains the things for ritual arrangements like raw rice, fresh lemon, betel leaves, Metal mirror, golden cucumber, Arecanut, Konna (a kind of yellow flower) and holy text and coins. These things are supposed to be auspicious ones and are arranged in a bell metal vessel known as Uruli in the Pooja room (the room in which the worship is done) of the house. Nilavilakku, a lighted bell metal lamp, is kept along side. This preparation of Vishukkani is done on the pre eve of Vishu. The custom is that when people wake up in the next morning, they go to the pooja room with closed eyes to see these auspicious things as the first sight of the New Year. People also visit the nearby temples to pray to the gods for prosperous life in the New Year. The festival is celebrated by much pomp and show with children setting of the firecrackers and people wearing new cloths.
The festival of Vishu is celebrated all over the country but with different names and ways. It is celebrated as Baisakhi Punjab and as Bhiu in Assam.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Tourist Places in Amritsar
Amritsar, one of the most ancient cities of India, is known for several pilgrimage and tourist places attracting thousands of tourists and devotees throughout the year.
Golden temple:
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| Golden temple Image credit: flickr |
It is the most revered place of Sikhs. Perched on the
bank of a lake called Amrit, Golden Temple of Amritsar happens to be the most
prominent pilgrimage center for Sikhs. The construction of this magnificent
temple was started by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru and it was completed
by Guru Arjun Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru. Beautifully built of gold, the Golden Temple
is visited by thousands of Sikh devotees from across the globe.
Jalianwala Bagh:
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| Jalianwala bagh Image credit:flickr |
Durgiana Temple:
It is another important place of worship in Amritsar.
The architecture style of Durgiana Mandir is much similar to the Golden Temple.
It was built during the 16th century and is beautifully adorned with
the carved paintings of goddess Durga in her several incarnations. Dedicated to
goddess Durga, Durgiana Mandir is quite distinct in its structure from other
temples built in the same period. The temple attracts a large number of
devotees from far and wide.
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| Durgiana temple Image credit:wikipedia |
Wagaha Border:
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| Wagaha Border Image credit:flickr |
Baba Rai Atal tower, MaharanaRantjit Singh Museum, Tam Taran, Rambag Gardens and Bibkeshwar Sahib are other
important places of worship and tourist attractions located in and around the
city of Amritsar.
Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport is the nearest airport to Amritsar which is located at the distance of 11 km from the city. The airport is connected to the Indian cities as well many international cities by regular flights.
Amritsar is also easy reachable by train. Amritsar railway station is amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway and well connected to almost with all the majour tourist destination and Indian cities.
Amritsar has good road connectivity with near by cities such as Shimla, Dehradun, Jammu and several others. Buses and affordable car rentals services available between them. The Grand Trunk Road connects Amritsar to Delhi.
How to reach Amritsar:
By air:
Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport is the nearest airport to Amritsar which is located at the distance of 11 km from the city. The airport is connected to the Indian cities as well many international cities by regular flights.
By train:
By road:
Amritsar has good road connectivity with near by cities such as Shimla, Dehradun, Jammu and several others. Buses and affordable car rentals services available between them. The Grand Trunk Road connects Amritsar to Delhi.Tag :
Best of India,
Fair and Festivals in Amritsar
Events in Amritsar
Events in Amritsar are associated either with the Sikh religion, such as the birth anniversaries of the Sikh Gurus, or, with harvest season. Amritsar, the holy of city for the Sikhs celebrates three festivals mainly. They are Lohri, Vaishakhi and Holi. These festivals mark the change in the seasons. These festivals have been originated around the way of life led by the farming community in the Punjab region.
Lohri is celebrated on the 13th
of January marking the end of the winter season. The next day is the first day
of their month. The festival coincides with the Hindu festival Makara Sankranti
(celebrated on the 14th of January). Usual mode of celebrations
would include an offering done at Gurudwaras.
Viashakhi, or Baishakhi is a festival
of harvest that falls on the last day of their harvest season which is
celebrated with great fervor. The festival falls in the month of April (13th
and 14th). It is a harvest festival. Marking the harvest season’s
end the festival would be celebrated with their Bhangra dance. The day is
special for another reason. On the same day the Sikh Guru Govind Singh
initiated the order of Khalsa. Other
than the above mentioned festivals, there are other festivities celebrated in
the city of Amritsar. Rama Tirath Fair is one such event that is celebrated for
five days. This is celebrated after Diwali at Rama Tirath near Amritsar. Tullu
floating (diyas made of flour are let afloat in the tank), and acrobat shows
are the major attraction of the fair. People of Amritsar also celebrate the
Guru Purab festival. The festival falls twice in a year, once in November and
next in January. Guru Granth Sahib would be read without any gaps, and visits
would be made to Gurudwara. All the Sikh Gurus, especially Guru Govind Singh
would be remembered on this occasion.
On all these occasions the city of
Amritsar would gear up to celebrate with great enthusiasm. Fairs and concerts
especially for the ocassion would be arranged for the entertainment in the
city.
Tag :
Indian Festivals,
Tourist places in Indore
Rich in cultural and historical legacy, the city of Indore serves to be a major tourist destination in the state of Madhya Pradesh and the city perched on the banks of Saraswati River, Indore is dotted with numerous historical monuments and old buildings. It also houses several prominent places of worship.
Lalbag Palace:
Lalbag Palace in Indore is a historical heritage left by Holkar dynasty. This impressive historical structure was once the residence of Holkar rulers. Built during the period from 1889 to 1921, Lalbag Palace reflects the grandeur and life style of Holkar kings. It is a beautiful blend of baroque and renaissance architectural styles. There are efforts on the part of Madhya Pradesh state government to make this historic structure the cultural center of the state. Adorned with frescoed ceilings and gilded moldings, Lalbag Palace is worth visiting place in Indore.
Rajwada:
RajwadaImage credit:- wikipedia
Also known as Holkar Palace, Rajwada with its elegant architecture serves to be another key attraction of Indore. This impressive historic structure was built about 200 years ago. This is a seven storied building with its lower portion built of stones, while upper stories are made of wood. The structure of Rajwada is beautiful blend of Maratha, Mughal and French architectural styles.
Kanch Mandir:
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| Kanch Mandir Image credit:- wikipedia |
Kanch Mandir (Glass Temple) of Indore is a famous for its artistic and religious significance. Built by Sir Hukumchand Seth during the 20th century, Kanch Mandir presents exquisite glass works. Ceilings, walls, pillars and floors are beautifully inlaid with colored glass. Paintings depicting incidences from the Jain scriptures can also be seen made in the colored glass. A beautiful chamber, also made of glass, reflecting innumerable images of three statues of Mahavir kept there is a sight to behold.
Bada Ganpati:
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| Bada Ganpati Image credit: wikimapia.org |
Bada Ganpati is an old temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Built in the year 1975, Bada Ganpati temple houses one of the largest idols of lord Ganesha. The idol measure 25 feet in height and is made of different ingredients like lime stone, bricks, soil collected from seven holy places (Moksh puris) in India. The temple is famous for its huge idol of Ganesha and is frequented by a number of devotees and tourists alike.
There are many other places of attractions located in and around the city of Indore. The Krishnapura Chhatris, Geeta Bhavan, Indore Museum, Kamala Nehru Park, Gomatgiri, Meghdoot Upavan, Annapurna Mandir and St. Anne’s Church are some of them.
How to reach Indore
By air:
Indore has it's own airport named 'Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport' is located 8 km west of Indore. It is linked to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and some of other major cities of India. You can take a advance taxi/cab from airport to reach your desire destination in the city.
By train:
Indore railway station (Station Code : INDB) has regular trains(http://indiarailinfo.com/departures/indore-junction-bg-indb/8) from almost all major cities of country. This railway station is operated by Western Railways.
By road:
Indore is well connected with the nearby cities and state by road. There are many public bus services as well taxi services available to reach Indore.
Tag :
Best of India,
Tourist places in Indore
Rich in cultural and historical legacy, the city of Indore serves to be a major tourist destination in the state of Madhya Pradesh and the city perched on the banks of Saraswati River, Indore is dotted with numerous historical monuments and old buildings. It also houses several prominent places of worship.
Lalbag Palace:
Lalbag Palace in Indore is a historical heritage left by Holkar dynasty. This impressive historical structure was once the residence of Holkar rulers. Built during the period from 1889 to 1921, Lalbag Palace reflects the grandeur and life style of Holkar kings. It is a beautiful blend of baroque and renaissance architectural styles. There are efforts on the part of Madhya Pradesh state government to make this historic structure the cultural center of the state. Adorned with frescoed ceilings and gilded moldings, Lalbag Palace is worth visiting place in Indore.
Rajwada:
RajwadaImage credit:- wikipedia
Also known as Holkar Palace, Rajwada with its elegant architecture serves to be another key attraction of Indore. This impressive historic structure was built about 200 years ago. This is a seven storied building with its lower portion built of stones, while upper stories are made of wood. The structure of Rajwada is beautiful blend of Maratha, Mughal and French architectural styles.
Kanch Mandir:
|
| Kanch Mandir Image credit:- wikipedia |
Kanch Mandir (Glass Temple) of Indore is a famous for its artistic and religious significance. Built by Sir Hukumchand Seth during the 20th century, Kanch Mandir presents exquisite glass works. Ceilings, walls, pillars and floors are beautifully inlaid with colored glass. Paintings depicting incidences from the Jain scriptures can also be seen made in the colored glass. A beautiful chamber, also made of glass, reflecting innumerable images of three statues of Mahavir kept there is a sight to behold.
Bada Ganpati:
|
| Bada Ganpati Image credit: wikimapia.org |
Bada Ganpati is an old temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Built in the year 1975, Bada Ganpati temple houses one of the largest idols of lord Ganesha. The idol measure 25 feet in height and is made of different ingredients like lime stone, bricks, soil collected from seven holy places (Moksh puris) in India. The temple is famous for its huge idol of Ganesha and is frequented by a number of devotees and tourists alike.
There are many other places of attractions located in and around the city of Indore. The Krishnapura Chhatris, Geeta Bhavan, Indore Museum, Kamala Nehru Park, Gomatgiri, Meghdoot Upavan, Annapurna Mandir and St. Anne’s Church are some of them.
How to reach Indore
By air:
Indore has it's own airport named 'Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport' is located 8 km west of Indore. It is linked to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and some of other major cities of India. You can take a advance taxi/cab from airport to reach your desire destination in the city.
By train:
Indore railway station (Station Code : INDB) has regular trains(http://indiarailinfo.com/departures/indore-junction-bg-indb/8) from almost all major cities of country. This railway station is operated by Western Railways.
By road:
Indore is well connected with the nearby cities and state by road. There are many public bus services as well taxi services available to reach Indore.
Tag :
Best of India,
Tourist Places in Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Tourist attractions: Jodhpur, the second largest city of Rajasthan,
is a major tourist destination in India.
Being home to several historical monuments and other places of interest,
Jodhpur attracts a number of tourists from all over the globe.
Mehrangarh Fort: Mehrangarh fort is a key attraction of the
city of Jodhpur. Founded in 1458,
Mehrangarh fort happens to be largest fort of Rajasthan. The fort is perched on
the top of 150 m high hill offering commanding views of surrounding region. Inside the fort there is Moti Mahal, a
beautiful palace offering the tourists an insight of royal and cultural life of
Jodhpur people. Sheesh Mahal, Phool Mahal and Zenana Deodi are other worth
seeing structures of Mehrangarh fort. Chamunda Mataji temple is also located in
the fort premises.
Jaswant Thada: Jaswant Thada is a historical structure located in
Jodhpur. It is just a 1km downhill from Mehrangarh fort. Jaswant Thada is a royal
cenotaph built in marble and is beautifully located near a little lake. It was
built in 1899 in the memory of Maharaja Jaswant Sing. This royal cenotaph is
built in exquisite architectural style. Portraits of Maharaja Jaswant Singh and
other kings can also be seen there.
Umaid Bhawan Palace:
Umaid Bhawan Palace is another attraction of Jodhpur. It is located in the
south of the city and clearly visible from most parts of the city. The palace
was completed in 1944 and it is the last great palace of India. Half of the
palace is presently used as five star hotels. A little museum can also be seen
in the palace. Built in western style of architecture, Umaid Bhawan Palace is
quite distinct from other palaces of India.
Along with these historical monuments and buildings, the city
of Jodhpur also offers other places of interest like Takthat Lake, Balsamand Lake,
Mandore Gardens, etc.
Tag :
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