Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is celebrated worldwide to mark the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year and celebrations can last for about 15 days.

The Chinese New Year for 2012 is on January 23 and marks the Year of the Dragon.
Picture of a typical long dragon float for the Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is a festive occasion that calls for celebration in many places around the world. ©iStockphoto.com/araraadt
What do people do?

Chinese New Year is the most important and longest of all Chinese festivals, celebrated in Chinese communities throughout the world. Chinese New Year celebrations have certain variations from country to country but they all usually include offerings to household deities, house cleaning, new clothes, a large banquet, ancestor worship and firecrackers. Families may gather for special meals on this occasion.

People may also wear red clothes and give children “lucky money” in red envelopes. Household doors are thrown open to let good luck enter on the first day of the New Year. Families go out to visit friends and worship at temples. Words are carefully watched to avoid saying anything that signifies death, sickness or poverty.

Chinese New Year may also feature lantern festival, where people hang decorated lanterns in temples and carry lanterns to an evening parade. Dragon and lion dances are performed around this time of the year with many people supporting the long dragons, which are typically made of silk, paper and bamboo. Acrobatic demonstrations, the beating of gongs and the clashing of cymbals are also popular activities as part of the Chinese New Year festivities.
Public life

Chinese New Year is a public holiday in China, where the public holiday lasts for about three days. It is also a public holiday in countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, North Korea, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam.

It is not a public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States. However, some businesses may close early and some streets may be closed for a short while to allow for festival parades to take place.
Background

The Chinese New Year festival is believed to date back to prehistory. It marks the start of the new lunar cycle and is called the Spring Festival (in the northern hemisphere) as it falls between the December solstice and the March equinox. China follows the Gregorian calendar for daily business but the dates of the Chinese New Year and other important festivals are determined by the Chinese calendar.

The Chinese New Year, which is the first day of the first month, in the Chinese calendar is assigned to an animal. According to one belief, Buddha promised gifts to all animals that would pay him homage. Only 12 animals came to honor Buddha so, to favor these 12 animals, each one was given one of the 12 years of the Chinese zodiac. People born during one of the animal's years are said to inherit distinctive characteristics of that animal. The signs repeat every 12 years. The animal signs are:

    Rat – ambitious and sincere.
    Ox – bright, cheery, and a leader.
    Tiger – courageous and sensitive.
    Rabbit – talented and loving.
    Dragon – robust and passionate.
    Snake – wise and strong-willed.
    Horse – attractive and popular.
    Sheep – aesthetic and stylish.
    Monkey – persuasive and smart.
    Rooster – pioneering spirit and wise.
    Dog – generous and loyal.
    Boar (or pig) – gallant and noble.

The Chinese calendar is based on astronomical observations of the sun's longitude and the moon's phases. It is believed to have been introduced by Emperor Huangdi (or Huang Ti) at some stage around 2600 to 3000 years BCE. According to legend, the emperor invited the calendar in 2637 BCE. This calendar predates the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in 1582. The Chinese lunar calendar is used to determine festivals, so the dates of these festivals vary each year. Various Chinese communities around the world also use this calendar.
Symbols

Chinese New Year has various symbols and traditions. For example, flowers are an important part of New Year decorations. Two flowers that are often associated with Chinese New Year are the plum blossom (courage and hope) and the water narcissus (good luck and fortune). Writings that refer to good luck are often seen in homes and business environments. They are usually written by brush on a diamond-shaped piece of red paper. Tangerines and oranges are also displayed in many homes and stores as a sign of luck and wealth.

Envelopes with money (Hong Bao, Ang Pao, or Lai See), often come in the color red, which symbolizes happiness, good luck, success and good fortune. The color red is also used on these envelopes to ward off evil spirits. These envelopes are mainly given as presents to children. Each Chinese New Year is associated with an animal name for one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, as mentioned earlier.

Chinese New Year in Canada

Many people in countries such as Canada celebrate Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. It marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar.

Chinese New Year celebrations often involve firecrackers and people giving money in red envelopes to others, particularly children. ©iStockphoto.com/Liang Zhang

What do people do?

Chinese New Year is a vibrant and festive occasion for many people in Canada. This event can last for many days and often includes various festivities such as street parades and festivals featuring dancing, traditional Chinese costumes, firework displays, food stalls, and arts and crafts.

Many Chinese Canadian families spend time together giving gifts, particularly red envelopes with money (Hong Bao, Ang Pao, or Lai See) that are normally given to children. Some Canadian organizations have also participated in Chinese New Year through various activities over the years. For example, Canada Post issued special stamps to welcome the Chinese New Year in previous times. The Royal Canadian Mint also marked Chinese New Year with a new series of coins in the past.

Public life

Chinese New Year is not a nationwide public holiday in Canada. However, some Chinese businesses may be closed on the day or amend their business hours to take part in the Chinese New Year festivities. There may be heavy traffic and some streets may be closed in towns or cities where Chinese New Year celebrations are held.

Background

The Chinese community in Canada has a long history dating back to the 19th century. The Chinese moved to Canada for various reasons related to employment and opportunities associated with the Canada’s growth. All across Canada, starting in the 1890s, cities and larger towns began to develop their own Chinatown districts.

British Columbia was home to more than 60 percent of Canada's Chinese before World War II, according to sources such as Library and Archives Canada. But for many years after a ban on Chinese immigration was revoked in 1947, the province received only one-third of new Chinese immigrants. This meant that Chinese families were settling all across Canada. Canada is today seen as a multicultural country in which festivals such as Chinese New Year are celebrated each year.

Symbols

Chinese New Year has various symbols and traditions. For example, flowers are an important part of New Year decorations. Writings that refer to good luck are often seen in homes and business environments. They are usually written by brush on a diamond-shaped piece of red paper. Tangerines and oranges are also displayed in many homes and stores as a sign of luck and wealth.

Envelopes with money (Hong Bao, Ang Pao, or Lai See) often come in the color red, which symbolizes happiness, good luck, success and good fortune.  These envelopes are mainly given as presents to children. Each Chinese New Year is associated with an animal name for one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.

About Chinese New Year in other countries

Read more about Chinese New Year.

Candlemas

Candlemas is a Christian holiday celebrated annually on February 2. It celebrates three occasions according to Christian belief: the presentation of the child Jesus; Jesus’ first entry into the temple; and it celebrates the Virgin Mary’s purification (mainly in Catholic churches).

The Candlemas Bells, also known as Snowdrops, symbolize hope according to Christian belief. ©iStockphoto.com/Anettelinnea

What do people do?

Many Christians consider Jesus as the “light of the world” so it is fitting that candles are blessed on this day and that a candle-lit procession precedes the mass. It is traditional to eat crepes on Candlemas in some parts of Europe, such as France. Each family member prepares and cooks a crepe while holding a coin in hand. This is believed to assure wealth and happiness until the next Candlemas celebration.

Candlemas is also known as Candelaria in Spanish speaking countries. Whoever finds baby figures hidden inside the Rosca de Reyes (Kings Cake) on Epiphany on January 6 is obliged to bring food to a gathering held on February 2. Many Orthodox Christians celebrate this event by bringing beeswax candles to their local church and requesting for these candles to be blessed to be used in the church or at home. Some Christians observe the practice of leaving Christmas decorations up until Candlemas.

Public life

Many Christians observe Candlemas but it is not a public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Background

Candlemas primarily focuses on Jesus’ early life. Many Christians believe that Jesus’ mother Mary presented him to God at the Temple in Jerusalem after observing the traditional 40-day period of purification (of mothers) following his birth. According to a New Testament gospel, a Jewish man named Simeon held the baby in his arms and said that he would be a light for the Gentiles (Luke 2:32). It is for this reason that this event is called Candlemas.

Many people believe that some of Candlemas’ activities stem from pagan observances such as Imbolc, a Gaelic festival, or the Roman feast of Lupercalia. However, others have argued that there is too little evidence to shed light on Candlemas’ substitution for these festivals. Either way, Candlemas occurs at a period between the December solstice and the March equinox, so many people traditionally marked that time of the year as winter’s “halfway point” while waiting for the spring.

According to some sources, Christians began Candlemas in Jerusalem as early as the fourth century and the lighting of candles began in the fifth century. Other sources say that Candlemas was observed by blessing candles since the 11th century. An early writing dating back to around 380 CE mentioned that a feast of the Presentation occurred in a church in Jerusalem. It was observed on February 14. The feast was observed on February 2 in regions where Christ's birth was celebrated on December 25.

Candlemas is known as the “Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple” in many eastern churches. Other traditional names in the western churches include the “Feast for the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary” as well as the “Meeting of the Lord”. It is also Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada on February 2. According to folklore, the badger comes out to test the weather in the United Kingdom.

Symbols

Snowdrops (galanthas nivalis) are known as Candlemas Bells because they often bloom early in the year, even before Candlemas. Some varieties bloom all winter (in the northern hemisphere).  The superstitious used to believe that these flowers should not be brought into the house prior to Candlemas.  However, it is also believed in more recent times that these flowers purify a home.

According to folklore, an angel helped these Candlemas bells to bloom and pointed them as a sign of hope to Eve, who wept in repentance and in despair over the cold and death that entered the world. Many Christians see the flower as a symbol of Jesus Christ being this hope for the world. Candles that are lit during Candlemas also symbolize Jesus as the “light of the world”.

Note: Please note that the seasons and seasonal changes mentioned in relation to Candlemas refer to the northern hemisphere in this article.

Groundhog Day in Canada

Many Canadians take the time to observe Groundhog Day on February 2 each year, which is also Candlemas. Groundhog Day in Canada focuses on the concept of a groundhog coming out of its home in mid-winter to “predict” if spring is on its way in the northern hemisphere.

 

Quick Facts

Groundhog Day is celebrated in Canada on February 2 each year.

Name

Groundhog Day

Alternative name

Feast of Presentation of the Lord

Groundhog Day 2013

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Groundhog Day 2014

Sunday, February 2, 2014

The groundhog attracts media attention on Groundhog Day in Canada. ©iStockphoto.com/David P. Lewis

What do people do?

2011 Update:

Ontario's Wiarton Wille and Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam did not see their shadows in 2011. It is predicted to be an early spring.

Many Canadians celebrate Groundhog Day by attending festivals, engaging in activities and reading or listening to news about groundhog appearances on February 2. Some Christian churches celebrate Candlemas on this day. Other people mark Groundhog Day as the date to take down their Christmas decorations.

Groundhog Day has attracted media attention over the years and its popularity continues to grow in Canada.  A festival is held in the town of Wiarton in Bruce County, Ontario, to honor Groundhog Day. The town has its own groundhog, Wiarton Willie, which it shares with the nation. Locals, fans and news reporters come out to “hear Willie’s prediction” early in the morning on February 2 each year. Other events at the festival include dances, contests, parades and pancake breakfasts.

Public life

Groundhog Day is not a public holiday in Canada. However areas around parks and some streets may be busy or congested in towns, such as Wiarton, where Groundhog Day events are popular.

Background

Thousands of years ago when animalism and nature worship were prevalent, people in the area of Europe now known as Germany believed that the badger had the power to predict the coming of spring. They watched the badger to know when to plant their crops.

This tradition was brought over to North America, predominantly in Pennsylvania in the United States, where it was the groundhog, not the badger, which makes these “predictions”. According to folklore, if the groundhog will sees its shadow on February 2 it will return to its burrow, indicating that there will be six more weeks of winter. If it does not see its shadow, then spring is on the way.

The Groundhog Day concept became popular in Canada in 1956 when Wiarton Willie became a household name for his early February “weather predictions”. Wiarton’s Groundhog Day festival grew as Willie’s fame increased. It became one of the largest winter festivals in Bruce County, Canada.

There are also other groundhogs in different parts of Canada. For example, Schubenacadie Sam is reportedly the first groundhog in the country to stick its head out on Groundhog Day. Other groundhogs include: Gary the Groundhog in Ontario, Brandon Bob in Manitoba and Balzac Billy in Alberta.

Symbols

The groundhog, also known as the woodchuck or marmot, is believed to make weather predictions relating to winter and spring according to superstition. Canada’s groundhog Wiarton Willie was popular enough to have its own statue in Wiarton, Ontario.

Movies, advertisements, cartoons and other media have portrayed the legendary role of the groundhog in popular culture. The term “Groundhog Day” is a phrase that is sometimes used to express if the same events or actions occur repetitively for a period of time.

Note: Please note that references to seasonal changes in this article relate to seasons in the northern hemisphere.

About Groundhog Day in other countries

Read more about Groundhog Day.

Kashmir Solidarity Day 5th February

Kashmir Solidarity Day has been celebrated on 5 February each year since 1990 as a day of protest against Indian control of part of Kashmir. It is a national holiday in Pakistan. The core issue of Kashmir, between India and Pakistan, has led Pakistan to face three wars and have devoted a major portion of their national incomes to defense budgets. World leaders have stressed the need to resolve the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan to avoid an eventuality that may cause a catastrophe in the region. Kashmir is the nuclear flash point of Asia, surrounded by three nuclear powers.

It is incumbent on the international community in general and governing world bodies in particular to intervene and force India to stop shedding innocent Kashmiri blood. Kashmiris should have the right to decide their fate according to the UN resolutions, which were adopted to resolve the issue. Without any doubt, Kashmir is jugular vein of Pakistan and it cannot evidently abandon it under any conditions. With both the South Asian neighbours armed with nuclear weapons, another conventional war on Kashmir has the potential to turn into a nuclear exchange that could be disastrous not only for South Asia but for the world at large.

Kashmir Day in Pakistan

Kashmir Day in Pakistan

 

Kashmir Day or Kashmir Solidarity Day is a public holiday in Pakistan on February 5 each year.

It is a day dedicated to show Pakistan’s support and unity with the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir, their ongoing freedom struggle, and to pay homage to Kashmiri martyrs who lost their lives fighting for Kashmir’s freedom.

Kashmir Solidarity Day is dedicated to supporting the people of Kashmir and recognizing the freedom struggles in part of the region (view of landscape in Kashmir pictured above). ©iStockphoto.com/photopalace

What Do People Do?

Kashmir Day is observed by people throughout Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). It is an internationally recognized day observed by people, predominantly Kashmiris, worldwide. The day is marked by public processions, special prayers in mosques for the liberation of Kashmir and protests that are carried out against the Indian oppression of Kashmir.

Kashmir Day is also of particular political importance to major political and religious parties in both Pakistan and AJK. Processions, rallies, conferences and seminars are organized by many political and religious parties where politicians, heads of religious organizations, opinion leaders, and influential public figures address the masses and speak to support the Kashmiri freedom movement. These leaders and spokespeople also advocate a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. Long marches, and rallies sponsored by political organizations, religious parties and other organizations are held, in which people chant slogans to support the Kashmiri freedom struggle and to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

Another common spectacle is the formation of a human chain on all major routes leading to AJK from Pakistan. People stand in rows with their hands clasped forming a human chain on all major crossings into AJK from Pakistan. This symbolizes unity and solidarity to reassure Kashmiris that they are not alone in their struggle for freedom.

Special cultural programs and festivals are also held to promote Kashmiri culture and tradition.  News and entertainment channels air special programs, talk shows, dramas and Kashmiri songs about the oppression and brutalities suffered by Kashmiris over the years. Educational institutions organize debate competitions and dialogue forums where students express their views and ideas for resolving Kashmiri-related issues.

Public Life

Kashmir Day is a public holiday in Pakistan and AJK. Government offices (federal and provincial), banks, educational institutions and businesses remain closed. However, some multinational companies continue normal business activities on this day.

Public transport is available throughout the day, but traffic congestion is common in major cities. Major roads and streets remain blocked because of Kashmir Day parades and processions.

Background

There is a part of Kashmir called Azad Jammu Kashmir (Azad means “Liberated” in Urdu). Many Indians call it Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Officially Pakistan recognizes AJK as a separate state, having its own parliament, head of state and governing institutions.

Kashmir Day was first observed in 1990 on call of Nawaz Sharif, who was the opposition leader and chief minister of Punjab at the time. Sharif appealed for a nationwide strike to protest against the Indian occupation of Kashmir and called for people to pray for the Kashmiri freedom movement’s success. The Pakistan People’s Party then declared February 5 as a public holiday and Kashmir Day has since been observed every year.

Symbols

The Kashmir valley is metaphorically referred to as “heaven on earth”. The valley is shown in modern art as being engulfed by flames, depicting unrest, uproar and peril in heaven. The valley is also shown to be surrounded by a barbed wire drenched in blood. This illustrates human rights violations in Kashmir.

Note: The information in this article is from reliable sources, including from government and news sources. However, timeanddate.com does not take political views on the history behind the events mentioned in this article.

Kashmir Day Observances

Kashmir Solidarity Day

Kashmir Solidarity Day

Kashmir Solidarity Day has been observed on 5 February each year since 1990 in Pakistan as a day of protest against Indian control of part of Kashmir.[1] It is a national holiday in Pakistan.[2] Kashmir Day was first proposed by Qazi Hussain Ahmad of the Jamaat-e-Islami party in Pakistan in 1990. Pakistan considers Kashmir as the core issue, between India and Pakistan, leading to three wars and devoting a major portion of their national incomes to defense budgets.[citation needed] World leaders have stressed the need to resolve the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan to avoid an eventuality that may cause a catastrophe in the region. Kashmir is the nuclear flash point of South Asia, surrounded by three nuclear powers.
Purpose

Pakistan and members of the separatist community in Kashmir continue to claim that atrocities are being committed by the Indian state in Kashmir,[citation needed] a claim which India denies, laying a reverse charge on Pakistan for backing insurgency, terrorism and stoking communal passions in the state.[3] In the middle of 2010 there were widespread protests and unrest on the streets of Jammu and Kashmir against the killings of civilians by Indian security forces. The security forces in India and the Indian Army however claimed that the deaths were accidental while trying to control hundreds of protesters out on the street who were pelting stones at the security forces.[citation needed] Nevertheless the protests against the security forces spiraled out of control and within a couple of months more than a 100 civilians had lost their lives. A number of security forces lost their lives too, in the clashes. During the Kashmir uprising in the summer of 2010 which saw scores of protesters killed by Indian security forces and complete shutdown of Kashmir for over a month, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a key separatist leader, said "We want end to Indian occupation here and have already laid out our proposal for initiating a dialogue."[4]

The purpose of Kashmir Solidarity day as per Pakistani view, is to provide sympathetic and political support to the Kashmiri separatists people who they believe are struggling for their freedom from the Indian rule.[citation needed] The parts of Kashmir administered by Pakistan are known as Azad Jammu & Kashmir (Independent Jammu and Kashmir) and Gilgit-Baltistan, while the part administered by India is called Maqbuza Kashmir or "Indian Occupied Kashmir" in Pakistan. The Indians refer to the area under Pakistani administration as "Pakistan Occupied Kashmir" .

Source WIkipedia

Youm-e-Yakjehti-e-Kashmir

Protest against Indian administration of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras 2013 Date

When:19th January - 12th February 2013
Where: New Orleans, USA

Mardi Gras is an incredible and almost indescribable celebration in New Orleans, USA. If you had to try though, you would call it One Big Party! It is absolutely unique and comes complete with parades, floats, picnics, music, dancing, costumes, beads, artists, amazing food and an all-round party atmosphere. Creative costumes, mini-parades, organised and impromptu entertainment, walking clubs, laughter, and street theater and much, much more is everywhere, especially on the Canal Street. Everybody dresses in purple, green and gold (the official colours of Mardi Gras), and you will bump into innumerable street musicians and artists as you walk around the city. All offices are closed on this holiday, since most roads are blocked anyway. There is an infectious air of excitement - be sure to catch this virus, because everybody there will be in high spirits!

Mardi Gras 2013 celebration

The Parades start about two weeks before the day of Mardi Gras. There are several types of parades; some are rolled out by traditional Krewes who have tableau balls, and an elected king and queen. These Krewes go back to the 1800's and have helped establish Mardi Gras traditions in New Orleans. The Krewe of Rex presents the oldest parade, which dates back to 1872. The King of Rex is the official King of Carnival.

This year, parades will start on January 19th. However, bear in mind that all parade activities will pause from January 28th – February 5th, due to the Super Bowl XLVII. Parade activity will resume as normal from February 6th – 12th.

Things to do at Mardi Gras

If you travelling with children, and want to enjoy outdoor picnics and watch the self-proclaimed ‘Greatest Free Show on Earth’, this is the place to be! While waiting for the parades, you can watch marching bands, listen to the music in the air, and catch toys, doubloons and beads that are being ‘thrown’!

You can sit down on your chair or right on the ground while revellers around you throw frisbees and walk their dogs. Watch for the approaching parades, grab some cotton candy and see if you can catch doubloons from the many celebrities that tend to make an appearance here!

When to arrive

Remember to not confuse Mardi Gras with Carnival! Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday and marks the final day of excitement before Ash Wednesday, which is when Lent begins. This year, Mardi Gras falls on February 12th - the date of Mardi Gras changes every year because it is connected to Easter, which falls on any Sunday between March 23 - April 25. Mardi Gras is scheduled to be 47 days before Easter.

The weekend before Fat Tuesday is the prime time to visit. This is when two of the biggest parades of the season, Bacchus and Endymion, cruise down the streets.

Don’t forget to look for great package deals on hotels that offer you a balcony view of the parades!

Trivia

The first Mardi Gras parade was held in New Orleans on February 24, 1857 by the Krewe of Comus. They began the tradition of presenting a parade with floats and following it with a ball for the Krewe and their guests.

Most krewes are named after figures from Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology; some are named after the neighborhood where they parade.

Each parade krewe decides upon its own theme each year, which can be kept secret until the parade.

Rex, the King of Carnival, selected the Mardi Gras colors and gave them meaning in 1892. Purple stands for justice, green for faith, and gold for power.

The tradition of float riders throwing trinkets to the crowds began in the 1870s. Typical ‘throws’ include beads, cups, doubloons, and stuffed animals.

Kumbh Mela 2013

Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 Date

When:27th January - 25th February 2013
Where: Allahabad, UP

Organised once every 12 years, the Maha Kumbh Mela is touted as being the greatest festival and pilgrimage destination in the Hindu religion. The celebration of Kumbh Mela takes places at four different locations, namely Prayag (Allahabad), Ujjain, Haridwar and Nasik; however, the Maha Kumbh Mela is held only once in twelve years in Allahabad. It is a cultural and religious spectacle that attracts visitors and pilgrims from all over the world.

The city of Allahabad is situated at the confluence of India's holiest rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Saraswati, known as the Sangam, where bathing is considered especially auspicious. The mela witnesses the largest gathering of Hindus, who all bathe in the holy water. According to the ancient Vedic texts, one who takes a dip in any of the four holy places during the Kumbh Mela, will attain ‘Moksha’ and gain liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Millions of saints, monks, and sadhus (sage) attend this grand festival. The Maha Kumbh Mela has been called "the world's most massive act of faith" – the largest congregation of devotees at one place, and is a once in a lifetime experience.

Sadhus at Kumbh Mela

Pilgrims and sadhus are an integral part of the Kumbh Mela. People arrive from around the world to see and listen to these holy men, in order to gain spiritual enlightenment. There are various ‘kinds of sadhus’ attending the festival. Here’s a quick guide:

Nagas - These are naked sadhus, with long matted hair. Their bare bodies are normally smeared with ash. Constant exposure to the cold weather makes them resistant to extreme temperatures.

Kalpvasis - These sadhus remain by the river banks and devote their time to performing rituals, meditating and bathing several times a day.

Parivajakas - These sadhus have taken a vow of silence.

Shirshasinse - These sadhus always remain standing and sleep with their heads resting on a vertical pole. They also meditate standing on their heads.

Urdhwavahurs - These sadhus have emaciated bodies due to years and years of rigid spiritual practices.

Kumbh Mela Rituals

Pilgrims usually start coming in to begin their ceremonial bathing in the holy waters of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati from around 3:00 am, which continues until late evening. The sadhus start their bathing rituals at sunrise, with vibrant processions from the Kumbh Mela grounds to the holy bathing area. Different sects of sadhus have different timings set for bathing.

It is impossible to entirely capture the essence of the Maha Kumbh Festival through words, photos, films or paintings, which can hardly do justice to something so massive and spiritual.

Auspicious dates for Maha Kumbh Mela 2013

The Maha Kumbh Festival 2013 is speculated to be one of the largest congregations in the history of mankind. This time, it will be held from 27th January to 25th February 2013.

27th Jan 2013 - Paush Purnima

06th Feb 2013 - Ekadashi Snan

10th Feb 2013 - Mauni Amavasya Snan

15th Feb 2013 - Basant Panchami Snan

17th Feb 2013 - Rath Saptami Snan

18th Feb 2013 - Bhisma Ekadashi Snan

25th Feb 2013 - Maghi Purnima Snan

How to get there

Allahabad is served by the Allahabad Airport and is linked to Delhi and Kolkata by JetLite and Air India Regional. Other airports in the vicinity are at Varanasi (Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport 125 km) and Lucknow (Amausi International Airport 238 km).

Allahabad houses the headquarters of the North Central Railway Zone, and is well connected by trains to all major cities in India.

You can also drive down. NH2 runs through the middle of the city.

Where to stay

The city of Allahabad offers many places to stay ranging from deluxe hotels to budget hotels; however, during the Maha Kumbh Mela, tented accommodation is usually offered on the grounds of the mela. Be sure to pre-book, or make arrangements to stay elsewhere well in advance. Considering the number of devotees that descend upon the city, it is wiser to pre-book a Kumbh Mela tour package.

Tips

- Make sure you pack good, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes

- Don’t forget insect repellent, socks and a warm jacket

- Women need to be fully clothed when they bathe in the Ganges. They will not be allowed to wear swimsuits.

Rio Carnival 2013 Guide

You've decided you are ready to make the once-in-a-lifetime voyage to Brazil to experience the greatest party on the planet! Next on the list of things to do: find a hotel. Choosing your accommodations is one of the most important decisions of the entire vacation. There are a few factors you should consider before making this decision. First, determine your budget. With your budget in mind, figure out which neighborhood you want to be your home base for the trip. After you have pinned down the location and your budget, evaluate which hotel amenities are most important to you.
Keep in mind that during Carnival most hotels in Rio have a mandatory check-in date and 5 night minimum stay. For Rio Carnival 2013, best results are found when you search for hotels from February 8-13, 2013.
Rio Carnival Hotel Budget
How much do you want to spend per person per night and what do you want to get out of that cost? Hotel prices in Rio de Janeiro during Carnival can get quite expensive for the high-end properties, but that doesn't make the trip out of reach. Going by the hotel's star rating is not always the best metric when it comes to determining the best hotel for you. If accommodation is the most important aspect when it comes to enjoying your trip, then you might consider budgeting relatively more for your hotel room.
Make sure to allocate enough of your budget per day to make the most of your trip to the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Take advantage of being in one of the most magnificent cities in the world! Take a tour to Corcovado and the Christ the Redeemer statue. Experience one of the legendary Rio Carnival Balls. And whatever you do, don't miss the Sambadrome Parade! Whether you want to sit in a Frisa located on the same level as the samba runway or a non-allocated Grandstand seat, you should consider the importance of your hotel budget when compared to the must-do Rio Carnival events.
During Carnival, it is very likely that you will spend very little time in your hotel room. The Sambadrome Parades and Rio Carnival Balls can last well into the following morning, often ending after 4:00 am -- and the party doesn't stop when the parade ends! You might find yourself out at a club until the sun comes up and only visiting your hotel to sleep, shower and change your clothes. What's important for most people is a convenient, clean and comfortable place to catch up on some sleep.
Best Neighborhood for Rio Carnival
Rio de Janeiro is made up of many different zones and neighborhoods. You may find that the area in which you will stay is tied to your budget -- but this doesn't need to be the case. View the proximity of each hotel in Rio from important points of interest like Corcovado, the beach and the Sambadrome, the official venue of Rio Carnival. You can also book your hotels online, or customize vacation packages with discounts on select recommended hotels combined with Sambadrome Parade tickets, Carnival Ball tickets and roundtrip shuttle transfers. Seek out interactive Sambadrome maps to help you visualize and choose the best seat for your budget.
You may want to stay in the center of the action, within walking distance from most of the activities in which you are likely to participate. If you are traveling with children, you might prefer a quieter neighborhood further away from all the madness. What will likely make this decision for you is how close you want to be to certain events; how flexible you are with your transportation options; and who you are traveling with.
Downtown Rio in the City Center (or Centro) is considered the historic and financial center of Rio. Downtown is centrally located and within close proximity to almost everything and easy to get to via taxi or subway (Rio Metro). There are art galleries, history museums, street parties -- and you will be close to the Scala Nightclub, host venue of the nightly Scala Ball Series during Rio Carnival. However, the Centro is not where most international visitors prefer to stay.
The most popular zone of Rio for Carnival is the South Zone (Zona Sul). The South Zone is comprised of many neighborhoods. The most popular neighborhoods of Zona Sul are situated along the Atlantic coast in Ipanema, Copacabana, Leme, Leblon and Arpoador; however, neighborhoods bordering Guanabara Bay in Gavea, Santa Teresta, the Botanical Gardens and Lagoa are quieter, equally beautiful.
The Western Zone is an up-and-coming neighborhood that will only increase in popularity between now and the 2016 Summer Games. Most of the events of the 2016 Olympics will take place in the Western neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca and it is the location of many new hotel projects that are slated to be finished in the coming years. Changes to the Rio Metro will make Barra significantly easier to get to and will put the neighborhood on the map as one of the most coveted vacation destinations in the world. Also in Barra is the Mall of America, the Hard Rock and Nuth Lounge.
Hotel Amenities What you need and expect from your hotel is closely linked to your budget and the neighborhood you choose. You may want to stay directly on the beach or Avenida Atlantica in the South Zone. Or perhaps you just want to be near the beach. There are many hotels 2 or 3 blocks from the beach that can save you a lot of money. Most hotels come with complimentary breakfast, but this can also contribute to decreasing your daily expenses. Bed and Breakfasts can be cozy cultural experiences that are just what you are looking for. If you are a college student or recent grad just looking for a place to sleep, there are many hostels scattered throughout the city -- many of which come with internet and breakfast for under $100 per night.
Read reviews on individual hotels. Understand that in Brazil communication can be a problem for non-Portuguese speakers, and that there are cultural differences in how business is conducted and service is provided. During Carnival more than 500,000 international visitors flock to Rio de Janeiro, so read the reviews with a grain of salt.
Whatever your choice of hotel, hostel or B&B, your trip to Rio Carnival 2013 will undoubtedly be a trip you will never forget! Cariocas, the people native to Rio de Janeiro, are a notoriously warm, friendly and tolerant people that will make your vacation all the more memorable.
Rio Carnival 2013 Recommended Hotels:
• 5 Star Beachfront Luxury Hotel: Copacabana Palace Hotel
• 5 Star Next to Copacabana Beach: Rio Othon Palace
• 4 Star Opposite Copacabana Beach: Leme Othon Palace
• 4 Star Less than 5 Minute Walk from Copacabana Beach: Mirador Rio Hotel
• Barra da Tijuca: Transamerica Prime Barra
• Copacabana Beach: Fun People Bed and Breakfast
• Downtown Hostel: Lingua Solta Hostel
About the Author: Elias Cabral has been involved in tourism to Brazil and Rio de Janeiro for more than a decade. His specialty is organizing and leading tours to the Rio Carnival festival. After relocating to Miami, Florida for three years, Elias has recently returned to his home city.
RioCarnival.net is an informative site and particularly useful when it comes to determining the best hotel in a specific area of Rio. Travelers can browse hotels by neighborhood, star rating and popularity, as also customize hotel packages that combine discount hotel rates on select properties with Sambadrome Parade tickets, Carnival Ball tickets and roundtrip shuttle transfers.

Rio Carnival 2013

Mardi Gras at Rio: The Greatest Street Show in the World

When: 9th - 12th February, 2013
Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Let me take you to the Mardi Gras... there's romance and adventure there,
music and laughter everywhere You don't want to miss the Mardi Gras...
its an endless game, a grand charade, melody makers on parade
Won't you come to the Mardi Gras?
You'll love the Mardi Gras!
- Paul Simon

Swing to the samba, rock to the rhumba and move to the merengue. Hot and spicy like the best salsa, the Rio Carnaval explodes in spontaneous combustion as enthusiastic dancers, bandas and blocos, bare chested men and bare bellied women frolic and cavort with wild abandon, unrestrained passion and infectious joie de vivre.

The Rio Carnival gives a kaleidoscopic view of the culture of Brazil at its zenith. People indulge in singing, dancing, and feasting, but the most involved in the Rio Carnival are the poorest localities (favelas) that join the festivities despite their deprived situation, and make the Carnival come alive in its true sense!

The events of the Rio Festival include Carnival Balls, Samba School Nights, Street Bands, Street Parties, parades, and a lot more. The festival concludes with the Rio Carnival Parade, or the Samba Parade. Everyone comes together as a whole to have fun. Billed as the greatest 'Free Show' anywhere, the Mardi Gras at Rio is one long party.

More information on where to stay and what to do at Rio Carnival 2013

Khajuraho Travel Guide

Khajuraho is a popular heritage city in Madhya Pradesh attracting thousands of tourists each year. Khajuraho was declared a World Heritage site in 1986. It is really one of the most fortuitous accidents of history that Khajuraho lies where it does – well away from the path taken by the fanatical hordes that periodically unleashed their destructive wrath on the towns and villages of medieval India. The amazing temples built here by the Chandela Rajput rulers during the 10th to 12th centuries, were thus spared the destruction and mutilation suffered by countless other temples throughout north and central India.
Khajuraho has grown into a major tourist destination from the obscure village it was. The temple town lies on the northern fringe of the state and served by an airport where loads of tourists arrive to see the magnificent temples. Of the 85 temples that were originally built, only 22 remain but just these put Khajuraho right up there, top of the list of India’s must visit destinations such as Delhi, Jaipur, Agra and Varanasi. For their magnificent and erotic rock carvings, these temples are now on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
In addition Khajuraho has the Vindhya range of mountains as its beautiful backdrop. This makes Khajuraho an even more fascinating destination to visit.

Photography in certain parts of the temple is only allowed to those with a special written permission from the Director General, Archeological Survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi. While for other parts of the temple you may obtain permission for photography at the premises itself.
Also ensure you don't carry valuables with you while visiting the temple because you may be required to deposit them outside before entering the temple.

Khajuraho Dance Festival

When: 20th - 26th February, 2013
Where: Khajuraho, India

Where the hand goes, there the eyes should follow
Where the eyes are, the mind should follow
Where the mind is, there the expression should be brought out
Where the expression is, there the rasa or flavour will be experienced by the audience.
- Lines from the Natyakram

Classical Indian dance returns to its roots - to the temples where it was conceptualised, defined and immortalised in stone. The exquisite 1000 year-old temples of Khajuraho serve as the idyllic backdrop to an art genre with an equally impressive pedigree.

As dusk gives way to the nights darkness, lamps bathe the temples in a surreal golden glow creating the perfect ambience for the past to juxtapose with the present. The mellifluous strains of the flute and the tanpura set the mood; the mridangam and the tabla beat out the rhythms echoed by the ghungroo of the dancer and time stops. Sculpted dancer come to life? Nimble footwork arrested in mid step? A dancer captured in stone or just a moment out of time?

Find out for yourself. Travel to the plains of Central India, to the temple town of Khajuraho. The weeklong Khajuraho Dance Festival features the finest young talents of Indian classical dance and presents a rare opportunity to see the maestros and grand dames of Indian dance perform.

Khajuraho Travel Guide

Vivid Sydney Festival

Vivid Sydney Festival - A festival of light, music & ideas

When: 24th May - 10th June 2013
Where: Sydney

Vivid Sydney Festival is the largest international music and light show in the Asia-Pacific region that promises to enthrall the senses of all visitors and locals. The festival of light, music, art and ideas, Vivid Sydney Festival, transforms the city of Australia into a vibrant creative hub each year attracting thousands of visitors from all over the globe. The festival is designed to showcase the entire city as one big living canvas that runs from Hyde Park through Macquarie Street, Sydney Opera House and Circular Bay. Darling Harbour too is added in the list to host a few Vivid events.

This year, two new programmes (Vivid LIVE and the Song Summit) have been added on top of last year's four to deliver a fantastic winter. Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House will bring together the best contemporary artists and cultural interpreters while the Song Summit is a gathering of local and international songwriters and music industry experts.
Fire Water is a free event featuring three nights of flame, markets and food stalls at The Rocks. Creative Sydney is a series of debates and discussions, presentations and performances geared to educate and inform. X Media Lab, themed 'Global Media Cultures' is for the world’s leading expert in creative, business and technology to share ideas. Macquarie Visions is a free public event, celebrating the 200th anniversary and story of two visionary leaders, Governor Lachlan Macquarie and his wife Elizabeth.

Vivid Sydney Festival is every photographer's dream and an event definitely not to be missed!

Related Festival

Sydney Festival
Get ready to experience the summer of your dreams with Sydney Festival in January 2013, Australia – the largest summer festival of the country.

Sydney Festival 2013

 

Australia Summer Festival

When: 5th - 27th January 2013
Where: Sydney, Australia

Get ready to experience the summer of your dreams with Sydney Festival 2013, Australia – the largest summer festival of the country. Presenting a wide variety of cultural diversity ranging from parody circus to New York rap to Russian theatre; from contemporary dance to family programmes to traditional aboriginal arts practice – the Sydney Festival is one of the most loved events in Australia that sets the tone for summer in the city. Showcasing 388 performances and 98 events performed by over 1000 artistes including 11 world premiers at 30 of the finest venues in the city including Sydney Opera House, Seymour Centre, Riverside Theatres, and The University of Sydney, the Sydney Festival is an excellent way for both Sydneysiders and visitors to experience the best of performing, visual and experimental arts that Australia and the world has to offer.

Sydney Festival Program and Celebrations

Celebrations for the festival kick off with Festival First Night – a large scale free event in the parks, streets, and lane-lays of the city, which is an exclusive feast of music, dance, and visual spectacle on the streets. Reaching an audience of more than 200,000 people, the Festival First Night is celebrated on the first Saturday of the Festival while more free concerts await Sydneysiders and visitors on subsequent two Saturdays. The Sydney Festival creates a welcoming and unique global ambience which showcases the striking city of Sydney through a feast of world class performances in theatre, music, dance, fireworks, visual arts, and food. The peak celebrations of the festival are the Australia Day festivities on 26th January with ferry races and tall ship displays at the iconic Sydney Harbour. The festival with its wide range of free events and easy pricing policies for the shows with tickets ensures that everyone can participate in the Sydney Festival celebrations.

Tickets for the Sydney Festival 2013

With its ongoing commitment to make the Festival accessible to everyone, the tickets for the shows are priced at a reasonable rate of AUD $25 and are available only on the day the show is scheduled. Tickets can be purchased at the ‘Tix for Next to Nix’ booth situated in Sydney’s central business district.

Tips for the festival

Tickets can be purchased through cash only and no credit cards will be accepted.

You have to purchase the tickets in person and you can only purchase two tickets per person per day.

There is limited range of tickets available and the price may vary for each performance.

There will be no replacement of the tickets lost, stolen, or damaged so be careful if you want to catch a particular show.

The booth Tix for Next to Nix is opened daily from 8am to 12noon during the festival days, however the booth may close early if all the tickets get sold out before closing time.

Related Festival

Vivid Sydney Festival
The festival of light, music, art and ideas, Vivid Sydney Festival, transforms the city of Australia into a vibrant creative hub each year attracting thousands of visitors from all over the globe.

International Kite Festival 2013

Gujarat Kite Festival

When: Monday, 14th January 2013
Where: Ahmedabad, Gujarat

When they tell you to 'go fly a kite' in Gujarat, they actually mean it. And in January, that means sharing the sky with thousands of other kites.

Coinciding with the Makar Sankranti celebrations, Gujarat’s International Kite Festival is held every year in Ahmedabad. As you’ve probably guessed, this is one day when the skies above the city come alive with kites- in a hundred different colours, shapes and sizes, fluttering and darting above the rooftops, triumphantly cutting another kite’s string, and soaring way up above the earth. The Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation organises the International Kite Festival at a local stadium, where kite enthusiasts from all across the world show off their skills. A kite market is held, alongside which are food stalls, cultural performances and special kite displays at night, when illuminated kites- known as tukals- are flown.