Shopping In India

An inextricable part of the great Indian shopping scene are the local fairs held periodically all over the country, street side bazaars with their pavement stalls, and in dimly lit shops that invariably surround many of the country's ancient monuments. In Mumbai's Chor Bazaar ( Thieves Market), it is literally possible to buy everything from a pin to an elephant and an antique, if one is lucky. The bazar around Char Minar in Hyderabad is crowded with shops, where heavily veiled women bargain for real pearls and glass bangles. Each state in the country has something to offer, for crafts are essentially the inter-relationship between materials available and local traditions.

The Indian markets cater multiple options to the travelers to pick the right thing of right choice. From the semi precious stone studded garland to a trendy leather shoe, Indian market is the ultimate destination for the shoppers around the world. A leisurely walk through the crowded lanes of the Indian metro cities are sure to indulge your sense and taste for exquisitely carved jewellery, beautiful handicraft items, excellent paintings and some real good Indian clothes.

As we mention about jewellery, the first name coming to our mind is Jaipur. The narrow streets of Johari Bazar of this beautiful city are world famous for their silver, precious and semi-precious stone jewellery. But how can anyone forget the alluring designs of small, medium and large pearl studded ornaments of the pearl city Hyderabad or the dazzling diamond jewellery of Mumbai, Zaveri Bazaar? Another fascinating aspect of the Indian markets are its handicraft items. Be it a colourful ornament or decorative items like bells and chimes, candle holders, flower vases or some intricately designed home furnitures, shopping is never ending fun in the passion to decorate yourself or your dining room with these tempting articles. The handicraft of Rajasthan, Orissa and West Bengal need special mention here.

As we open the cultural basket of India, the first treasure to come out would be the excellent paintings. Apart from the globally acclaimed painters, India is also rich with the traditional rural paintings like Madhubani Paintings of Bihar. Made by the village women exploring their imagination, these bright paintings are going palaces across the globe. These traditional Indian folk art paintings are worth of collection which are available in the sophisticated shopping arcades of Murya Lok Complex or Hathua Market. Another priceless jewel of Indian culture is the numerous books available in the College Street Market of Kolkata, which is nothing less than a treasure island for the book worms. This huge market is famous for catering any kind of books in all the famous languages of the world.

Furniture of India

Cane & Moonj : For those who prefer ethnic with the raw look, India offers a superb selection of baskets made of moonj grass. These are available in attractive blends of traditional designs and modern functional utility. Durable and decorative cane furniture and other articles made here are a major draw as items for export. World imports of basket work and related products are quite substantial.

Ideal Place to Shop : Kashmir, Assam, Aranachal Pradesh, Tripara, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Panjab, Haryana and Rajasthan

Jewellery in India :

Costume Jewellery : For the hi-fashion woman of today there`s nothing quite like the offbeat style of self adornment... pick the style that suits you most! For, with the passing of centuries, the old appears offbeat today, having an irresistible lure for women the world over.India is one of the most important countries for the manufacture and export of costume jewellery. It has the largest production base for glass beads

Ideal Places to Shop : Kashmir, Rajasthan, Mumbai.

Glass & Bead Jewellery : Varanasi is famous for its glass beads made from fused glass rods, while Purdilpur is famous for black glass beads. Mathura is noted for lovely glass beads, stringing glass and wooden beads in necklaces together with rudraksha {sacred seeds associated to Lord Shiva) and tulsi (basil) in a variety of interesting combinations. Ferozabad has a rich selection of fragile and delicate lightweight beads. `German silver` jewellery created to modern tastes is made in Agra, while Meerut produces exquisite metal jewellery. Silver ornaments are especially popular in Rajasthan, while Karnal in Haryana produces hollow silver beads. Rohtak has well made peasant jewellery and graceful head ornaments are made in Maharashtra.

Tribal Jewellery : India has a large tribal population. Their jewellery is a major attraction within the country as well as abroad. The adornment fashioned from flowers, leaves, stones of creepers and fruits are unbelievalbly charming, shells, seeds and berries rudraksha being, the most celebrated. Shell bracelets of W. Bengal, specially filigreed gold bracelets will, for certain, capture your heart

Ideal Places to Shop : Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh,Maharashtra Kerala, Assam,Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Metal Craft in India :

Brass & Copperware : India is the largest brass and copper making region in the world with thousands of establishments spread all over for articles made out of one or more pieces of metal.The copper or brass sheet is first marked out by a pair of compass and the piece or pieces cut off by a scissor called katari. The required shape is made by alternate heating and hammering, and is finally turned on the lathe. The final polish to the article is given on the lathe itself. Moradabad is famous for utensils,both utility and ornamental, made of white metal and electroplated brass and copper. The engraving is either sada (plain) or sia kalam.Modern streamlined articles of Swedish design in polished brass or burnished copper are also made here, satisfying the demand for modern accessories and sophisticated interior decoration. Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh is the first city in India for the multitude of its cast and sculptured mythological images and emblemata in brass and copper as well as household utensils. In recent years Mirzapur has also emerged as one of the important brass industries of Uttar Pradesh. Goods produced have an all India market,with a portion being exported to other countries. Some of the most beautiful and interesting metalware of India for daily as well as for ceremonial purposes are crafted in Kashmir, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Stone Craft & Marble Inlay Work in India :

Hamirpur district in Uttar Pradesh has nurtured a sizeable stone carving industry with its rich deposits of beautiful soft stone. The stone is many coloured with the predominance of a lovely red shade. Marble is also used,especially for making statues. In Varanasi the work is done by a community called raidas. The range of items include tableware, plates, glasses, bowls, food containers, candle stands, etc. Agra is world famous for its superb inlay work in marble, drawing inspiration from the Taj Mahal. The designs are either foliage or floral intertwined with geometrical patterns.Models in marble of the Taj,vases, boxes, lamps, plates,bowls and pitchers in delicately moulded shapes & fine carvings are some of the popular items produced here. Intricate friezes and trellis or jali work done in an eye- catching range of patterns is also speciality of this place. Vrindavan near Mathura has marble as well as alabaster products. Some objects are embossed with semiprecious stones or synthetic gems.

Ideal Place to Shop : Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Textiles in India :

Brocade Textiles : Extreme softness vivid colours and translucent texture chracterises the silk weaving of India. Varanasi, centre silk weaving center is famous not only for its brocade or kinkab (superb weaving in gold and silver), but also for the wide variety of techniques and styles. The brocades are distinguished by apt poetic names like chand tara (moon and stars), dhupchhaon (sunshine and shade), mazchar (ripples of silver), morgala (peacock's neck), bulbul chasm (nightingale's eyes). Varanasi is also famous for tanchoi saree which resembles a fine miniature. Its origin can be traced to three Indian Parsi brothers by the name of Choi.

Embroidery : In the field of ornamentation, embroidery alone can match jewelleryin splendour. It is an expression of emotions,rendered with patient labour which includes grace and elegance into articles of everyday use. The chikan work of Lucknow, patterned on lace is delicate and subtle. The stitch by Its sheer excellence provids ornamentation to the material.The charm lies in the minuteness of the floral motifs, stitches used are satin stitch, button- hole stitch,dar stitch knot stitch netting and applique work which bring a charming shadowy effect on lace.

Hand Block Printing : The fabric is further decorated by printing designs on it. Hand block printing in India was the chief occupation of the chhipas -a community of printers. rhey used metal or wooden blocks to print desigt1s on the fabrics by hand. This technique is in vogue even today. Besides Rajasthan, Ut tar Pradesh is also a veritable treasure-house of traditional desigts which range from the classical booties. known as dots of Kanauj, to the universal Mango, to the famous Tree of Life. The great colour belt in India extends from the interior of Sind through the deserts of Kutch, Kathiawar, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Rajasthan and Gujarat are particularly noted for its bandhini design.

Ideal Place to Shop : Varanasi, Mysore, Kashmir, Lucknow, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chennai, Kerala.

Temples In India

Temple is a place of worship. Hindu temple was center of all community life and towns grew up around temples. The great temples look many years to build and gave employment to thousands of skilled and unskilled workers. Hundreds of others were employed in the service of the deity and perform the daily rituals of the temple, which can be witnessed even today. Originally the main plan of Hindu Temples (always racing east) was very simple there was just a small 'garbagriha' (sanctum sanctorum) housing the deity to whom the temple was dedicated above which rose the ; 'sikhara' (spine-like tapering tower), then a (antarala) vestibule, the worshipers standing in the open space in front of the shrines. Sometimes there was a small chamber behind the shrine. Gradually ,additions were nude-a platform for worshipers which developed into pillared hall (mandapa) to which in time a pillared porch (ardhamaddapa) was added as were other sections for various purposes connected with temple and its ceremonies.

The Silpasastras (ancient books on architecture) mention three styles of temples-the Nagara (of North India), the Dravida of South India. The Dravida country) and the Vesara (Chalukyan or Karnataka) which combine the features of both styles and spread to all parts of the country even as far as Gujarat and Orissa. One of the earliest existing temples is at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh of the early Gupta period, almost Grecian in design, with a flat roof. Other temples of the same style can be seen in Deogarh stone temple. Bhitargaon brick temple dating back to 6th century AD. The development of temple architecture in stone can best be seen in the early Chalukyan temples at Badami in Karnataka. At Badami are Ille temples of the earlier cave or rock-cut variety and at Pattadakal are the 7th century shrines both of the northern Nagara and the southern Dravidian style and Aihole is the cradle of 70 temples dating back to 7th century AD. From 650 to 850 AD, the cut temples were created from the living rock temples at Elora, the chief and most stupendous is Kailasa temple.

Under the Chandela rulers of Jajakabhuti, a number of Brahmanical and jain temples were built, mostly in the Nagara style at Khajuraho, The sculptures in the temple are elaborate and animated with their impressive forms and beautiful workmanship. In the Hoysala or later Chalukyan period (1000 to 1300 AD), the Hoysala Kings who were great lovers and patrons of temple architecture' and sculpture, commissioned star-shaped temples, the finest being the Chanakesvara at Belur (AD 1111) and the Hoysalesvara temple. The great style of temple architecture in South India was the Dravidian style which flourished in Tamil Nadu and was indigenous and developed by five great dynasties of rulers:

1. The Pallavas (600 - 900 AD) started the great achievement in temple buildings. Temples built than can still be seen at Tiruchirapalli, Nellore, Guntur, Chengalpattu, Mamallapuram and Kancipuram groups (640 - 690 AD)

2. The Cholas (900 - 1150 AD) made magnificent Brigadheeswara temple at Thanjavur. Gangaikondacholapuram and Koran Gunta (930 - 940) at Srinvasanallur with their physical proportions and sense of dignity and power. The gopurams of some are splendid specimen of sculpture.

3.The Pandyas (1150 - 1350) Gopurams began to acquire special consideration during this period and set pattern for all later Dravidian gopurams. The outstanding examples are Jamuksvara -Chidambaram (eastern gateway 1300 AD) and the Kumbakonam (1350 AD) temples. They also introduced flower motifs in the capital pillar.

4. The Vijayanagar Kings (1336 - 50 AD) set up some of the beautiful temples at Hampi in Vijaynagar the capital city, the ruins of which lay scattered there today. They had the finest example of a temple in the great Vithala temple with its long courtyard, ornamental and musical pillars which when struck emit notes, Subsidiary buildings, the lovely ratha is carved out of a single monolith, the stone wheels of which once revolved the Kalailpandapa and Hazare Rama (commenced 1513 AD), The other temples at Vellore, Kumbakonam, Srirangam, Kamedipuram and Verinjipuram and other two at Tadapatri, the chital Venkata Ramanaswami and the Ramaligesvara.

The Andhra kings were Buddhist and their two capitals Srikakulam and Amravati became centers of religious architecture. The Pallavas built one of the earliest free standing Buddhist temples in India, not later than the middle of the first century AD at Srikap (Now in Pakistan), the ruins of which are still to be seen there.

Indian Music

Music is one of the oldest and finest forms of human expression. The Vedas are set to a distinctive melody that has been passed down through the centuries in an unbroken oral tradition. According to a Hindu legend, music is a divine gift to man. Sarasvati, consort of Brahma, is the goddess of music and all five arts. She holds a Vina (seven-stringed instrument) in one hand and plays it with another. The Svarga (heaven) has Gandharvas, the singers; Kinnars the instrumentalists and Apsaras, the dancers.

Panini (500 BC) made one of the earliest references to music. The Mahabharata mentions the seven Sabras, the Jatakas mention the four great sounds. The earliest musical theory is included in the chapter of the Natya Shastra of Bharata. The Vaishnava and Saiva Bhakti saints of Tamil of the 18tl1 and 191h century spread love of music through devotional hymns.

In medieval times Saangdeva (1210-1247 AD) of Devagiri in his Sangita Ratnakar showed his knowledge of south and north Indian forms of music. The Muslim kings in the 141h and 15th centuries introduced Iranian models which differentiated it from Carnatic music. Tansen (1550 - 1610 AD) became a legend in the realm of music.

Basic Principles of Music :

Nada : The chief property of music is Nada - Na means Prana of life - breath and Da means Agni or fire. The conception of Nada is inseparably connected with the intangible elements of breathing system and physical expellation of sound or nada Brahma.

Shruti : Shruti means sound that is capable of being distinctly heard by the ear. The gamut of seven blocks notes called the Saptaka (equivalent of the octave in western music) they are sa-re-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni. These Saptakas are further divided into 22 shrutis on which Indian music is based.

Raga : Raga is the basis melody in Indian music. The term Raga is defined in various ways. Raga means passion and each note is associated with a mood, emotion or passion. Some translate it as a tune.while others as air and as melody. Different combinations of octave gives rise to Ragas. There are still others 108 pure ragas. Any combination of two or more Ragas are called Misra (mixed) ragas which are numerous. Ragas have to be rendered at the right time of the day and in some cases in the right season as they are supposed to be associated with a particular time and season. All music has to be played in a variety of Talas (time measures) which are produced by hand and fingers on various types of drums. One requires practice under a guru for perfection.

There are two major systems of classical music today-the Hindustani and the Carnatic. However, the common thing among both is that they are based on the same shrutis. As performed today, the Hindustani and Carnatic genres of music are so different in practical approach that a listener whose ears are turned to one will not automatically appreciate the aesthetics of the other. Though sharing the history, science, theory and structure, the seeming paradox of these two systems turning out so differently can be explained by looking into four factors: regional, linguistic, technical and socio - political. In practical terms Carnatic music is imbued with a pre-dominance of devotional character Hindustani music has a virtuous quality that stems from its refinement as a chamber in the Mughal court art.

There are various types of melodies. The Kiratana and Kriti are two most important in Carnatic system. Some other Hindustani systems are Thumri (love songs), Tappa, Gazal (love lyrics) and Dadra. Indian musical instruments present a large variety originating thousands years ago some coming from Arabia and Iran. The main varieties of instruments in use are :

String Instruments : Played by the finger nail such as Dilruba, Sarod, Sitar, Sarangi, Rabab, Esraj and the Tambur which provide no melody but a resonant droning accompaniment.

Wind Instruments : These came into existence in ancient times. The Buffalo horn is the oldest. Brass horn; Conch. shells, flute (murali) and Nadaswaram.

Percussion Instrument : The drum takes the first rank and is one of the oldest and most important musical instruments. There are about 290 varieties of drums, some important ones being the Mridanga; Tabla (set of two drums); Pakhawaj and Tambourines of various kinds.

Indian music is like a river ever fluid and subtly changing. Indian music is attracting increasing patronage in the West as well as in the Far East. It is receiving the recognition that was long overdue.

Preservers of The India's Musical Culture :

Thyagaraja, Muthuswami, Deekshithar and Shyam Shastri, popularly known as the trinity of Carnatic music, laid the foundation for the development of Carnatic music with their innumerable compositions in hundreds of ragas. These compositions paved way for the present concept of a stage programme. The well known exponents of Violin are Dr. N. Rajam, VG.Jog (Hindustani), Prof. T.N.Krishnan, Lalgudi G.Jayaraman, M.S. Gopalakrishnan, V V Subramanyam and Dr. I.Subramanyam (Carnatic). Bhismillah Khan is the legendary exponent of Shehnai. Shemmangudi R. Srinivasa Iyer, M.S.Subbulakshmi, D.K.Pattammai, Palghat K. VNarayanaswami (Carnatic), Gangubai Hangal, Bhimsen Joshi, Kishori Amonkar, Jasraj are the most shining vocalists of Indian music.

Three instrumentalists handling stringed instruments Ali Akbar Khan (Sarod) Ravi Shankar (Sitar) and Vilayat Khan (Sitar) have achieved global eminence. Veena Doraiswamy Iyengar and Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod) have also made remarkable contribution. Zakir Hussain, the most well-known tabla player, is innovative in his renditions and is totally committed to his instrument-Tabla. M. S. Subbulakshmi excels in devotional singing. She has been honored with Sangeet Kalanidhi, Bharat Ratna, Sangeet Academy awards and has won international acclaim for her classical vocal renditions. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had called her the 'Queen of Songs'. Nation thrives on her notes on Bhakti. M.S. Subbulakshmi is known across the nation as the mellifluous voice that wakes up the deity with her suprabhatam. Girija Devi is part of the great thumri tradition of Benaras and has been instrumental in bringing respectability to the thumri form. At present she is settled in Benaras teaching students at home and in the music faculty of the Benaras Hindu University. Lata Mangeshkar, KJ. Yesudass and S.P. Balasubramanyam have l1lade significant contributions in popularizing semi-classical music there by attracting new sections towards serious music.

Indian Deer Tour

The Brow-antlered Deer (Cervus eldi) of Manipur (northeast India), or Sangai, or Thamin. One of the rarest and most localised deer in the world - and quite obviously, the most endangered deer species in the world. The Sangai is confined to a wetland area to the south of Logtak lake in Manipur (northeast India). Captive breeding efforts have helped bolster its zoo population.

About the Indian Deer:

The most common of all deer found in the subcontinent, it is easily identifiable by its beautiful golden brown coat that is decorated with big white spots. An average stag is about 85-90 cm tall at its shoulder, and weighs 80kg. Unlike other ungulates, the coat of the spotted deer remains more or less the same throughout the year. Large herds can be seen in almost all the National Parks of North India.

Spotted Deer - Main Diet of Predatory Animals:
To counter attacks from its enemies, the spotted deer has evolved a unique vigilance system in which the entire herd takes part. The weak and the sick animals form the periphery of the herd while the cubs and their mothers remain towards the middle of the group. While grazing, each and every member of the herd is on the alert. The lookout habitually lifts its head to try and get a whiff of predators. It stands still to sense danger. If the threat is for real, it stomps its hind legs, and emits a shrill call – a signal for the entire herd to flee to a safer area.

Memorandum of Understanding:

The spotted deer has what can be called a 'memorandum of understanding', with lemurs. Lemurs keep it informed about any possible attack from its predators. The spotted deer also benefits from the leftovers that lemurs keep dropping from trees. In fact, the relation between the two species is so symbiotic that they explore the jungle together.

Another interesting fact about the spotted deer is that it does not wallow during the rut (and why should it, given its beautiful golden coat). Instead it emits a shrill call, and walks proudly, displaying its antlers. The mating season of the spotted deer is not very well defined and varies in different parts of the country. The species breeds once every six months, and the litter comprises of a single fawn.

Range: The Barasingha was previously seen across most of North and central India in areas of moist forest and swampland. With the destructions of its habitat, the Barasingha is now seen in isolated protected forests in Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Madhya Pradesh.

Estimated population: It is estimated that there are less than 5000 Barasingha worldwide. There are three sub species of Barasingha found in India.

Physical characteristics: The Barasingha is a medium sized deer. It can grow to a height of 130 cm and weigh up to 180 Kg. The Barasingha has a dense brown coat that keeps it warm and dry in its moist habitat. The coat of the male Barasingha becomes darker in color during the mating season. The antlers of an adult male Barasingha can grow up to 75cm long and can have more than 12 points. Habitat: The Barasingha prefers tall grass and reed beds near rivers. Marshes or swampland is a Barasingha's preferred territory. The Barasingha is found in forested areas in the Gangetic and Brahmaputra basins in India.

Diet: Barasingha are herbivores. They feed mainly on grass and leaves. The wetland subspecies of Barasingha also eats aquatic plants. They make several trips in a day to water holes or riverbanks to drink.

Behavior: Barasingha are active and graze during both the day and the night. Barasingha are usually seen in herds that vary in size depending on the time of year. Herds usually consist of 10 - 20 members. During the breeding season they form larger breeding herds of 30 - 60 deer. Male Barasingha fight to establish control over a herd of female deer. During the rest of the year adult male Barasingha are often solitary.

Status: The Barasingha is a vulnerable species. The destruction of their habitat due to deforestation, the draining of swamps and marshes for farming, poaching for its horns and diseases transmitted by domestic cattle, have all led to the decline of the Barasingha in India.

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Festivals In India

India is a land of myriad festivals, in rhythm with the cycle of the seasons, with sowings and harvesting. and around them have grown legends, most depicting the victory of good over evil. These fairs and festivals lend color and gaiety to life and Indian calendar is marked by plethora of such big and small occasions. Some festivals are of religious nature, others are related more to, change of season and harvesting. They have a long past and many have undergone major modifications. Though the enthusiasm for some also seems to be fading, nevertheless they do bring about a change in the lifestyle of the people. Some festivals and fasts are religion specific protocols aiming towards communication with the divine. The liveliness of the people is reflected in the colorful vibrancy of the fairs and festivals. Processions, prayers, new attires, dance, music etc. are elements related to any such celebration.The Puri-Rath Yatra, Allahabad-Kumbha, Alleppey-Boat Race, Pushkar-Camel Fair, Goa-Carnival so on and so forth all reflect the diversity of the land and its people but common emotion of revived vigour, joy and sharing.

Vasant beckons spring. Scattered amongst the ripening wheat are the bright yellow flowers of mustard. Tender blossoms appear on the mango tree and 'song is bestowed upon the bird'. On that day everyone wears a special shade of yellow. The festival is dedicated to Saraswati, goddess of learning and the arts. After about two months comes Holi , the very end of our cool season. It is a festival of colour, truly democratic and egalitarian. All barriers are down, all inhibitions shed. Boys and girls, men and women of all ages, all castes, and all classes participate. None is high and none is low. Anyhow, when a person is plastered with colour he is not easy to identify. On the eve of Holi bonfires are lit and Holi itself is celebrated by the throwing of colour, by gaiety and noise, one could even say, by wild abandon. In time the festival has also become associated with the 'Lila' of Radha and Krishna and has inspired some of our most sensuous poetry.

Of all the seasons it is the Sawan (Monsoon) which has evoked the largest number of songs. This is not strange, for summer in the plains of North India is long and hot. As months go by anxious eyes scan the sky. It is a time for renewal. Swings are hung at all likely places and women and children are seen swinging high into the branches overhead accompanied by joyous singing. Raksha Bandhan - the bracelet of protection - is a festival belonging to the old days of chivalry. If the gift of a bracelet sent by a girl was accepted by a man, he henceforth became her adopted brother, pledged to support her in times of stress or war. Today it is just a ritual, though a charming one.

Close on its heels comes Janmashtami , the birthday of Lord Krishna, and the most beloved of all gods. The Krishna legend has caught the imagination of our own people and now of many abroad. Krishna is intensely human. He's everybody's child, full of mischief. Stories of his pranks are recounted as recent happenings. As an ardent lover, he inspires our poets and artists, our music and dance.Ganesh is the god of wisdom as well as of good fortune. As a granter of boons he is worshipped at the beginning of every prayer and auspicious occasion. Ganesh's birthday (Chaturthy) falls at the end of the monsoon and is marked by special festivities after which is image is immersed in the nearest river or the sea.

Every year in autumn, at the time of the full moon the Rajputs gather to honour Lord Brahma, the god of creation at the temple of Pushkar. This is the only temple dedicated to the god in the country.The female as Shakti (Perennial Energy) has a central place in Indian tradition and Durga is its militant form. She is the Mother and at the same time the destroyer of evil forces. Her festival Dussehra heralds the new planting season and also celebrates her victory over the demon buffalo Mahishasura. These are also the days of the Ram Lila, an enactment of the story of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the hero of the epic Ramayana. It is extraordinary how this ancient story written in Sanskrit by Sage Valmiki and the people's spoken Hindi by poet Tulsidas and in other languages by renowned poets has permeated the hearts of our people and is relived year after year.

On the day of Dussehra effigies of Ravana the king of Lanka are burnt at nightfall marking the celebration of the victory of Rama over Ravana symbolizing the victory of good over evil. 20 days later comes Diwali , the most beautiful of all festivals. It is dedicated to Lakshmi the goddess of prosperity. All buildings from the palatial to the humblest are illumined with millions of twinkling oil lamps, now being replaced by electricity, which though cleaner is not half-pretty. At dusk the sky is lit up and air reverberates with fireworks.States have special harvest festivals such as Bihu in Assam, Onam in Kerala and Pongal in Tamil Nadu. The main attraction of Onam is a boat race on rivers swollen by the monsoon. At Arnamulla the long boats compete in speed on the Pamba River where water jousts are held. Each boat painted in the colors of its proprietor or village is manned by a hundred oarsmen, who chant in rhythm to speed up the beat of the paddles.

Kerala is a land of strange beliefs and of all of India it is here that pre Aryan customs have best been preserved. North of Malabar, the feasts of Therayattam are held from January to March. Masked dancers execute what seems to be a synthesis of all the different cults rendered to Devi the Great Goddess and to the ancestors. From daybreak to dusk masked divinities dance without ceasing. At Trichur, Pooram the feast of the Shaivite temples is enthusiastically celebrated in April or early May. The festival attracts millions of spectators to watch the celebrated procession of elephants in battle formation. Musicians play all day. Beating their drums in frantic rhythm, clashing their cymbals or blowing their bugles.The Muslims celebrate Eid twice a year and is an occasion for functions of communal harmony. There is also the Prophet's birthday. Ramzan is a month of prayer and fasting.

The Sikhs observe the birthdays and days of martyrdom of their Gurus. The birthdays of Buddha and Mahavira are similarly observed.For official and work purposes we follow the Gregorian calendar, but Hindu and Muslim festivals are calculated according to the Lunar calendar, so the dates change every year. Different groups of observe different New Years. For the Gujaratis Diwali marks the eve of the New Year. The Parsis celebrate Nauroz on 21 March, the same as in Iran. The Kashmiri Hindus New Year is the same as the 'Gudi Padwa' of Maharashtra, the Ugadhi of Karnataka and Andhra. Everyone has a different type of celebration. The Punjabis have Baisakhi , which falls on 13 April. Bengal and Assam observe the 1st of Baisakhi , which falls around the same time.

Festivals In India

• New Year`s Day • Lohri • Pongal • Makar Sakranti • Mauni Amavasya • Sankat Chauth • Vasant Panchami • Maghi Purnima • Maha Shivratri • Amalaka Ekadashi • Holi • Navroze • Bihu • Bhai Dooja • Ramzan; Eid-ul-Fitr • Muharaam • Good Friday • Easter • Mahavir Jayanti • Hanuman Jayanti • Gangaur • Chitrai Festival • Ram Navami • Baisakhi • Akshya Triteeya • Nrisimha Jayanti • Buddha Purnima • Nirjala Ekadashi • Ganga Dussehra • Rath Yatra • Teej • Hari Shayani Ekadashi • Guru Vyas Poornima • Raksha Bandhan • Pitra-Paksha • Ganesh Chaturthi • Janmashathami • Onam • Ananta Chaturdashi • Durga Puja • Dussehra • Pratyushan Parva • Sharad Poornima • Deepawali • Karwa Chauth • Skand Shashthi • Surya Shashthi • Kartik Festivals • Guru Parba • Christmas

Indian Adventure

Indian subcontinent is blessed with a unique topography. The south is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea on all three sides. This places it in the unique position of being able to offer some excellent locations for all kinds of water sports, as well as stunning views of marine life and coral reefs. Scuba diving and snorkeling are two of the best-loved water adventure activities, specially off the coasts of the archipelago of the Andaman and Nicobar and the Lakshadweep, where the underwater scenery and coral reefs are undeniably one of the best in the world. Indias numerous natural as well as man-made lakes provide ideal opportunities for water lovers to have an exciting time on paddleboats, water scooters, speedboats and hovercrafts, as well as enjoy the beautiful surroundings. For those who are more interested in quieter sports are the adventures of angling and fishing in pristine and peaceful riverside sites that abound in India!

For the northern boundary of the Indian subcontinent is bound by the towering snow clad Himalayan range that provides thrilling ski trails as well as expedition routes. The glaciers offer beautiful and pristine locales, which are thankfully tucked away from the pollution and teeming crowds of the urban areas. The unblemished and pure snowy carpets are a delight to every eye and provide magnificent views of the surrounding peaks of the Himalayas. Adventure seekers can hand-glide their way across treetops and unexplored terrains, and feel the wind coursing through their hair or they can go up in a hot air balloon and gain an aerial view of areas that are inaccessible by road.

Wildlife buffs also have plenty of opportunities to go camping in the wilds of India. Wildlife safaris and wildlife adventure camps are exciting holiday options full of lion and tiger sightings, elephant back riding, camping under the stars. Youll feel your heart beat rise as you catch a glimpse of a cheetah or tiger prowling in the under growth, and the anticipation and terror of meeting a lion face to face will be your companion through out! Camel safaris in the desert are hardy experiences that are bound to thrill even the toughest adventure buff. Moving with the rhythm of your camel you will feel like a nomad responding to the inner urges of your soul to roam the breadth of the desert, you first love and only home. The mobile machan still remains the most popular means of transportation on the sun soaked sand. The desert and the camel safaris are excellent ways to get the first hand experience of the rural lifestyles in the royal state of India for an adventurous holiday.

Biking and motorcycling in the mountains are the two other adventure activities that will need you to be in perfect physical condition, for the travel can be weary and hard, even though the sights absolutely breathtaking. The entire adventure is exhilarating and will give you a tremendous sense of achievement! whichever the adventure activity you finally decide upon, incomparable India is sure to have it for you! The highest of the mountains and the bluest of the seas are just waiting for you to take a trip to this enthralling adventure country!

Angling :
India is an angler's paradise. This sport has existed from the days of British Raj, though not as popular as it is around the world, is gathering momentum very fast. The wide variety of fishes, innumerable fresh water streams and beautiful countryside as backdrop provide a perfect ambience to attract tourist for Angling. Angling in India can be conveniently classified into:

Trout fishing: Unlike the Mahseer, the Trout is not indigenous to Indian waters. The Snow Trout is however fond in all high altitude streams and lakes. It was introduced into various predetermined lakes and river in various parts of the country. Trout hatcheries are in operation in the Kashmir valley, Kullu valley. Agoda near Uttrakashi and Avalanche in the Nilgiris. The Snow Trout is however, touch in all high altitude streams and lakes.

Mountaineering, Trekking and Rock Climbing
The main attraction of the summer months in the Himalayan states is trekking and mountain climbing. Trekkers, without any prior experience, can easily manage the altitudes the range from 2500 to 4000 meters above sea level in the hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim. In Ladakh, the Nun Kun Massif, The Zanskar group, The central Himalayas, Arunachal Pradesh, Nanda devi, Kamet and Dunagiri offer challenging peaks for mountaineering.

Safaries
The Indian Himalayas is prime Safari in India, be it on a jeep, a bike, cycle or an elephant!! And can well be described as one of the last travel frontiers on earth!

SNOW SPORTS
Winter sports in India are centered around Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Skiing usually starts by the end of DECEMBER and lasts till the end of MARCH. Gulmarg in Kashmir, Auli in Uttar Pradesh and Manali in Himachal Pradesh provide good snow ski slopes. Heli skiing in Manali and Gulmarg provides an enormous varieties of ski runs and routes.