Mahindra Homestays » Festivals

The Marwar festival in Jodhpur

Mahindra Homestays — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:00:25 +0000

Fairs and Festivals in Rajasthan are colourful and lively affairs. Normally mythological in nature the celebrations relate to Gods and Goddesses, while others are celebrated to commemorate the brave deeds of medieval heroes. The Marwar Festival, held in memory of the heroes of Rajasthan is one such example.

History of the Marwar Festival
The festival is celebrated in the Hindu month of Ashwin (Sept-Oct) in Jodhpur, the former capital of Marwar Province. It is a festival devoted to the music and dance of Marwar region. The festival was originally known as “Maand” Festival. During these two days the folk artists bring to life the myths, legend and folklore of the area.

Why Jodhpur is the best location for the Festival
Jodhpur celebrates the die-hard courage of the heroes of the land, the Rajputs, who are the sons of royal houses. The massive Meharangarh fort and the impressive Umaid Bhawan Palace which are symbols of might and valour of the Rajputs, make Jodhpur an ideal location for the festival. The humongous fort is an apt place to enjoy the beauty of the beautiful blue city.

What to expect at the Festival
Bringing to life the legendary folklores of the area, the folk artists do complete justice to it. Listening to the folk musicians singing praises of the bygone heroes may not be completely understood by all but the fierce intensity can be strongly felt in these songs whatever language you speak. Being in the audience to the buoyant and spirited performers of the folk dances is an immerse experience. Watching the folk dancers, who accurately balance the earthen pots on their heads and dance to the rhythm of the songs sung by the singers, leaves the spectators in awe.

The typical Kalbeliya dance has made a mark internationally and you can witness it here in its own land with the true Indian spirit.

Bringing alive the competitive spirit of Rajasthan
Other attractions of the festival include horse riding and horse polo. Various other competitions are also organized during the festival. Women participate in henna competition, which involves the art of making intricate designs on palms with henna. Rajasthani men take immense pride in their moustache. A turban-tying and moustache competition for men is one of the highlights of the day.

The concept of valour and courage is woven intricately in almost every historical epic of a country. The harshness of the so called fighters is part of their personality. Their stamina to endure any given situation is remarkable. The Rajputs have set a milestone and created a rich history and celebrating these heroic tales allows participants to recognise the toughness of these fighters and the richness of the past.

Souvenirs to bring back home
A small fete is organized by the state tourism and cultural board wherein a number of craftsmen display their skills, you can buy numerous craft items and souvenirs displayed at the stalls set up here, known as “Haats”.

Dates for the Festival
For 2012 the festival is being held on the 28th and 29th of October.In 2013 the festival will take place on the 17th and 18th October

It is only by witnessing a festival such as the Marwar that you can really appreciate the magnificent historical past of Rajasthan!

Thanks to the photographers who shared their images under Creative Commons licence. All images link back to the original source by way of credit.

Durga Puja Festival

Mahindra Homestays — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:00:26 +0000

Durga Puja is the most important festival of Bengalis around the world and is widely celebrated in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Tripura and West Bengal,

Ma Durga
Ma Durga (Mother Durga) is the embodiment of shakti, the divine feminine force that governs all cosmic creation. It is believed that Ma Durga was born from the energies of all the Hindu gods, including the supreme trinity of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, to vanquish the demon Mahishasura.

She is also seen as the demon-fighting form of Shiva’s wife, Parvati. Durga idols and images depict her as a beautiful woman with a third eye (like her husband Shiva), riding a lion, and wielding ten weapons in her ten hands.

Durga puja lasts about four days and it is believed that this is the period every year when Durga come down to her father’s home, the Himalayas.

Celebration of Durga Puja
All Hindus celebrate this festival in different ways in different parts of India.

The goddess is honoured all over India during the annual Navratri festival (nine day festival), which marks the beginning of autumn. On each day of the festival, nine different forms of shakti or Mother Durga are worshipped.

In West Bengal, Durga Puja takes place on days six through ten of Navratri. On the tenth day, Durga’s victory over evil is celebrated as Vijayadashami in Bengal and Dussehra in North India. Dussehra also celebrates Rama’s vistory over the demon Ravana.

Where to celebrate Durga Puja
Though Durga Puja is celebrated in several cities with fanfare, the best place to witness the festival is in Kolkata, the home of Durga Puja. During the festival, life comes to a standstill and Kolkata is adorned with lights. The atmosphere is electric and resembles a mad carnival with all-night crowds, live music sessions, open-air theatre, literary fairs, poetry readings, and lots of food.

Traffic comes to a standstill and a special task force is deployed to control law and order. Elaborate structures called pandals are constructed all over Kolkata and the idol of the goddess is kept inside these. The pandals are the center of the festivities throughout the puja period.

The West Bengal government gives a fortnight of holidays for the pujas. In the run-up to the pujas, people shop for clothes and jewellery as it is customary to wear a new set on every day. It is also mandatory to give gifts to all family members and friends. It’s also a long night of food tours with people sampling the many different kinds of food at temporary food stalls set up by restaurants and residents.

Witness the preparation
If you visit Kolkata a few weeks before the puja begins, you can witness the beautiful Durga idols taking shape – from a crude clay on hay structure – under the expert hands of artisans at Kumartuli in Kolkata.

There are about 400 workshops in Kumartuli run by artisan families that have been doing this for generations. They create close to 4,000 Durga idols every year. Some are shipped abroad as Durga Puja is held in places with Bengali population all over the world.

A series of rituals are scattered through the making of the idol which invlove an age-old custom of collecting a handful of soil (punya mati) from the nishiddho pallis (forbidden territories) where sex workers live, and adding it to the clay mixture which goes into the making of the Durga idol. An important event is ‘Chokkhu Daan’, when the eyes are painted. This is done last – seven days before Durga Puja starts.

Go pandal hopping
Durga Puja has a strong secular side which is reflected in the themes of the pandals (temporary structures which house the idol). Thousands of people go ‘pandal-hopping’ with their friends and family. Of the 4,000-plus pujas in the city and its suburbs, around 1,000 pandals are theme-based. Over the years, pandals have become elaborate works of art. Traditional rural houses, important Indian monuments, replicas of the White House, Jurassic park, the RMS Titanic, Opera House of Paris and Harry Potter have all been themes.

The art of making Kolkata pujas pandals has found many admirers outside the city. In 2010, one of the pandals was selected by German artist Gregor Schneider to be replicated and exhibited across the globe. The Hermitage Museum of Russia and London’s Tate Gallery have also expressed interest in some of the idols. The structures are amazing and take a lot of time and money to build.

Sounds of a different drummer
Spend some time in a pandal in the evenings when arati (a religious ritual of worship)takes place to the accompaniment of the sound of dhaaks (drums) played by dhaakis (ritual drummers), carrying large leather-strung dhaks with attached feather plumes. The beats start off nice and slow and then build to an increasingly faster rhythm.

Enjoy the feast
Food stalls set up all over the city makes the nights of pandal hopping into a never-ending feast. You can choose from biryani, cutlets, fries, rolls and kebabs, and Chinese, Bengali, Punjabi and South Indian food. Within the pandals also, you get food blessed by the deity – bhog (khichdi) and payas (kheer).

Enjoy sindur khela
On the last day of the puja, before the idol is taken for immersion, the festivities begin with married women placing red sindoor (powder) on the idol of Goddess Durga. This is a ritual called sindur khela. Sindur is the red vermilion paste worn by married women in India and ‘khela’ literally means ‘play’.

Bid goodbye, but the party’s not over yet
In the evening of last day of Durga Puja (known as Dashami), the idols are immersed in nearby water bodies. The most popular immersion point in Kolkata is Babu Ghat on the Hooghly river. An excellent way of witnessing the rather poignant scene is by boat. West Bengal Tourism offers boat tours. while taking the idols for immersion, the crowds shout out : Aaschhe bochhor abaar hobey (we are coming back next year)!

Indian Grand Prix in Delhi

Mahindra Homestays — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 20:00:04 +0000

If you love cars and are a speed addict to boot, then you’d probably want to be in Delhi this October when the Indian Grand Prix 2012 will be held. Spectators can enjoy the event from October 28, when the practice rounds begin on the 5.14-km Buddha International Circuit at Greater Noida.

The Grand Prix season this year started in Australia on March 18th and will end in Brazil on November 25th. The 2012 Indian GP will be the 17th of the 20-leg championship.

This year the Grand Prix is being contested over twenty races – the most races in a season in the sport’s history. The 2012 season has broken several records – six current and former World Drivers’ Champions — Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Räikkönen, Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher — started the season, breaking the record of five established in 1970.

Here are some facts about the circuit and suggestions for what else to do in Delhi during your stay.

The Buddh International Grand Prix Circuit

The Buddh International Circuit was the venue for the annual Formula One Indian Grand Prix, hosted in 2011.
The 5.14 km track has been designed by world-renowned German architect and racetrack designer, Herman Tilke, who has also designed other world-class race circuits in Malaysia, Bahrain, China, Turkey, the UAE, South Korea and the US.
The circuit is spread over an area of 874 acres.
It is expected to have the second fastest average speed of any circuit on the calendar behind Monza.
It can accommodate about 110,000 spectators.
The pitlane is also one of the longest in F1, at more than 600 metres.
The name ‘Buddh International Circuit’ was chosen as the area where the track is situated is called Gautam Budh Nagar.

Getting to the circuit
Greater Noida is strategically located at a distance of 25 kms from New Delhi to which it is connected by a flyover and a newly developed 6-lane express way. The New Delhi main station is just under an hour’s drive from Greater Noida.

While you are in Delhi

While you are in Delhi, here are a few things you can take in:
Visit the Red Fort, a 17th century fort complex built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
Check out the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the residence of the Indian President. It was built by the British, just before they left India.
Pick up trinkets and curios at the pavement shops of Janpath Market.
Check out the Qutab Minar. At 72.5 m, it was supposed to be the tallest skyscraper in the world when built. It took three generations to complete the tower (1193-1368).
Climb the minaret at the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.
Enjoy the succulent kebabs at legendary Karim’s restaurant in Chandni Chowk or try some fiery Kerala cuisine at Gunpower.
Explore the labyrinthine bylanes of Hauz Khas with its eclectic ambience of crumbling monuments and hip boutiques, book stores, art and antique shops and restaurants.
Browse Yodakin, a bookshop that stocks independent publishers.
Pick up a veg-dye t-shirt or laptop sleeve at People Tree.
Visit Agra and the Taj Mahal. It takes less than two hours by India’s fastest train, the Bhopal Shatabdi.

Where to stay
There are a number of great homestay options in Delhi. Banyan Tree Homestay has acquired an enviable reputation amongst discerning travellers and corporate clients with a great swimming pool for relaxing in after a busy day. Casa Homestay gets rave reviews from visitors who love the comfortable and spacious rooms in central Delhi. Darshan Homestay is located in one of the affluent areas of the capital. It’s a well-maintained and safe neighbourhood with a popular local market. View all Delhi homestays.

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

Mahindra Homestays — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:00:53 +0000

Elephant head. Rotund belly. A lotus seat. Gentle, smiling eyes and the humble mouse as vehicle. Put the five things together and you get the image of India’s most beloved deity Sri Ganesha. The Ganesh Chaturthi Festival (also known as Ganesh Utsav) is a lively festival that celebrates his birthday.

When Ganesh Chaturthi Festival takes place
Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom and prosperity and the Hindu festival normally takes place between 19 August and 15 September.

The celebrations last for 11 days culmulating with the biggest spectacle on the final day, Ananta Chaturdasi. This year, 2012, Ganesh Chaturthi is on September 19 with Ananta Chaturdasi falling on September 29. Next year, 2013, Ganesh Chaturthi is on September 9 with Ananta Chaturdasi falling on September 19.

About Ganesha
Also known as Siddhivinayak and Ganpati, he is one Hindu god that has followers across religions. Simply because he is considered the giver of success, no venture, whether in business, education or arts, commences without the worship of Ganesha.

Hindu mythology says the Elephant God is the son of Shiva and Parvati, and the story behind how he got the head of the giant beast is quite interesting. It is said that Shiva had severed the head of his son in a fit of rage, following which a grief-stricken Parvati pleaded with her husband to bring Ganesha back to life. Shiva’s troops went out in search of a ‘head’, as per instructions, and came back with that of an elephant. Thus the head of the elephant was fused with the body of a human, leading to the rebirth of Ganesha.

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
It is the birth anniversary of Ganesha that leads to one of the most colourful celebrations in India.

Ganesh Chaturthi is perhaps the one festival that breaks down all social barriers. From popular Bollywood stars to the humble street food vendor, everyone comes out to join the celebrations. Every posh bungalow, every street corner, every park, every housing society has its own Ganesha idol, with a procession of worshippers singing paeans to the deity.

The Ganesha idol, from as little at 2 inches to a gigantic 25 feet in height, is made of clay and touched up in bright colours. The artisans work day and night for months on end, to ensure that every home gets its own idol for the festival. During the festival, the idol is either placed on raised platforms at home or put up in elaborate tents or pandals for the public to see.

Cries of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ rent the air as thousands join colourful processions on the day of the immersion. The idols are paraded through crowded streets before being immersed in a river or sea, symbolising the return of the deity to his abode in Kailasha. The singing and the dancing on the streets continue into the early hours of the morning as worshippers enjoy the last day of the festival to the fullest.

Where to see the biggest celebrations
The grandest and the most elaborate celebrations can be seen in the state of Maharashtra.

Mumbai and Pune, both in Maharashtra, have the biggest Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The neighbouring state of Goa, too, is also much known for its Ganpati fervour. The opulent Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai’s Prabhadevi area sees a steady flow of devotees through the year. Therefore, no prizes for guessing that the temple is one of the best places to catch a glimpse of the festival. Lalbaug, in central Mumbai, is the other must-visit place for this festival.

Festival food
Whether you step out or not to join the crowds, you can still get a taste of Ganesh Chaturthi. All you need to do is to request a plate of modaks, the typical Ganesh Chaturthi snack. A flour dumpling stuffed with coconut, jaggery and dry fruits, no Ganesh Chaturthi celebration is complete without the modak.

The Ladakh Festival

Mahindra Homestays — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 20:00:34 +0000

With the Himalayan wonder, Ladakh, becoming more accessible to visitors from across the country, it is a great opportunity to get an intimate view of the unique festivals of the region.

One of the most exciting cultural extravaganzas, the Ladakh Festival, is celebrated between every 1st to 15th September. Great weather and fewer tourists make this a great time to enjoy the region’s heritage, depicted in dances, music and local food.

About the Festival
The Ladakh festival was the brainchild of the state tourism ministry and local communities to bring forth the rich cultural heritage of the region for everyone to enjoy. Leh, Kargil and the farway Zanskar valley participate in this festival.

The festival starts with parades of local dance and music troupes which slowly go past the main Leh market to finally end in the Polo Ground. The most important part of the Ladakh Festival is the polo match. The winners are conferred with the Ladakh Festival Cup. This was introduced to take forward the lineage of this traditional sport of the Western Himalayas. Some of the other events include archery, singing contests and dance competitions.

The most exhilarating performance is that of the Lamas, who dance to haunting tunes in traditional colourful masks. These monks are chosen from a handful of monasteries and their performance is one of the highlights of the festival.

Local food stalls line up at the venues so dig into some Tibetan food like Thukpa and Tsampa. Skyu is also something worth a try. This is a pasta dish with vegetables. Apart from the local food, you can also find local versions of other cuisines.

The festival marks the end of the pleasant weather as soon after the festival, the weather gets chilly and the in a month’s time, the high passes close due to snow. The Ladakh Festival leaves visitors and locals with colourful memories before the cold takes over the region.

How and When to get there
Leh, the capital city where the festival is held, is accessible by both road (via Manali or Srinagar) and air. The road trip itself is magnificent, but if you are planning on arriving on the opening day, you should keep 2 days for road travel. You can also fly in from Delhi, but arrive at least a day or two early to acclimatise to the altitude. With much walking, participation and following the parades, it can get very exhausting.

Tips for Visitors

Get local help beforehand to get seats in the Polo Ground if you want to watch the entire procession. Alternatively, a great vantage point from atop a building also makes a good viewing point.
With prior permission from the Tourism office, you can also get close access to the parade to get brilliant photo-opportunities.
If you can arrange to meet some of the troupes before or after the parade, more up-close pictures can be obtained.
This is also a good time for shopping for handicrafts as locals bring out their best wares and the variety is incredible. Although be prepared to bargain as visitors can be over charged a little. Local help will come in handy to get a decent bargain. Silver jewellery, mementos, prayer flags and more elaborate souvenirs like shawls and rugs are in plenty.

Thanks to the photographers who shared their images under Creative Commons licence. All images link back to the original source by way of credit.

Onam Festival in Kerala

Mahindra Homestays — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 22:57:21 +0000

Being primarily an agricultural country for decades, the harvest festivals of India are celebrated with much vigour. Regional variations make the festivals of South and North very distinct, giving a traveller good reason to visit both parts of the country and see the cultural differences.

One of the most popular festivals of South India, Onam, is celebrated in the state of Kerala. It is one of the major Hindu festivals and is celebrated all over the state with tremendous zeal.

History
The story goes that during the reign of demon King Mahabali, Kerala was its peak of a golden era. The region was prosperous and people were happy. The King, though very generous, had a debilitating shortcoming of being over egoistical. The knowledge of his weakness made the Gods end his rule on earth. Given his popularity with his subjects, the Gods allowed him to return annually for a visit to the region. The festival celebrates the homecoming of the beloved King each year and allows people to wish him well.

When is it celebrated?
The Malayam month of Chingam is auspicious for celebrating Onam. This falls in August or September each year, during the monsoon season.

How is it celebrated?
Elaborate preparations are made before the festival starts. Houses are given a thorough cleaning, kollams are made outside homes and the grand feast Onasadya is made. The nine course meal entails 11-13 essential dishes which are laid out on banana leaves.

Another important way to mark the month of Onam is by the season of boat races. Starting from Champakulum to the Nehru Boat Race trophy, the serene backwaters go through a turbulent battle between the villages with strains of ‘Vallamkali’ songs in the background, as over 100 oarsmen row long snake boat races.

People also participate in sports like Talappanthukali (ball), Ambeyyal (archery), Kutukutu and combat forms like Kayyankali and Attakalam.

Pookalam or flower mats are put outside houses to welcome King Mahabali.

Cultural activities in the form of dance and music fill the air. Women, especially perform Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal, two local dances.

Highlights
If you want to arrive only for the highlights, don’t miss:

Nehru Snake Boat Race – Amongst 8 other races, this one is the most popular and held on a grand scale.
Onasadya – This food is prepared only once a year, if you can get an invitation into a home where it is being prepared you will be be able to enjoy the feast at its best.
Attend a folk performance like Kummatti kali and Pulikali to feel the cultural vibe of the festival.

Many thanks to the photographers who share their images under the Creative Commons licence. All images link back to the original source.

Eid Ul Fitr in India

Mahindra Homestays — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 22:49:46 +0000

Eid-ul-Fitr (breaking of the fast) is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. It is a time of quiet reflection and worship. It is believed that more than 1,300 years ago, in the month of Ramadan, the prophet Muhammad received the Qur’an, the holy book of Muslims. Hence Ramadan is also knows as the ‘month of the Qur’an’.

Breaking the fast
A few dates and a glass of water is used to break the fast every day. Other foods consumed may vary from platters of fresh fruits, salads, nuts, legumes to fried savouries and kebabs. The meal with which the fast is broken every day is known as ‘iftar’. Iftars are often community gatherings, with people gathering to break their fast together. The meal is shared with family and friends, and it’s common for Muslims to invite non-Muslims over. Iftars in India have grown into mega banquets with politicians and celebrities throwing iftar parties all through the month.

New moon
At the end of Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr is heralded in with the sighting of the new moon. Most countries rely on news of an official sighting and it is common to see newspaper reports like this one: “Eid to be celebrated on Wednesday, moon spotted”. Since the time of the moon sighting varies according to which part of the world one is in, Eid celebrations can begin on different dates.

The festivities
On Eid day, Muslims gather early morning in mosques or outdoor locations to perform the Eid prayer. After the prayer, new clothes are taken out and visits are made to relatives and friends. Colourful bazaars and malls are full of families doing their last-minute Eid shopping; women apply mehndi (henna) and wear colourful bangles. Children look forward to getting ‘eidi’ (money given by elders to children).

It is common for non-Muslims to visit their Muslim friends and neighbours on Eid to convey their good wishes. It’s also time for feasting on special Eid delicacies like sheer khurma – a sweet dish prepared with milk, roasted vermicelli and garnished with dry fruits. After a month of fasting, sheer khurma comes like a warm bowl of comfort.

Other mouthwatering items on the menu include biryani, kebabs and korma and the delicious haleem – a meat stew made with lentils. The nihari is another popular dish during Ramadan – a rich stew of goat meat or beef, it is cooked overnight for six to eight hours and served hot early morning. In south India, Muslims break their fast with nonbu kanji, a rich, filling rice dish of porridge consistency, cooked for hours with meat and vegetables.

Eid Hot Spots: Where to celebrate
Eid-ul-Fitr is a public holiday in India and government offices, businesses and schools remain closed. While Eid is celebrated all over India, there are some cities that are well-known for the scale and range of festivities. If you want to get a taste of the real thing, it is best to get an invite to a Muslim household. Here’s a list of places where you can get get a ringside view of Eid celebrations.

Jama Masjid in New Delhi where huge crowds gather to pray
Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, another location where people come together for prayer
Aishbagh Idgah (the biggest prayer ground in the city) in Lucknow
Dargah Sharif in Ajmer
The Red Road in Kolkata where thousands of Muslims gather for a community prayer on Eid – it is a sight to behold.
Agra is another great place to witness Eid festivities. In 2011, the Taj Mahal was opened to all for free for three hours on the occasion of Eid.
In, Mumbai, the place to be seen at is Mohammad Ali Road. The place comes alive after sunset every day during Ramadan when restaurants in the area stay open all night serving up sumptuous dishes like tikkas, kebabs, hot paya, deep-fried parathas, kheeri and kaleji and stuffed baida rotis.

If you would like to join in with some Indian festivals yourself contact our reservations team who will be happy to help you plan a trip.

Homestays offer the perfect opportunity to get a local insight into festivals and your host family will be happy to provide guidance on the best way to experience the celebrations. Check out our Indian homestay collection.

Spring and summer festivals in India

Raksha Bandhan Festival – rediscovering the sibling bond

Mahindra Homestays — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:53:20 +0000

Amidst petty squabbles, eminent battles for the family car, TV remote wars and incessant simulation of playful sibling rivalry which has a strong undertone of love, we might have forgotten the spirit of the festival that rings in an annual reminder to re-affirm the bond between a brother and a sister.

As with most Indian traditions and festivals, Raksha Bandhan (better known as Rakhi) is rooted in legend. The celebrations arise from the tale of Rani Karnavati and her assumed brother Humayun. The festival has a strong secular message as Rani Karnavati was a Hindu queen, who sent a symbol of close bond, a thread, to the Muslim king Humayun.

The legend goes that the widowed queen of Chittor sent this thread, asking for protection with a view to create and invincible bond between Humayun and her, just as it is between siblings. Now as part of the celebrations sisters tie ornate threads on the wrists of their brothers, signifying an undying bond and love between the two. In turn, the brothers promise to forever guard the sisters and look after them in times of distress. The festival is one of the few that takes the entire country by storm in August, as it is celebrated by Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs.

To commemorate one of the most endearing festivals of the country, send us warm snippets of your sibling bond; this can be as a story, photograph or video which showcases your love. We will choose the most heart-warming submissions to share and may add to the festival celebrations with a special treat for you and your sibling(s).

Your story could be a simple photograph taken on a trip showing fun times together or the story of your battles turning into strong bonds. Just get in touch via the form below.

We can’t wait to hear from you and make the festival richer in experience for everyone!

Fill out my online form.

The Hemis Festival in Leh, Ladakh

Mahindra Homestays — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 02:54:27 +0000

Hemis Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Ladakh (in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir). Located 45 km from Leh, the 300 year old monastery is home to the famous Hemis festival which falls in June or July every year.

History of the festival
The Hemis Festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava who founded Tantric Buddhism in Tibet. Also known as Second Buddha, the festival is of huge importance to those celebrating.

Hemis is celebrated on the 10th day of the Tibetan lunar month in the Hemis Monastery, the largest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh.

The ceremonies begin with an early morning ritual atop the Gompa where, to the beat of drums and the resounding clash of cymbals and wail of pipes, the portrait of the sacred Guru Rinpoche (another name for the Guru) is brought forward so that all devotees can take blessings.

The most esoteric of festivities are the mystic mask dances. The Mask Dances of Ladakh are referred collectively as chams Performance.

At the Festival
A bevy of locals and tourists alike are seen making a beeline in local buses and cabs to the cosy monastery, clearly not equipped to handle the massive surge of humanity. Many travellers also camp outside the night before to get early entry and row side seats to the wonderful traditional dances.

Masked lamas perform elaborate dances, special music performances and commentaries in front of a large but intimate crowd. The half day ceremony is watched in awe by thousands. As a spectator try and get a seat as close to the main courtyard. These fill fast, so arrive at the festival as early as 7 in the morning. Tickets are available for Rs 500/- to sit very close to the performance. It is a great experience to sit and watch this marvellous show with the locals. They too, come dressed in their traditional cummerbunds and head gear for this annual ceremony.

Outside the monastery, the ambience is nothing short of a fair. Local food, artefacts and knick-knacks are on display. This is a good occasion to pick up local handicrafts as all merchants come and display their wares at the festival.

Many thanks to the photographers who share their images under the Creative Commons licence. All images link back to the original source.

Delhi Mango Festival

Mahindra Homestays — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 23:30:27 +0000

INTERNATIONAL MANGO FESTIVAL 2012
CITY: NEW DELHI
DATES: JULY 6 to 8
VENUE: DILLI HAAT PITAMPURA
ENTRY FEE: Rs. 20 for adults; Rs. 10 for children
TIME: 11 am to 9 pm

There are few things going in favour of Delhi when it comes to summers. After a pleasant yet testing winter and a blink-and-miss spring, the city goes on to experience four to five months of intense summers. The mercury hovers around 42 degrees Centigrade and the sun beats down on the capital. And yet summer is when Delhi is a riot of colours, fragrances and moods. It brings with it the heady aromas of khus and motiya; a deluge of shades of yellow when the amaltas blooms in the leafy neighbourhoods of South Delhi; the sight of happy youngsters diving into the shallow pools of India Gate, the city’s iconic monument, and, last but certainly not the least, the taste of the king of fruits, mangoes!

The relish with which the city savours mangoes is a sight to behold. Braving the scorching sun, the young and the old flock to the thousands of markets peppered across Delhi’s length and breadth, haggling with vendors and going home happy with a supply of mangoes. Restaurants are quick to cash in on this mango mania: turn the pages of any newspaper supplement and you will find announcements of food festivals and promotions centred around the mango. The fruit becomes the baker’s favourite as most confectioneries dole out mango desserts; cafes churn out beverages with generous portions of the fruit, and even meals at home usually end with a platter of cut mangoes. The modest vanilla ice-cream is almost always sold out in summers, given its phenomenal compatibility with the succulent fruit.

Being in proximity with some of the country’s highest producers of mangoes, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, is a boon for the mango-loving populace of Delhi. This is not to say that mangoes from deep down South, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bengal don’t make it to Delhi. Just the variety of mangoes calls for a trip to Delhi this season. The culmination of Delhi’s love affair with the fruit comes in the form of an exclusive festival, organised every year in July by Delhi Tourism. Eagerly awaited, the International Mango Festival is now in its 24th year. The benchmark of its popularity is the footfall it gets from Delhi residents, not just tourists. Attractive billboards go up all over the city weeks before the start of the festival, luring everyone with the prospect of this calorie-laden indulgence.

Once inside the venue, the attractively laid out open-air Dilli Haat in Pitampura, a medley of sights and sounds greet you. It’s like walking into a mango market. Look in any direction and you will see piles and heaps of the fruit, in different hues, shapes and sizes. Decorated with mango motifs and colourful balloons, the atmosphere at the Festival is like that of a carnival. Walk ahead and you will hear rounds of thundering applause. The ovation is usually directed at a contestant with his/her face buried in the skin of a mango while trying to eat the pulp at lightning speed. Groups of enthusiasts are also found crowding stalls where you can learn a recipe or two with mango as the main ingredient. From the humble mango lassi to the more exotic mango salsa, there is a lot to learn about.

If you believe you know your fruit well, it’s time you test your ‘mango quotient’ at this year’s festival. The three-day mango bonanza also includes a spellbinding display of over 500 varieties of the fruit, as well as a slogan writing contest and a quiz.

Sampling the fruit as you wend your way through the maze of stalls and eager visitors is an experience that only this exclusive festival can offer you. This, however, may come for a small price but there are also many vendors who put out platters of freshly cut fruit for free sampling. And if you think you can grow your own mango, then there are saplings on sale for your kitchen garden. Until the first fruit appears, you can always feast on the delicious pickles, jams, chutneys and spreads on sale at the Festival.

Apart from the popular commercial varieties of dussehri, fazli, langda, sindhuri, kesar, chausa, banganpalli, totapuri, Neelam, safeda, Amrapali, Husnara and so on, there are several unheard of types on display. Some to make it to the last festival include sadabahaar, dakwala, elaichidana, angoori tapka and even Sheila, a fruit dedicated to Sheila Dikshit, the chief minister of Delhi.

If you still have room for more mango-related stories (this, after doing the rounds of the mind-boggling display), strike a conversation with veterans like Padmashri Haji Kaleemullah Khan of Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh. He is the man who is credited with growing more than 300 varieties on a single tree! Hailing from a family that is almost synonymous with growing the dussehri, Kaleemullah’s experimentations in grafting began in his early teens. Needless to say, it’s not just the fruit that is the essence of the Festival. Tales, trivia and legends go a long way in adding flavour to the overall picture.

So if you want to earn your stripes as a mango lover, the International Mango Festival of Delhi is where you should be headed. If you are staying in a homestay in Delhi as your hosts to arrange transport to the venue. Your host may be able to accompany you to the Festival, helping you choose the best variety of fruits on sale and even striking a good bargain. Back at the homestay, you can also request for a cooking demonstration of recipes using mangoes or even a meal with only mango delicacies.