Travel planner - Fest-trotting
Get ready for the best summer carnivals this
season
TWILIGHT TREAT
When night becomes secretly indistinguishable
from day and a lively, romantic flurry of people can be heard on the walkways
and alongside the city canals... you know it's that time of the year in St
Petersburg, Russia. The city's streetlights are switched off and crackling
fireworks light up the horizon on The White Nights Festival, a name given to
those nights in high latitude locales across the world where it never gets
completely dark. People make the most of this daylight phenomenon in St
Petersburg to venture out for some of the most seasoned ballet and opera
performances at the famed Mariinsky Theater.When: May 27Jul 10 Highlight:
Painterly skies, Scarlet Sails ritual on the Neva river.
MASKED MAGIC
This is a quirky one. Uncanny masks, bizarre
dance movements and a resonating toll of wind instruments. The music starts on
a slow note, keeps picking up pace and eventually reaches a hair-raising
climax! The Hemis Festival of Ladakh is a unique spectacle. Just slip on your
DSLR and capture colourful bright brocades and richly-adorned papier mâché
masks at this two-day extravaganza. The festival is held at the Hemis Gompa,
the largest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh, home to more than 500 monks. Watch
the lamas performing the mystic mask dance, accompanied by sounds of cymbals
and large pan drums. While you're there, enjoy the local thukpa at the Tibetan
cafe right outside the monastery. Also don't miss adventure safaris on yaks and
camels.When: June 2627. Highlight: Buy handicrafts near the monastery.
`MANLY' GAMES
Witness the quintessential Mongolian art of
horse racing with a festival of sports and revelry in Ulaanbaatar. Naadam
celebrates Mongolia's independence and its rich cultural heritage.Colourful
ceremonies and parading soldiers kick off the jubilations at this fest of three
`manly' games -wrestling, horse racing and archery. What's most interesting is
that the competitors in the riding events are all children aged between 5 and
12, many of whom have been in the saddle since the age of one. Sample khuurshuur¸
a delicious fried meat dumpling; Mongolian-style meat, bread and dried curds,
among other tradition al food at the fest.When: July 1113.Highlight: Spend
nights camping under the star dazzling skies during the fest.
GOAN GLEE
This festival captures the true Goan spirit.
Held in the glorious mon; soon season when Goa is lush green, the Sao Joao
Festival is dedicated to St John the Baptist. It is cel attending the Hemis
ebrated in Festival in Ladakh Siolim with this summer a traditional boat parade
flaunt ing flowers, flags and beautiful creepers. `Jumping with joy' in wa ter
is the highlight of this fest. So n you will find villagers happily jumping
into wells, streams and h ponds, to signify the joy felt by St John when Jesus
was born. Visitors made of leaves and flowers, called kopel in local parlance.
A grand feast is organised where the key dish is `patodio', a sweet delicacy
prepared from rice, with a stuffing of grated coconut. With resorts organising
pool parties and private rain bashes, this is a complete entertainment wrap
up.When: June 24.Highlight: Short plays and songs by Goa's famous Tiartris are
on the cards.
STARRY STAMPEDE
Don your denims and slip into your cowboy boots.
It is time for Calgary Stampede. It's like watching a west ern with tourists
strutting about in their cowboy attire and the most seasoned rodeos, and ropers
deck ing the show. For 10 days in July, Calgary in Canada turns into one big
Wild West city. There are competitions for bare back riding, barrel racing and
steer wrestling amongst others. Time to head outdoors guys! When:
Mid-July.Highlight: Pick up an authentic cowboy keepsake at the Stampede
Market.
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supriya sharma2
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TL 10MAY15
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