Tag: festivals

Hornbill Festival

Come December, a festive air engulfs Nagaland’s capital city Kohima as people assemble for the annual Hornbill Festival (www.hornbillfestival.com; Kohima; 1–7 Dec). Sneakers and Ipods are abandoned by the Nagamese youngsters as they don traditional gear and join their elders to celebrate Nagaland’s biggest annual jamboree. Sixteen main tribes of the state converge at a […]

The Indian Festival Calendar: March-April

The last month of the travel season, March is a great time to explore not only wildlife sanctuaries and other tourist hotspots. After the frenzy of Holi, April seems a little low-key. But for the offbeat traveller, this may be a chance to explore unchartered territories.

The Indian Festival Calendar: July-Aug

In country so rich in culture and theme, every festival celebrated here is a sight to behold. And when talking about India’s many festivals, what comes to mind is poet Rabindranath Tagore’s famous line… “You are invited to the festival of this world and your life is blessed”.

Colour And Valour

In the urban context, sports in India starts and ends with cricket! Fortunately this seemingly pervasive sentiment remains confined only to cities! Out in far flung destinations of the country there is more at stake; honour, team spirit and most of all, tradition. Away from the world of controversies and TRPs, strapping young men are […]

Battlefield Punnamada

As the small town ofAlappuzhabids adieu to the resilient but cathartic monsoon rains, it embarks on the next arduous display of determination in the month of August – The Nehru Snake Boat Race. Peg the bone-drenching rain versus the grit of the oarsmen of the race and you would struggle to establish the stronger contestant. […]

Diwali: Festival of lights

No matter how new you are to India or its culture, there is little chance that you would have not heard of Diwali. In fact, if you are in north India, not only can you see the festivity around, you can feel it; a smoky smell of crackers fills the air,

Holi Celebrations In Varanasi

As nervous as this may make you feel, celebrating Holi in the holy city of Varanasi is something that should make you throw caution to the wind and book your tickets! Menacing, threatening, ruthless are words that one often hears about Varanasi but brave travellers might love the carefree vibe and the zealous celebrations in […]

Festival Of The Month: Guru Nanak Jayanti

While the resplendent Golden temple might be reason enough to visit the holy city of Amritsar, we’ve mapped out the best way to cover the city in 48 hours that include Guru Nanak’s birthday. Along with the temple festivities, there’s over two days of sightseeing as well. This article tells you how to maximise your […]

Festival Of The Month: Rann Utsav

Starting the first week of December, the salt plains of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat are lined with bedecked camels, colourful turbans and tents to accommodate the thousands who come to this three-month cultural extravaganza. The Rann Utsav is when Gujarat’s warm hospitality, excellent food and bounty of colours are easily noticeable. Here is a […]

The Best Of Jaipur During The Literature Festival

Adding to the list of flamboyant forts, bustling markets huddled inside the walled quarter and bright textiles, there’s one more reason that has secured Jaipur’s position in the Golden Triangle of north India – the annual Jaipur Literature Festival.

Festival Of The Month: Theyyam

Winter is the best time to be in Kerala. Or that’s what the guidebooks say. The days are pleasantly warm, the evenings cool. The fish is fresh, the backwaters alluring as ever and the hills fragrant with the aroma of spices and tea. Winter in Kerala is special for one more reason — Theyyam. If you happen […]