CARNIVALS AND FESTS INDIA SPECIAL
Plan
a trip to Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Goa to coincide with their unique
fests
There’s drama, education, reverence and culture at
the end of a brilliant travel experience. In our feature today, we
celebrate it all. Each region in India is culturally rich and full of local
flavours such as fests, traditions, customs, rituals and more. With travel
becoming easier and quicker, celebrating all the local fests has just
gotten achievable. (Thanks to discounts on various domestic flights, which
is an added boon). Be it the legendary Elephant Parade in Thrissur or
Celebrating the spring festival with the women of Rajasthan; Be it the
loud, colourful parades and street festivals at the Goa Carnival or the
Garba played during the nine days of Navratri in Gujarat, all this will
surely set your hearts pulsing. There is so much of India to celebrate each
day, which tune are you dancing to?
POMPOUS
THRISSUR POORAM
REGION: Kerala
WHEN: May 9 Thrissur Pooram is a heady mixture of pomp and
pageantry. Pack and plan to celebrate the world-renowned Thrissur Pooram,
arguably the most famous festival of Kerala. Conceptualised by Raja Ravi
Verma around 200 years ago, the festival is a spectacle. In the main parade
held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple, two teams of 15 beautifully caparisoned
elephants face off across the temple grounds. On each elephant’s back, a
man holds a parasol taller than the elephant itself, while another waves a
yak-tail fan. As the temple orchestra plays, the parasols are exchanged
among the men standing on the animals. Throughout the day, one can hear
drums and in the night there’s a majestic display of fireworks and
pyrotechnics.
KEEP IN MIND: The Vadakkunathan Temple is one of the oldest temples in
Kerala. It is said that only Hindus are allowed inside, but the crowd
surrounding the temple during the festival is a
mix of Christians, Muslims, Jews and other
communities.
SPRING IT!
GANGAUR REGION: Rajasthan
WHEN: April 2-3 Gangaur , the Spring festival is dedicated to the
Goddess of abundance, Gauri (Parvati). It is the celebration of spring,
harvest and marital fidelity. Gana is a synonym for Lord Shiva and Gaur,
which stands for Gauri or Parvati who symbolises marital bliss. The
unmarried women worship her for being blessed with a good husband, while
married women do so for the welfare, health and long life of their husbands
and happy married life. THE FINALE: The festival reaches its climax during
the last three days. The images of Gauri are dressed in new garments
especially made for the occasion. Women decorate the images and make them
look like living figures. At an auspicious hour in the afternoon, a
procession is taken out while married women place them on their heads.
Songs are sung about the departure of Gauri to her husband’s house.
FUN ZONE GOA CARNIVAL
REGION: Goa
WHEN: Feb 28- 4 March The beaches of Goa will be dressed up with
pomp, colour and vigour. The carnival is an annual weekly celebration
filled with lively processions, floats, the strumming of guitars, graceful
dances and of non-stop festivity. It is the traditional Parade led by King
Momo, organised just before the beginning of 40 days of Lent. This carnival
displays the Portuguese culture, which is predominant in Goa. Also the
state was ruled by the Portuguese for nearly 400 years. Colourful parades
are organised throughout the state with bands and grand dance balls held in
the evenings. The festivities involves several public celebrations
combining some elements of a circus and mask and public street party.
People often dress up or masquerade for the parades. This year the carnival
will feature float parades in four cities Panaji, Margao, Vasco and Mapusa.
A Food and Cultural Festival will showcase the local Goan cuisine along
with cuisines of 15 other Indian states. A blend of food, fun, local and
live music performances, fashion shows, and entertainment will be the order
of this week long event. During the carnival Goa’s diverse population comes
together to form bonds of friendship and celebrate life. The carnival
usually ends with an interesting red-and-black dance held by the Club
National in Panjim on the final day.
GARBA TIME NAVRATRI
REGION: Gujarat
WHEN: September 25 - 3 October Thousands of people from across the
country flock to Gujarat to celebrate Navratri. The festival that worships
Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati is also famous for its Garba and
Dandiya-Raas dance. Over the course of the nine days, the Mother Goddess is
worshiped in her nine forms of Shakti such as Durga, Bhadrakali, Amba or
Jagadamba, Annapoorna devi, Sarvamangala, Bhairavi, Chandika or Chandi,
Lalita, Bhavani and Mookambika. The day after Navratri the 10th day, is
Dussera which celebrates the victory of lord Rama over Ravana.
THE GARBA DANCE:
A clay pot symbolises the garba or the womb, which is
the source of life on earth, is placed in the centre of the group. Usually
women dressed in vibrant costumes dance around the pot, which is filled
with water, a betel nut and a silver coin. A coconut is also placed on the
top of the pot. The folk dance form of Garba derives its name from the
iconic clay pot around which women whirl and dance. It is interesting to
see even men play Garba along with women. Dandiya Raas is also an important
feature during the festive season. The only difference between this form of
dance and Garba is that the sticks are used for clapping instead of hands.
Plan your next trip around this festival to experience Gujarat.
Compiled by Rashmi Henriques ETTR140227
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