Indian Festival Tour

Cultural Heritage Travel India - We often find it difficult to find days in an Indian year when a festival is not being celebrated in any part of India. There are times when the same festival is celebrated differently in different parts of the country, all adding a different hue to our culture. Celebrations have become an intrinsic part of Indian way of life, a common current that passes through the cultural fabric of India. These occasions are marked by a warmth of participation, it's a new experience altogether when happiness finds a common reason. Whenever we find a reason to celebrate,, whatever be it ... the new year, the advent of new seasons, harvest time, the birthdays of gods and goddesses, saints and prophets, mythological and historical events… we never let it go uncelebrated Cultural Heritage Travel India. Although there are valid reasons for celebrating every festival, it's usually an occasion for the family and friends to get together, buy new clothes etc. Celebrations often break all barriers of religion, caste, creed and economic standing which encourages the feeling of bonding between the people Indian Festival Tour.

Cultural Holiday Packages India - Although the Goa carnival was started by the Portuguese, it was accepted whole heartedly by the local population of Goa and today the situation is that every February the entire Goa is in mood to party, as it is the period of the Carnival. It's a festival that is unique and exclusive to Goa. The carnival is primarily celebrated by Christians but it has soaked in some Hindu traditions as well. It started as a local festival but was soon adopted by the entire country as the people from all over the country visit to participate in the carnival. For the local tourism industry, it's a boon Cultural Holiday Packages India.

This festival was originally meant to celebrate good produce by farmers but it also celebrates the love between Krishna and Radha. Nowadays, Holi is an excuse to leave inhibitions aside and forget about all the barriers of caste, creed and religion. Holi, the 'Festival of Colors' is celebrated in India to welcome the season of spring and end of winters. The birthplace of Lord Krishna, Mathura, celebrates Holi with unmatched fervour. The festival is more popular in the northern parts of our country. The celebration fever comes to almost an abrupt end in the afternoon when everyone goes to have a bath. The festival brings people together and of course is a major attraction for the tourists from outside.

Diwali is the brightest of all Hindu festivals and definitely best known. All homes across India are cleaned and illuminated on the Diwali day. In many homes, a colourful Rangoli is drawn from rice flower and friends, families and neighbours visit each other and exchange gifts and sweets even as they perform Puja before Godess Lakshmi, the Godess of wealth. This festival is also the beginning of a new financial year as especially the business families start new accounting ledgers on this date.

Kumbh Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage that takes place at four locations of India : Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. The pilgrimage is held four times every twelve years, one after another at each of the four locations. Each twelve-year cycle includes the Maha (great) Kumbha Mela at Prayag. It is definitely the largest pilgrimage gathering around the world.

Thousands attend Kumbh Mela on definite day as a ritual bath at a definite time and place is considered compulsory in this festival. Other activities include religious discussions, devotional songs known as Bhajans, and religious gatherings in which discussions are held and religious practices are standardized. Kumbha Mela, especially the Maha Kumbha Mela, is the most sacred of all the Hindu pilgrimages. The organization of an event of this scale is said to be a feather in the cap of the district administration.

A clay statue of Lord Ganesha, the supreme God of wisdom, is placed on a raised platform in homes or decorated tents for people to worship. Then a ritual is performed which is called "Pran Pratishtha". A priest performs this ritual through which life is infused in the idol of Lord Ganesha. After this an elaborate ceremony follows, during which Vedic Shlokas (Hymns) are recited continuously in the background. Ganesha is worshipped for these ten days. On the 11th day, the idol is taken in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing his journey towards Kailash in which he takes away with him all the bad omens of the mankind. Just before the ritual of immersion, the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made. Now people in procession carry the idol to the river, pond or sea to immerse it. This festival of india is widely celebrated in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh. Especially in Mumbai, the preparations start well in advance, almost a month ago.