Tuesday 1 April 2014

Why Festivals In India Are Celebrated?

Festivals in India are the special occasions where the country adorns the celebrations. Socially, the whole nation becomes active in festivities. This is the main reason why festivals in India are celebrated in a community. During such occasions, the families organize get together, exchange gifts and greetings, participate in mass celebrations and even visit the special fairs. All this is done to keep the festive spirit alive in modern times.
Another facet to festivities in the country is that it binds together the community to celebrate their common culture. There are festivals for anything and everything in India. Due to the presence of different religions, faiths, ideas, ideals and culture, the country celebrates diversity. It is even said that one or the other part of the country celebrates the festival 365 days a year. Now, that’s exciting. There are religious festivals, cultural festivals and tourism festivals that are organized to upkeep the traditions, values and heritage of the region.
Religious festivals are celebrated as a part of belief. They are organized to honour gods, goddesses, spiritual personalities and events related to the journey of a religion. In India, there are primarily seven religions followed - Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism and Judaism. The festivals related to these religions are celebrated in the country with great fervour and excitement. It can even be said that faith brings out festive side of India. People perform donations and celebrate the festival on a large scale, just to make sure the religious festivals are organized in the best possible way. 
Cultural festivals in India are organized to provide a platform to the diverse art, music and dance forms of the country. They are specially organized to upkeep the artistic traditions of the past and popularize them for present and future. Many cities in India are active in special cultural events based on different forms of music, folk forms, classical and contemporary dance forms. Famous festivals among such a category include Khajuraho Dance festival, Konark Dance Festival, Elephanta Festival etc.
Tourist festivals in the country are organized to celebrate the heritage of the land for tourism purpose. These annual celebrations bring out the best in a destination and invite maximum tourists, both within the country and foreigners. These special festivals culminate the essence of the location and give the locals another reason to celebrate their age old heritage in the most promising way.  For tourists, such festivals are a focal point where they can enjoy their ‘India’ experience in the most authentic way. For this purpose, they specially participate in the fairs and festivals of India, organized to display the rich, vibrant and colourful side of the country. Some of the most visited festivals in India are Pushkar Fair, Desert Festival of Jaisalmer, Goa Carnival Festival.

It is best suggested for tourists to Go for India during festivals for the maximum cultural experience in the country. 

Friday 21 February 2014

Chennai - Another Popular French Getaway

The gateway of South India, Chennai is also a prominent getaway for French tourists. Reason beyond this is its inclination towards artistic traditions and cultural heritage. Due to its Dravidian roots, the city is uniquely famous for its inherent inclination towards traditional music, dance, architecture and all other art forms. All this and much more fascinate a French traveller. When he comes to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, he is served with loads of cultural experiences to remember for a lifetime.
At first sight, the city comes across as friendly to its tourists. Refined in every sense, this city based on a rich fusion of monumental heritage ranging from ancient era to modern history presents its best-kept secrets through sightseeing. Up close to Chennai, tourists can visit the twin towns of Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram in order to understand the Dravida heritage of Tamil Nadu.
Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram, located on Coromandel Coast, was carved out during the Pallava dynasty rule. It was from here that the dynasty conducted overseas trade of spices to the islands of Java, Sumatra and Cambodia. The frequent usage of this passage led the rulers establish their might in the form of rock cuts and sculptures in the sand. There are stone temples, rock cut bas reliefs, mandapas or pavilions and rathas or temple chariots that narrate the glory of Mahabalipuram. Out of all, the Shore Temple stands tall. Perched upon a rocky outcrop, shore temple presides over the seashore as a landmark attraction by day.
Nearby Mamallapuram is Kanchipuram, a treasure trove of Hindu temples and art from the Pallava, Chola and Pandyan dynasties. But amongst tourist circle, the destination is known more for its colourfully luxurious silk sarees with enigmatic gold weaving. In fact, the saree fabrics here are patented and in no other destination, one can find the emblematic Kanchipuram Sarees.
This is just a beginning of experiencing the cultural side of Chennai. We will be focusing on Kalakshetram in Chennai to have more expressive understanding of cultural roots in Chennai.

Wednesday 29 January 2014

Reasons Why Tourists Go For India VI - Dance

India has always cherished its age old connect with the art of dance. The country’s fondness towards the graceful dance forms is a part of Indian culture. Like other cultural attractions, dance is also varied discipline in the country. Different regions have different regional dance forms. With its many forms, the cultural dance performances have been seen as modes of worship, devotion and a joyous celebration of life. Based on 4th century ancient treatise, Natyashastra, these dance forms originated as a form of worship in the temples. Basically, these forms present a wide range of hand gestures, facial expressions and body postures in a lyrical way to project or narrate mythological stories.
As a means of entertainment, these dance forms acquired a more secular character and received a royal patronage. This development proved favourable for growth and popularity of dance forms to the public at large. Presently, the cultural heritage of dance performances in India is present in different cities of the country where many cultural dance forms are staged and presented to the people as well as tourists.
Currently, the dance of India can be divided into two parts – Classical and Folk. Classical dance is based on well-defined traditional disciplines and includes the following:
Bharata Natyam from Tamil Nadu has elegant eye and hand movements called as mudras. The performer’s chiseled stance and posture too elaborate the dance presentation.
Kathakali from Kerala is a spectacular dance drama narrating the mythological stories through detailed gestures, elaborate make up & costumes along with well defined body movements. This is an immensely popular attraction of Kerala tour. In fact, every evening, the dance drama is staged in Cultural Center, Kochi to keep its traditions alive.
Kathak from Uttar Pradesh was a favourite dance at the royal courts of North India in the past. It was also a popular art form with the Mughals. Still it is followed by many classical dancers with the same zeal and dedication.
Manipuri, which has a delicate, lyrical flavour, hails from Manipur. The dancers performing this dance form enact the legend of Radha and Krishna.  Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh is a 17th-century dance-drama that centres on the envious wife of Lord Krishna.
Odissi, claimed to be India’s oldest classical dance form, was originally a temple art, and was later also performed at royal courts.
In addition to the formal arts of dance, Indian regions have a strong free form, folksy dance tradition. These high spirited dance forms feature Bhangra of Punjab; Bihu of Assam; the Zeliang of Nagaland; the Chhau of Jharkhand; the Qauwwalis, Birhas and Charkulas of Uttar Pradesh; Ghoomar of Rajasthan; Dandiya and Garba of Gujarat; the Yakshagana of Karnataka ; Lavani of Maharashtra; Dekhnni of Goa; Karakattam, Oyilattam, and Mayilattam of Tamil Nadu.

The dances of India present a rich, varied, vibrant and exotic side of the country to the tourists. Deeply etched in the past, these art forms present the rich and continuing legacy of dance disciplines in the most authentic way. Want a dance performance tour, go for India and experience the India culture in the most vibrant form.