Kullu Dussehra

Kullu Dussehra is the Dussehra festival observed in the month of October in Himachal Pradesh state in northern India. It is celebrated in the Dhalpur maidan in the Kullu valley. Dussehra at Kullu commences on the tenth day of the rising moon, i.e. on 'Vijay Dashmi' day itself and continues for seven days. Its history dates back to the 17th century when local King Jagat Singh installed an idol of Raghunath on his throne as a mark of penance. After this, god Raghunath was declared as the ruling deity of the Valley. The State government has accorded the status of International festival to the Kullu Dussehra, which attracts tourists in large numbers. Legendary history According to legend, after his return from a pilgrimage to Kailash,

Maharishi Jamdagni went to his hermitage at Malana. On his head he carried a basket filled with eighteen images of different gods. Crossing through Chanderkhani pass, he came upon a fierce storm. Struggling to stay on his feet, Maharishi Jamdagni's basket was thrown from his head, scattering the images to many distant places. Hill people, finding these images saw them take shape or form as Gods, and began to worship them. Legend has it that idol worship began in the Kullu Valley. In the 16th Century, Raja Jagat Singh ruled over the prosperous and beautiful kingdom of Kullu. As the ruler, the Raja came to know of a peasant by the name of Durgadatta who apparently possessed many beautiful pearls. The Raja thought he should have these treasured pearls, even though the only pearls Durgadatta had were pearls of Knowledge. But the Raja in his greed ordered Durgadatta to hand over his pearls or be hanged. Knowing of his inevitable fate at the hands of the king, Durgadatta threw himself on the fire and cursed the king, "Whenever you eat, your rice will appear as worms, and water will appear as blood". Doomed by his fate, the Raja sought solace and searched out advice from a Brahmin. The Holy man told him that in order to eradicate the curse, he must retrieve the idol of Ragunath from Raam's kingdom.
1

Desperate, the king sent a Brahmin to Ayodya. One fine day the Brahmin stole the idol and set out on his journey back to Kullu. The people of Ayodya, finding their beloved Ragunath missing, set out in search of the Kullu Brahmin. On the banks of the Saryu river, they approached the Brahmin and asked him why he had taken Ragunath ji. The Brahmin recounted the story of the Kullu king. The people of Ayodya attempted to lift Ragunath, but their idol became incredibly heavy when headed back towards Ayodya, and became very light when headed to Kullu. On reaching Kullu Ragunath was installed as the reigning deity of the Kullu kingdom. After installing the idol of Ragunath, Raja Jagat Singh drank the Charan-Amrit of the idol and the curse was lifted. Jagat Singh became Lord Ragunath's regent. This legend is connected with the Dussehra at Kullu. This idol is taken in aRatha to the Dussehra. It is a week long international level fair held every year during October. The International Kullu Dussehra fair is scheduled to be held from 13/14 October, 2013 at Kullu. The major attraction of the fair was the assembly of hundreds of local deities with the main deity Raghunath ji. Other activities like cultural programmes, exhibitions were also organized.

Desert Festival Jaisalmer

Location: Sam Sand Dunes 42 K.M. from Jaisalmer How to reach: SUV or Camel safari Timing: In the month of February Attractions: Cultural showcase Desert Festival of Jaisalmer is a colorful festival held in February every year. You will get to see Cultural events, camel races, turban tying competitions etc. Not exciting enough! Attend the contests to judge the man with the best moustache. Everything is exotic in the Desert festival, amidst the golden sands of the Thar Desert. With a final musical performance by folk singers under the moonlit sky at the dunes in Sam, just outside Jaisalmer, the festival comes to its end. The rich culture of the region is on display during this three daylong extravaganza. The desert festival in Jaisalmer was started to attract foreign tourists, who always wanted to explore as many facets of Rajasthan as they could in the possible crunch of time. The threeday event stresses more on local elements and heritage. For example, this no-nonsense festival will only showcase Rajasthani folk songs and dance. These are presented by some of the best
3

professionals of the art. Similarly, local customs such as Turban tying etc have been added to make it more exotic and colorful in its outlook. 'The moustache competition' is very popular among foreigners. This is simply because of the surprise value attached to this event. Foreigners can be seen posing for pictures with the winners. This is truly a moment worth preserving. You will never forget marvels like the famous Gair and Fire dancers that are the major attraction of the desert festival celebrations. Interesting contests including a tying competition and a Mr. Desert contest further enhance the fun of the occasion. A trip to the Sam sand dunes marks the grand finale, where you will enjoy camel rides and brilliant performance by the folk artist under the full moon against the backdrop of picturesque dunes. The Rajasthan tourism organizes the Jaisalmer Desert fair/festival. There is tourist help cell to deal specially with the problems faced by foreign tourists. The arrangements are monitored by local administration and state of the art Medical vans, equipped with the best of medical amenities, are kept on alert. If you want to buy gifts or souvenirs for your dear ones, this is the place to be. For this place not only have items from and around Jaisalmer but of the whole Rajasthan. Mobile money exchangers are there in case you
4

need to exchange currencies. And if you run out of cash, Guess what! Nearly all the kiosks have the facility to accept credit card. Jaisalmer Desert Festival The Desert Festival or the Jaisalmer Desert Festival as it is more popularly known, is an annual event organized every year in February at the beautiful desert city with the Golden Fortress of Jaisalmer - Rajasthan, India. This three day Desert festival and cultural extravaganza showcases the rich and colourful heritage of Rajasthan and its folk culture. During the Jaisalmer Desert Festival, the folk artists from around Rajasthan sing and dance eloquently to the triumphs and the tragedies of this land steeped in history, other major attractions at the desert festival include the traditional acrobatics by Local nomadic performers & gymnasts called Kalabaz or Nats, Snake charmers, entertaining puppet shows and captivating folk music recitals and Ballads by the Bhopas, Manganiars & Langhas under the canopy of the twinkling stars & winter desert sky . Other major attractions at the Jaisalmer Desert Festival are the turban tying competition, longest moustaches competition and Mr. Desert contest . You will never forget marvels like the famous Gair
5

and the Fire dancers . Attend the contests to judge the man with the longest moustache, foreign guests & visitors visiting the desert festival many a time are invited to be judges at these competitions. The moustache competition' is very popular among foreigners, simply because of the awe factor attached to this event. Overseas visitors to the Jaisalmer desert festival can be seen posing for pictures with the winners of the longest moustache competition as this is truly a camera moment worth preserving. No desert festival can be complete without camels and at the Jaisalmer Desert Festival there are no exceptions. Camels take part in a number of events, including camel races, camel polo , camel decoration, and camel dance. The Jaisalmeri breed of camels are particularly known for their speed & agility. There is no religious or customary tradition attached to the Desert Festival at Jaisalmer. The Desert festival in Jaisalmer was initiated primarily to attract foreign tourists and overseas visitors who always wanted to explore as many facets of Rajasthan as they could in the least possible time in actual desert environs and ideal weather. This three-day event Highlights the local elements and heritage . Not only the Jaisalmer fort but the whole Jaisalmer city brims with excitement during the Desert Festival. Everything is exotic and
6

colourful during the Desert festival, amidst the golden sands of the Thar Desert with a final musical performance by folk singers under the starlit sky at the dunes in Sam, just outside Jaisalmer, the Jaisalmer Desert festival comes to its end. The next Jaisalmer Desert festival is scheduled to be held between 23rd-25th February 2013. Please contact us to help you plan your visit to Jaisalmer during the Jaisalmer Desert Festival 2013. We can also plan your tour of Rajasthan or other places of interest in India.

The Durga Puja Festival of Kolkata and West Bengal

In Hinduism, Mother Durga represents the embodiment ofshakti, the divine feminine force that governs all cosmic creation, existence and change. It is held that Durga emerged from the collective energies of all of the gods, including Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, to vanquish the demon Mahishasura who could not be defeated by any god or man. She is thus the compassionate savior of all of the gods and the universe. Durga exists in a complete state of self-sufficiency and independence from the universe and everyone and everything in it (in Sanskrit, Durga means "the impenetrable" or "the inaccessible"). At the same time, she is also regarded as the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya, and is thus seen as the demonfighting form of Shiva's wife, Parvati.

Durga is honored with extreme fervor during the annual Navratri festival, which marks the beginning of autumn and occurs typically in September or October. Navratri means "nine nights" in Sanskrit, and on each day of the festival, nine different forms of shakti or Mother Durga are worshipped. In West Bengal, this festival occurs primarily 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 Hindi (in North India, Dussehra also commemorates Rama's vistory over the demon Ravana as described in the Ramayana). Durga Puja also celebrates the annual visit of Durga and her children to her ancestral home, and her reunion with Shiva on Vijayadashami. Our innovative trip focuses on the last six days of Navratri in West Bengal, which is known as Durga Puja or Durgotsava and is the largest festival of the year for Bengali Hindus. In the months leading up to Durga Puja, highly decorated, life-sized idols of Durga that depict her slaying Mahishasura are

created by potters out of clay. In large open spaces around West Bengal, elaborate pandals, or temporary temples made of bamboo and cloth, are created to house the idols. The idols are worshipped for five days and then carried in magnificent procession to a local river for immersion, symbolizing Durga's reunion with Shiva. The fiveday period of worship is a time of personal introspection and bodily purification for devotees, with many avoiding meat, alcohol, onions, wheat and grains. The end of Navratri and Durga Puja further marks an auspicious time for starting new activities or business ventures. While references to Durga Puja in Bengal can be found as far back as the middle ages, it did not become popular among the zamindars, or wealthy landowners of Bengal, until the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1757, an elaborate puja was even held in honor of Rober Clive by Raja Nabakrishna Deb of Calcutta. Lord Clive wished to pay thanks for his victory in the Battle of Plassey, which established East India Company rule in Bengal, but the only church in Calcutta had been destroyed in battle, thus a puja was held at Deb's home instead. This was followed by subsequent pujas by other prominant Bengali families in which British Officers of the East India Company were the guests of honor. Each family would try to outdo the others with increasingly elaborate food and drink, decoration and music and dance entertainment. Soon thereafter, community or Baroyari ("twelve friends") pujas began to be organized by small groups of people excluded from the elite family pujas due to social status. By the early 20th century, these festivities had evolved into Sarbojanin ("involving all") pujas, in which people from all castes, creeds and religions could participate; these pujas further served to create a feeling of unity during the struggle for independence. These pujas were organized by neighborhood committees, who traditionally went door-to-door seeking funds for icon and pandal construction and ceremonial activities, with some
10

portion of the funds donated to charity. Over the years, both the icons and the pandals have gotten more and more elaborate, and each year fierce competitions are held among neighborhoods for the best pandals and puja themes (past themes have run the gamut from the ancient Egyptians to Harry Potter). Today, the larger community pujas in Kolkata even have corporate sponsorship, adding a commercial aspect to this highly spiritual celebration.

Over ten years ago, The Indians created the first behind-the-scenes tour of the Durga Puja Festival in West Bengal. This program contrasts the elaborate festival preparations and celebrations of the elite households and heritage neighborhoods of Kolkata with the more humble rituals of the rural villages of West Bengal.
The first three days of our trip will include visiting Kumartuli, Area of the Potters, where the icons of Durga are sculpted and painted. Here we will learn about the rituals that surround the creation of the icons themselves, such as the gathering of the clay and the Chakshu Daan, or Offering of the Eyes. We will next join the crowds "pandal hopping" in the heritage neighborhoods of Kolkata, admiring the artistic displays and watching the fascinating puja choreography. We will also have the privilege of joining several elite families of Kolkata in their homes to observe their private pujas. The following three days will be spent exploring the Birbhum and Bankura districts of West Bengal. We will visit a number of traditional villages to view their puja pandals and festival processions. We will also learn about the rich textile and craft heritage of this area, which includes beautiful silk weaving, conch shell carving, dhokra metal casting and terracotta pottery. Our tour returns
11

to Kolkata just in time to see thousands of Durga idols brought to the Hoogly River for ritual immersion on the last day of the festival.

The Durga Puja Festival of Kolkata and West Bengal 9 Days/8 Nights - October 7th to 15th, 2013; September 27th to October 5th, 2014

12

Hemis festival in Ladakh

The Hemis festival is one of the biggest and the most famous religious festivals of Ladakh and is an attraction for both the tourist and the local people. The festival of Hemis is a colorful twoday affair that falls on the 10th day (called Tse-Chu in the local language) of the Tibetan lunar month. This festival is a celebration of the birth anniversary of spiritual leader Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibet Tantric Buddhism. The main venue and stage for this festival is the courtyard of Hemis Gompa-the biggest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh. the Monastery of Hemis Jangchub Choling: situated 40 km from Leh, this monastery is the principal, richest, loveliest and renowned gompa of Ladakh. Hemis was constructed in 1630 all through the rule of Sengge Namgyal, a memorable sovereign of Ladakh. It throve under the Namgyal progeny for ages as the royalty blessed the Drugpa sect, which administered the monastery. It is popular because of the major annual celebration organized here in summer. The leading Thanka in Ladakh is also present here that unfolds itself once in a period of 12 years. The carnival preparations: The head priest directs the festival. The local people are noticed being transformed and adorned in their premium conventional apparels for the function. Priests called chams carry out impressive masquerades yet revered plays in the company of long horns, drums and cymbals played by monks. The entertainers wear detailed and peculiar vivid brocade dresses and facade and outfits and intensely tinted masks. These masks are the most fundamental component of the dance. The music is typically interposed with resonance of unwieldy trumpets, cymbals and drums.Ladakh_Hemis

13

The Cham Dance: The dance movements are slow, and the expressions grotesque. Each multihued mask represents an unusual stature of the myth thats being exhibited. The famous Padmasambhava dance, which illustrates the subjugation of the ruta demons, incorporates Yama the God of demise, and the black-hatted wizard, Guru Trakpo the conqueror of all fiends. Unique exhibition every 12 years: This pulsating fiesta takes a promising turn, when the two-storey high Thanka portraying Padmasambhava puts on a show at an interval of every 12 years in the Tibetan calender. This celebrated Thanka, opulently embellished with pearls and semi -precious stones, was last exhibited in the revelries of the year 2004. A multicolored fair, demonstrating several stunning handiworks, is the special focal point of the celebration. Monastery in LadakhHemis The festival dates and duration: This festival falls in the 5th month of Tibetan calendar and is in the month of June or the first half of July. The fanfare lasts for 2-3 days. Feel the thrill with ThrillChimp: Live your dream of taking part in this vibrant festival and enjoy the local cuisine and adventure safaris on yaks and camels while there. Reach out to us today for our special customizable seasonal packages to LehLadakh and let us plan the best holiday of your life!

14

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a popular Vallam Kali held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala, India. Vallam Kali or Vallamkali literally means boat play/game, but can be translated to boat race in English. The most popular event of the race is the competition of Chundan Vallams (snake boats). Hence the race is also known as Snake Boat Race in English. Other types boats which participate in various events of the race are Churulan Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam (Vaipu Vallam), Vadakkanody Vallam and Kochu Vallam. The race conducted on the second Saturday of August every year is a major tourist attraction. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of Independent India visited Kerala in 1952. He was given a roaring reception by the people of Alleppey, escorted by the huge snake-boats. Having gone through the tremendous excitement of sailing in a snake-boat Jawaharlal Nehru donated a rolling trophy to be awarded to the winner of the race. The trophy is a replica of a snake-boat in silver, placed on wooden abacus on which the following words are inscribed. To the winner of the boat-race which is a unique feature of community life in TravancoreCochin. The 100120 foot long canoes made of a wood locally called "Aanjili thadi" carrying 90- 110 rowers which moves like a snake through the channels (hence the name), is an eye catching sight for any tourist. The Chundan Vallam also has the record as "the biggest water vessel used for sports purpose" . Karichal, Kallooparamban, champakulam, Nadubhagom, Paayipaadu, Kaavalam, Alapaatu, Aanari, Cheruthana, Aayaparambu, St. George, Jawahar Thaayankari, Vallamkulangara, Valiya Divanji, Sri.Ganesh, Paarthasarathy, Ambedkar, Mutteal Kainakary, Ellikkulam,

Vadakkeaattupuram and Deva's Chundan are the name of popular snake boats who participate in the Chundan Vallam category. Famous Karichal Chundan winning the Nehrutrophy Boat
15

Race in 14 times.Karichal chundan is the Fastest chundan in NehruTrophy Boat Race Year 2011 Heats Time : 4m.30s (www.karichalchundan.com) Palliyodam, or Royal Canoe of Aranmula, is the other type of snake boat. This year,the 60th Nehru Trophy Boat race is conducted as a three day program.The tranquil Alappuzha with its corduroy of canals undergoes a transformation in early August to a frenzy activity and enthusiasm which reaches it is summit on the second Saturday, the day on which the world famous kuttanads Olympics on Water is held annually. Nehru Trophy Boat race at Punnamada, Alappuzha is one of the most significant and colourful boat races in Kerala. It is a world renowned event, held annually on the second Saturday of the month of August in the Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha. Boats of all sizes compete in different events in the boat race and . Kerala is celebrating its 61st nehru trophy boat race on 10th August 2013. The most prestigious and interesting event among the races is the competition of the "Chundan Vallam" or the snake boats. These majestic boats measuring a length of 30 to 60 metres (over 100 ft) with a raised prow, are quite impressive and can accommodate around 100 rowers, 4 helmsmen and 25 cheer leaders. The boats are well decorated with colourful trimmings and umbrellas during the race. Champakulam, Kavalam, Karichal, Jawahar Thayangari, Kallooparamban, Pacha, Pulincunnu, Nedubhagam, Cheruthana, Kandangari and Paippad are the chief competitors for the trophy. The huge boats racing through the blue backwaters is a spectacular sight. The venue is 5kms from Alappuzha railway station and a walk able distance from Alappuzha bus stand.

This race became a regular annual event after the visit of India's 1st prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru in 1952 to Alappuzha. He was so impressed with the impromptu race conducted on his behalf that he donated a Silver Trophy, which is a replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus, with the words "To the winner of the boat race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore - Cochin" inscribed on it.
16

The water festival in Kuttanad is unique. No other country in the world has such festivities. The large number of participants in a racing boat marks still the uniqueness that no other sport in the world has such a large number in a team. The synchronized way of rowing needs long and devoted training and inherent aptitude. Those who steer the vessel need through knowledge of water current, observation power of high order, and they must be well versed in the different aspects of boat racing. The most notable fact in the races of boats is that a single neglected act of a single participant will lead a boat to lose in the race.

Most of the major water festivals of the region are associated with legends connected with famous temples like champakkulam (Ambalapuzha), Payipad (Haripad) and Aranmula. These festivals best retain the flavour of ancient Kerala culture, especially the Uthrithathi boat race on the Pampa , in Aranmula, where devotion, music and the sheer artistry and grandeur of the boats, known as Palliyodams , make it a unique experience for the spectators.

Nehrutrophy.com is a web portal of Kerala.com and Keralatravels.com. We solicit our services all across the globe.Kerala.com, with its vast experience in the field of IT, has been one of the pioneer companies in India that provides IT enabled services in Travel and Tourism, to give maximum comfort and satisfaction to the customers.

We take immense pleasure to be a part of this renowned festival. We provide accommodation, travels, guides and all those which caters for the best results and make your festive mood relish with its true colour and harmony.

HISTORY ABOUT BOAT RACES

17

The boat race is a sport that signifies excellent team spirit, integration and amity of the people of this backwater country and is a great occasion for excitement. It vividly portrays the life of a vibrant people. Boat races are celebrated as the festival of backwaters with all pomp and splendor. In fact these water carnivals are inseparable from the life of a community, which is dependent on boats for commuting and communication in a water logged area. Perhaps snake boat race would be the only sporting event in the world in which hundreds of people participate in a competition. It stands as a symbol of communal harmony; but at the same time it is also a competition of muscle power. Boat races are magnificent fiestas that bring alive the tranquil backwaters and these races are held in connection with Onam, the harvest festival in August/September. Scores of long snake boats and other smaller crafts participate in these events. The largest team sport in the world, the snake boat races are preceded by colorful water parades. Usually four helmsman, 25 singers and 100-125 oarsmen who row in unison to the fast rhythm of the Vanchipattu man a snake boat. Thousands of people crowd the water's edge to cheer the huge black crafts as they slice through the waters to a spectacular finish.

In the lakes and canals of Alappuzha different kinds of boats can be identified ranging from small country crafts for single person to boats carrying hundreds of people. In the good golden days these boats were the only major means of cargo and passenger transportation in this backwater country. Country canoes, rice boats (Kettuvallom), house boats, race boats etc. are the other different kinds of boats to be seen around. Boat race Calendar: The Champakkulam Moolam boat race (July) heralds the onset of the boat race season. The other boat races are Aranmula Uthruttathi Vallam kali (September), Payippad Jalotsavam (September), Rajiv Gandhi boat race, Pulincuunnu (Aug/Sep), Neerettupuram boat race (Sept), Karuvatta boat race, Kumarakom boat race, Kavanattinkara boat race, Kottappuram boat race, Kodungallor boat race, Arppookkara Vanitha Jalamela, Kottayam Mahatma boat race, Mannar
18

boat race, Thazhathangadi boat race, Kumaranasan Smaraka Jaloltsavam, Pallana and finally the Indira Gandhi boat race at Kochi. Boat Categories 1. CHUNDAN VALLAM (SNAKE BOAT) The boats of Kerala are categorised and named as per their shapes, sizes and purposes. The Chundaanvallam is so called because of its pointed prow. The term snake boat indicates the shape of the stern which resembles the raised hood of a snake. The front end of this type of boat will be tapering in shape and the rear end will be highly elevated from the water level. It has a length of about 60-65 meters and a capacity to carry over a hundred to hundred and ten people during a race. The stern is majestically caparisoned and decorated with a flag and brass ornaments. Silken parasols are arrayed along the entire length of the boat. There will be almost 95 oarsman, 5 Amarakkar (Controllers) and 10 'Nilakkar' (persons supposed to enhance the vigour and enthusiasm of the participating oarsman). It has the semblance of a snake, while advancing in a competition and hence became popular as snake boats. These boats were the traditional battle vessels of Kerala. 2. CHURULAN VALLAM (RACE BOAT) The Race Boats "churulan vallams" are boats having a capacity to acommodate about 45 persons and are designed as passenger boats.The ends of these types of boats are shaped as a Circular ring (Churul in Malayalam). 3. VAIPU VALLAM 'Vaipu' vallams are boats having a passenger capacity of about 40-45 persons. One end of the boat is always higher than the other end. These boats were originally meant to prepare food for the other vessels during war . 4. IRUTTUKUTHY/ODI

19

Iruttukuthy or Odi type of boats are designed for transportation during the night. The shape of the boat is suitable for speedy journey. The width of the boat is so designed as to avoid friction with water while moving. In olden days these boats were supposed to be used for piracy works. VANCHIPATTU (SONG OF THE BOATMAN) These highly rhythmic songs were created to keep up the spirit of the boatman. These songs were so framed and sung as to keep pace with the movement of the oars and to keep alive their devotional, mythological and rustic life styles. Every snake boat has about twenty-five singers with their traditional percussion instruments.

20