Delhi garden festival

Introduction:


Environment smelling with sweet fragrance and colourful bed of flowers is the pleasurable sight to people visiting Delhi’s Garden of the Five Senses.


Delhi heralds a spectacular flower show every year in February. The Garden Tourism Festival was introduced in 2004. A variety of flowers and exotic plants are displayed here.


The event is organised by Delhi Tourism for three days. In 2010, the fest will be held from February 20th to 22nd.

New Delhi's annual Garden Show invites visitors to glance through the implausible exhibition just as the flowers are blossoming and the gardens are bursting with colour.


Displays include plants, flowers, trees and specially designed water gardens with exotic lilies and plants. The entry is open to all and no fee is charged at all. The Garden Festival, at Said-ul-Ajaib displays beautiful flowers, trees, alongside rockeries, fountains, theme based gardens, lily pool, horticultural demonstrations and activities.

The Garden Tourism Festival showcases thousands of variety of flower like dahlias, roses, potted plants, bonsai, home plants and others. Flower enthusiasts and horticulturists find it a great place during festival. Apart from flower display, painting competitions for children, art camp for budding artists and thematic cultural shows to entertain the visitors are also held here.

Flowers arranged in the popular Japanese art of flower arrangement, Ikebana, medicinal plants, hanging baskets, garden equipment, accessories, fresh plants and everything related to garden and gardening are displayed. Garden festival is not only a visual feast of flowers, but also quenches the thirst of gardening enthusiasts and horticulturists by helping them in knowing them about new techniques being employed in the science of gardening. The place is also fun and frolic for children of all ages.

Another annual Garden Festival, held at the ancient Talkatora Gardens also celebrates Garden festival to display hundreds of colourful flowers and exotic plants giving complex to everyone around.

Various Asian countries participate in the festival which helps in promoting a healthy relationship between Asian cities.

Time to celebrate

New Delhi's annual Garden Fesival is organised by Delhi Tourism for three days in Garden of Five Senses or Said-ul-Ajaib. In 2010, the fest will be held from February 20th to 22nd.

How to reach

By Air

Delhi is the main gateway city for northern India. Indira Gandhi International Airport is located at 23km southwest of Central Delhi and the domestic terminal at Palam is 5km away from the international terminal. Many national and international flights connect Delhi to other cities of India and abroad.


By Rail

Delhi has good network of trains touching it from all parts of the country. The city has two major railway stations in New Delhi and Old Delhi. Shatabdi Express operates to Bhopal (via Agra, Gwalior, Jhansi), Lucknow (via Kanpur) and Chandigarh, provides access to some of the neighboring tourist centres.

By Bus

Buses from all the major places in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are available for getting to Delhi.

Chinakkathoor Pooram

Introduction:


The Chinakkathoor Pooram is an elephant peagent which is held annually at the sacred Sree Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple, at Palappuram in Palakkad district in north Kerala. A huge procession of 33 festooned tuskers is the highlight of the festival. The festival is celebrated in Kumbham month of Malayam calendar.


Localiite performs traditional art forms like Vellattu, Theyyam, Poothanum thirayum, Kaalavela, Kuthiravela, Aandi Vedan, Karivela on the Panchavadyam or the temple orchestra. The popular ritualistic show puppetry, Tholppavakkoothu, is performed at the temple premises every evening. This show continues for 17 days before conclusion of the festival i.e.pooram. Sixteen decorated models of the kuthira (horse) and eight kaala (bull) are brought ceremoniously to the temple by devotees in a grand procession.


Holiday is declared by the District Collector in all government offices and educational institutions of Ottappalam municipality and the Lakkidi-Perur grama panchayat.


How to reach


By Rail

Nearest railway station is Ottappalam which is about 5 km from the shrine. It is one of the major railway stations between Palakkad and Shoranur in the Konkan route and Wadakkanchery in the Kanyakumari/Alapuzha route.


By Bus

Public as well as private buses running on Palakkad-Shoranur (Kulappully) State Highway passes through Ottappalam.

By Air

Nearest airport is Coimbatore in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu which is about 85 km from shrine.

Calicut International Airport, Karippur, Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery, and Coimbatore Domestic Airport are the other nearest airports.


Time to celebrate

In Kerala, festival dates are decided in accordance with the Malayalam calendar and the local traditions and customs.


In 2010:

English Date- February 28, 2010
Malayalam Date- Kumbham 16, 1185
Saka Date- Phalguna 9, 1931

Festival of Gardens

Introduction :


The Festival of Gardens is the three day extravaganza full of excitement and joy. The festival is annually organized in February end and is witnessed by large number of people. This fun filled three day festival adds life to the hosting place Chandigarh. The festival of garden was also known as the Rose Festival of Chandigarh



Celebrations :

The Festival of Gardens was started to encourage people to explore the most beautiful creation of nature roses and also to attract people to stunning rose garden of the city for enjoying the grandeur of the blooming flowers.


The flower show presents large number of rose species in world fame Rose Garden. The festival of gardens is not only limited to the flower show but also serves a lot to its visitors.


The exhilarating carnival also presents mind blowing dance and music performances by the celebrity stars and folk artists at Leisure valley.


Many activities and competitions are also organized for visitors of all genres.


The festival of Gardens include exhibitions by local artists, different contests like flower arrangement, flower cutting contests for guests. Even special events are planned for kids coming to attend the festival like spot painting competition or the Rose Prince and Rose Princess competitions. The Festival of Gardens provides a unique opportunity for photographers to show their talent, for various companies to display their products and craftsmen to display their creativity.


Festival of gardens 2010

The Festival of Gardens is a three day mega event usually organized in the last week of February. In 2010, the Festival of Gardens or Rose festival of Chandigarh is from February 22nd to 24th, 2010. extravaganza full of excitement and joy. The festival is annually organized in February end and is witnessed by large number of people. This fun filled three day festival adds life to the hosting place Chandigarh. The festival of garden was also known as the Rose Festival of Chandigarh.

Alwar Festival

Introduction:


The charismatic town Alwar is the Gateway of Rajasthan. Alwar is also known as the land of tigers. Alwar is situated at the foothills of the Aravalli ranges. The city derived its name from the Salva tribe located in that region. The name Alwar is the final outcome of deformation of Salwapur, as it was called earlier.


Alwar festival is an occasion to have lots of fun and enjoyment for three-days. The festival provides the best opportunity to showcase the folk culture, music, handicrafts and colourful traditions of the region.

The district administration organise this festival to promote tourism and highlight the rich cultural heritage of Alwar.


The Alwar festival is held in Magh month of hindu calendar or in February month according to English calendar. The festival begins with the huge procession through the streets of the town.


`Shilp Gram' (handicraft village) is organized by the Alwar Collector and chairman of the festival committee to showcase hand-made items and laying a stress on to promote the manual skills. Main focus is to increase tourism activities in Alwar and also the rural activities of the local people.


Alwar festival holds a variety of events. These events include elephant polo, fancy dress and sketching competitions for children and flower show. The exotic, rare and antique items of the region are exhibited here.

Time to celebrate:

The `Alwar Utsav' is organised in the district town of Alwar in Magh month of hindu calendar or in February month according to English calendar. In 2010, the festival will be organized from 12th to 14th February.

How to reach :

By Air

Delhi Airport is the nearest airport to Alwar, which is 163 km awa.


By Rail

A good railway network connects Alwar with Delhi, Jodhpur, Mumbai and other important cities of India. Shatabdi Express and Superfast Express connects Alwar to New Delhi on one side and Ajmer on the other; whereas Intercity Express connects Delhi Sarai Rohilla, Alwar and Jaipur and Mandore Express connects DelhiSarai Rohilla, Alwar and Jodhpur.


By Road

Regular buses operate between Alwar and Delhi, Sariska, Bharatpur, Deeg and Jaipur and many other key cities of Rajasthan.

Nagaur Fair

Nagaur fair is founded by the great Jodhpur Dynasty king Mr. Umed Singh in honour of Sh. Ramdeoji 56 years back and since then it has been held regularly. Nagaur fair or Ramdeoji Cattle fair is infact a cattle fair, the second largest in Rajasthan.

The Nagaur Fair is held in charming Rajput town- Nagaur, located between Jodhpur and Bikaner.

he Nagaur Fair is held in the month of January-February every year and continues for four days starting on Magh Shukla Saptmi. Every year about 70,000 bullocks, camels and horses are bought and sold in this fair.

The Nagaur Fair is an attraction for tourists. It magnetise visitors from all over the world, who come to see the trading of camels, cattle and horses by their owners dressed in colourful and beautiful attire.

The picturesque sight of people dressed in beautiful dresses and participating locals and tourists in sports is worth capturing with camera.

Nagaur district is the land of fairs. They are not only a hub to sale and buy cattles but also show the true spirit of living life. The rural people take on these fairs as big social events; thus participate in these fairs very eagerly with great enthusiasm.

In addition to the cattle things that are of routine use even from needles to nails are available in these events. Fairs witness strong social harmony and are seen as the true expression of rustic rural Rajasthan.

Shopping and Celebration

Animals that come for being sold in this fair are magnificently garlanded and decorated with loads of accessories to provide a vibrant look to them by their owners. The owners in colourful turban and long moustaches keeps themselves busy in selling cows, bullocks, oxen, horses and camels and are seen conversing and bargaining with the buyers.


 
The Nagauri bull is the most attractive buy besides camels, horses, bullocks, buffalos, goat & sheep. Traders from all over the country gather here and participate actively to vie with each other in purchasing high pedigree animals.

The fair provides an opportunity to see real Rajasthan, rural folk in colourful traditional dresses & turbans in a rural ambience.

In addition to exhibition of animals and their trading, the fair is also popular for its Mirchi Bazaar, which is biggest in India. The Mirchi bazaar in Nagaur fair is a place to market red chilly.

Wooden items, iron-crafts and camel leather accessories and many other things are also sold here.


Celebrations

Amid of business activities, the visitors indulge themselves into exciting sports to enjoy riveting activities at the fair. The major sports held at the fair include tug-of-war, camel races, bullock races and cockfights. The jugglers; puppeteers, storytellers and campfire evenings make it a life time experience. The silence of desert is broken by the musical notes of the folk music of region. The scene of sun sinking below the horizon and the sand dunes glittering in the twilight is worth watching.


Time of Celebration

Nagaur Cattle fair is held for four days in the month of Magha of Hindu calendar, which usually falls in January or February. The fair starts on Saptmi of Magh Shukla and ends on 10th day of same.

In 2010: 22-25 January, 2010

In 2011: 10-13 February, 2011

In 2012: 30 January to 03 February, 2012