Namaste Friends.

How time flies! Already our festival season is under way. Raksha Bandhan, the festival for brothers and sisters, showed that fraternal bonds are eternal. Spanish TV crews came to join us for Janmashtami, attracted by the human pyramids exuberantly enacting Lord Krishna’s childhood pranks, by attempting to break matkas (earthen pots) filled with butter and curds (and money!). The tiny Parsi community ushered in Navroz, the first day of a new year according to the Zoroastrian calendar, with prayers and feasting. As I write to you, Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, harbinger of good luck and remover of obstacles, has just been given a ceremonial send-off. Onam, Kerala's most important festival, has ushered in the harvest season. We're practising our dancing moves, for soon we start the 9 days of devotion and 9 nights of celebration, Navaratri, that culminate in Dassera, the festival that commemorates the victory of good over evil. The garba and dandiya raas community dances held in the evenings have sparked off many a romance and I don’t suppose this year will be any different! In West Bengal, Navratri will be observed as Pujo, with the entire state worshipping Durga, the goddess of power and vitality who is believed to take a new form on each of the nine days. Married women will fast for the longevity of their husbands on Karva Chauth. The season will be rounded up by Diwali (our Christmas), the festival of lights, and Id – which marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting.
   
   
 

 

Indian Hotels in T+L's World's Best Hotels lists

T+L's “World's Best Hotels” list is based on reader evaluations as well as expert rankings. Indian Hotels, which appeared in the World's Top 100 Hotels list for the first time in 2004, have expanded their presence. More…

 
 
   
 
  What is that colourful pattern outside Indian houses during festivals?

It’s called a Rangoli and is one of the most intricate floor art forms in India. The designs are created from coloured powder, or flowers. In ancient India the lady of the house would start her daily chores only after drawing a Rangoli in front of the temple.

What’s that silver stuff on Indian sweets? Is it safe to eat?

The silver coating is known as varak. It is actually real silver, beaten really thin, and yes, it’s perfectly safe to eat. According to some reports, a whopping 275 tons of silver is eaten annually in the form of foil.

 
What’s appropriate dress to wear for a visit to an Indian home during a festival?

Traditional clothing is comfortable and always in vogue, and your hosts will appreciate the effort you’ve taken. Women of all shapes and sizes will love the flowing beauty of a sari, the comfortable practicality of a salwar-kameez or the formal elegance of a churidar-kurta. Men can try on a pagdi (turban) with a kurta worn with churidar or pants. For an alternative to a jacket, try a bandhgalla.

How do I wish my Indian friends on a festival?

Happy Diwali and Id Mubarak will do just fine!		  

 
 
  Letter from Belinda and Daniel, Tasmania, winners of the Incredible India Fairs & Festivals contest

We just got back yesterday from an amazing holiday – thank you so much for the trip of a lifetime! The luxury started with business class tickets from Air India, and continued with the Rambagh Palace. We have stayed at other five star hotels in Australia and overseas and this was by far the best. We had a very memorable evening at a traditional Rajasthani village, eating traditional food and watching the dances, puppetry and camel rides. The ride to Agra was long but worth it to experience the wonder of the Taj Mahal and the Fort. We stayed in another nice hotel there.

 
The food in India was fantastic, we enjoyed it so much and did not get any food-related illnesses, which we have experienced previously whilst traveling in Indonesia. Also enjoyable was the warm climate … it was very difficult returning home to the cold. We found the Indian people to be very friendly and we enjoyed many
discussions - in particular about cricket! We were surprised at how well the people we encountered spoke English.

India was a truly magical experience, and we are missing it already. We hope to be able to revisit many times.

 
 
 
         

Amitabh Kant
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism,
Transport Bhawan, Parliament Street,
New Delhi - 110 001.
T: 91 + 11 + 23715084
F: 91 + 11 + 23710518
M: amitabhk@incredibleindia.org
W: http://www.incredibleindia.org

 

While others may claim breathtaking locales, the mysticism of the east, the draw of civilization, the call of the wild.... India is that and much more.....
It is a journey of mind and soul.
It is a journey of the five senses
It is a journey of self-discovery
It is a journey of self-fulfillment.
 

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