Protest against Indian administration of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
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.
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