Pitrupaksh Mela Will Begins from 15th Sep – 28th September at Gaya

What is Pitrapaksh Mela?

As per Hindu tradition and Vedas, Shraddha ceremony or Pinda Daan is an important ritual which is supposed to bring salvation to the departed soul of the ancestors. It is mentioned in the Dharamshastras that the dead ancestors used to pray for a son who would offer Pinda daan to them.

Gaya is the holy city located in the state of Bihar where people from over the country gather for the popular Pitrapaksh Mela to do the Shraddha ritual. The Brahmins in Gaya are considered to be the descendants of Magga Brahmins, who transformed to Vaishnavism, to be prepared for the occasion. The ceremony dates back to the time of Buddha. It is believed that he was the one to have performed the first Pinda Daan in Gaya. Gaya was the name of a demon that was very powerful and threatened the gods. The Gods wanted to destroy him and he had a condition to be laid to rest in the holiest place on Earth. Hence the city got the name Gaya.

15 th September 2019 -28 th September 2019 is the time of the Mela and people from different parts of the country will gather here to offer the Pinda Daan. Facilities of accommodation, booking of Panda, daily ritual plan, traffic arrangement, etc. is planned prior to the date of the Melas. All the planning is undertaken by the concerned departments in the city so that the tourists can have a smooth experience and offer their Pinda Daan without any hindrance.

It is the time of the year when the city is the busiest and flocked by the tourists. Hence the arrangements have to be started much ahead of the event so that the event can be a smooth experience for all.

Rann Utsav will begin from 1st November – 21st February at Gujarat

What is Rann Utsav?

Rann Utsav is a festival of Kutch in Gujarat, India. The majestic beauty of White Rann is lit with the power of music and dance. The Carnival is nothing short of a festival in India which potentially attracts tourists from across the country and foreign lands. The beauty of the place under the full moon is simply majestic. The official dates of upcoming festival is out; 1 st November 2019-21 st February 2020. The event witnesses cultural shows like dance and acts, Camel safari, lodging in tents, music, and merry making. The event is celebrated in the Dhordo Village of Kutch which is 85 km away from Bhuj.

The district of Bhuj is popular for traditional and cultural handicraft items, Bandhini sarees, jewellery and related ornaments, etc. For accommodation purpose, the Government and other supportive agencies design approximately 350 luxury tents.

The festival celebrates the rich culture and heritage of Gujarat in the marvelous White Desert under the Full Moon. The USP of the festival is the unmatched accommodation made available for the tourists in the tents. The tourists can expect world-class hospitality in the multiple lodging options like Darbari Suite, Rajwadi Suite, Deluxe AC Swiss Cottage, Premium Tents, and non-AC Swiss Cottages. The tourists can opt for availing the services as per their requirement.

Other Interests:

The tourists can enjoy watching and indulging in other activities in the related area as well. They can visit historical sites, Wild Life sanctuary (famous for Wild Ass), Museums, palaces, Forts, and the White Rann of Kutch. Hodka Village Kaladungar/Black Hill is some of the major places of attraction which attracts the attention of the tourists. Events like New Year and Kite Flying are earmarked with merry-making.

Ganesh Chaturthi will begin from 2nd Sep – 12th Sep

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most celebrated events in the Hindu calendar. It is the birth of Lord Ganesha and the entire country celebrates it with dedication. Mumbai acquires a new look during this 10-day festival and the entire city is soaked in worshipping the Elephant-headed God with total surrender and love. He is considered to be the Remover of Obstacles and the God of new beginning.

History:

It is difficult to access an exact date of the beginning of this festival but experts and believe that the festival has its origin since Satavahana, Rashtrakuta, and Chalukyas dynasties. As per historical records, the great Maratha leader Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja started the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi and in this way, the festival became very popular in Maharashtra.

Ganesh Visarjan is an important part of the ritual and the immersion of the idol in the water takes place on the last day of the festival. It is believed that Lord Ganesha returns to Mount Kailash to be with his parents Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, the celebration of the festival also denotes the cycle of birth, life, and death. People believe that the Lord will take away all their worries and obstacles in life and when the idol is taken out for visarjan, they believe that their obstacles will also be out of their homes and get destroyed along with the immersion of the idol in water.

The festival

Every year, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great fervour and excitement. It is believed that Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles showers all his blessings on his devotees and takes way the troubles and struggles from their life. The devotion exhibited by the devotees is immense and Mumbai shows it all during the 10-day festival.

People love to chant the different names given to the Lord. They call Him Bappa, Siddhivinayak, Deva, Lambodara, Vighnaharta, Gajanan, and much more. It is the love and devotion of the devotees which they pour out in many forms and offers offerings to the Lord in the diverse Ganesha temples located across the country. It is considered highly auspicious to begin any new venture or phase in life by remembering His name and seeking His blessings. In India, the festival is mostly celebrated across the country but states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, and Telangana exhibit an extreme devotional quotient.

Rituals

There are four main rituals which should be performed during the 10-day festival. They are called Pranapratistha, Shhodashopachara, Uttarpuja, and Ganesh Visarjan. The excitement for the festivals starts weeks before and artisans gear-up to make clay idols of the Lord. Creativity is at its best during the season and artisans display their craftsmanship and creativity in adorning the idol.

Eco-friendly materials are used for the designing of the clay idols. The idols are installed in homes and pandals. The decoration is breath-taking and the idol is worshipped with garlands, flowers, and Dhoop ghass. Pranapratishtha is a ritual which is performed by the priest when he invokes life in the diety and the idol is installed. Modak is offered to the Lord as this is the favourite sweet of Ganesha.

Prayer is offered in 16 different ways and it is called Shhodashopachara. People celebrate with music and dance and playing with colours. Fireworks also become a part of the festivities.

Uttarapuja is celebrated to bid farewell to the Lord with great respect. This is followed by Ganpati Visarjan, which is the immersion of the idol in the water with an urge to the Lord to quickly return again the following year. People get emotional during Ganesh Visarjan.

Ram Leela of Varanasi begins from 12th Sep – 13th Oct

The depiction of the life of Lord Rama in a dramatic representation is a part of Hindu culture. It is called Ram Leela. It depicts the events of life if the Lord. The epic starts with the Young Rama and climaxes with the battle between Ram and Ravan in which the victory of good over evil is personified. Ram wins over Ravan. It is a festival of 10 days and Ram Leela is an old traditional practice which happens on stage for 10 successive nights. On the 10 th day, a big fair is held and the event is called Dussehra. The burning of the effigies of Ravan, Kumbhkaran, and Mehgnath happens in the event.

Ramnagar Ram Leela in Varanasi is very popular. The striking feature of the event is that the characters are geared in the costumes of the characters and they wear masks to perform for 31 days from place to place.

The fair was started by KashiNaresh Maharaja Udit Narayan Singh in 1830. It became popular in Ramnagar and Varanasi quickly. Devotees came to the area to see the fair and Ram Leela. The beautiful display of sets where the performances take place is simply awesome and the devotees are also awe-struck to witness the gigantic show. The entire city looks like a film set during this time of the year and there are several visitors. The diverse scenes of Ashok Vatika, Panchvati, Janakpuri, Lanka, etc. are depicted in the sets. The characters of the epic are also enacted by real life people. Priests are also present to narrate the stories of Ramacharitmanasa.

After the closing of each episode, Aarti is done as a ritual on daily basis. The audience also participates and sings the glory of the Lord. An attractive Jhanki is also presented in front of Ramnagar Fort. The last days grabs the attention of the audience as they want to see the way in which Ravana gets defeated by Lord Rama which strongly symbolizes the victory of good or evil.

In Ramnagar, the Ram Leela is held for 1 month and huge fair is at the ground. For celebrating Vijaydashami, the ground gets flooded with devotees from across the place and tourists. The audience present there enjoys the victory of good over evil, especially when the effigies are burnt. Crackers and other fireworks are used to mark their happiness.

The festival in Ramnagar is as old as 250 years but the traditions and glory are intact. Though technology has set in and the sets have become modernized with excellent lighting skills; yet the traditions and rituals are still followed with same fervor. The tourists who visit the place during this time of the year are very impressed with the cultural extravaganza witnessed by them. Stalls are also installed with various items and the audience can easily indulge in merry making, eating, and shopping. It is one of the most important festivals in the related area and Ramnagar takes pride to be associated with it.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra till September 3 rd week

The Kailash Range is around 30 million years old. The main peak of the mountain is 6675 meter high. It is formed of the shining granite and its white glacial crest. It was a huge structure even before the Himalayas was protruding out of the Tethys Sea. For the Hindus, Mount Kailash always had a very special meaning as it is the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Hence the mountain has an exceptional devotion quotient for them.

Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra

The Yatra is very popular for 2 things; taking a circle or parikrama of Mount Kailash and taking a dip in Mansarovar Lake. It is believed that it will be helpful of washing away the sins of the pilgrims and bring salvation to them. It is open for the people between the age group 18-70. The Yatra can be completed by road or by chopper. Bookings can be done through Ministry of External Affairs or through a private tour operator.

Routes:

  • There are 2 routes for the Yatra. The one through Lipulekh Pass includes trekking and can cost INR 1.6 lakh per person. The Yatra includes some trekking as well. The yatra passes through important sites like Patal Bhuvaneshwar, Narayan Ashram, etc. Chailekh Valley is known for its beauty and the pilgrims can enjoy the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. The Om Parvat has a natural occurrence of OM with snow. It is a 21-day yatra.
  • Another route is through Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. It is suitable for senior citizens as they can use the road journey and trekking is not required. The journey will include covering and passing areas like Hangu Lake and Tibetan Plateau. The cost is INR 2 Lakh per person. It is a 21-day yatra including 3 days of preparatory work in Delhi.

The Helicopter ride

  • The pilgrims who wish to journey the scared mountain are allowed access through the Lipulekh pass in Kumaun. Kailash Mansarovar lies in Chinese-occupied Tibet. The Kailash Mansarovar yatra by helicopter makes the journey easier for the pilgrims. The package for the Helicopter one includes accommodation in 5-star Hotel in Kathmandu and 3-star in Nepalkunj. The journey starts from Kathmandu to Nepalkunj to Simikot and then to Hilsa. After the pilgrims enter into Tibet, they have to drive to Mansarovar. The package is for 11 days.

There is a selection process for the applicants. The process is fair and computer generated. The applicants are notified through automated email or SMS. Mainly the Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bons undertake this Yatra. Lake Mansarovar stands at the foot of the sacred Mount Kailash.

The best time to go for the Yatra is mid May to Mid October. The weather supports the journey during this part of the year and the visibility is also decent. Temperature during the day is cool and at night it can be freezing cold. The journey is challenging and yet remains as a much loved one for the pilgrims who wish to witness the sanctity of the area.

Choose Goa Holiday Package for this Dusshera

Goa is one of the most important holiday destinations in India and is frequented by tourists. Dussehra is a good time to visit the city. People make use of the vacation they get and want to spend quality time with friends and family in Goa. It is late monsoon in Goa at that time which means that it may or maynot rain. The long Indian summer and wet monsoon bypasses by this time of the year and it become a perfect destination to spend good time. The climate is also optimum; neither hot nor humid or wet. The average temperature ranges from 31.6-23.8 degree Celsius.

October last week has become a good time of the year to plan a vacation in Goa. Rainfall is much less than September. The beach shacks, which close down in peak summers, are set to open by this time of the year. The Arjuna Flea market also opens and grabs the attention of the tourists. Water sports activity also catches up by this time and Goa emerges as rocking as ever.

The tourists who visit Goa during this time of the year surely can feel the real Goa and they will fall in love with the place. Though the high season starts from mid-November, yet October also witnesses a lot of tourists. In fact, it is better to visit Goa which is little empty rather than visiting Goa which is choc-o-block with tourists in the high season.

As several parts of the country gear up to celebrate Vijaydashami or Dussehra, people mostly children get break from schools and colleges. Thus families think to make the most of the vacation and then they can spend a good vacation in Goa.

Goa is easily accessible by air, rail, bus, and ship. Hence tourists can easily plan a trip to Goa and unwind to enjoy a fun-filled vacation. Places of interest to visit in Goa are as follows:

  • There are several beaches in Goa and tourists can spend long hours in the sandy beaches indulging in water sports or just spending leisure time with family and friends. The beaches are Baga, Candolim, Arjuna, Majorda, etc. Beach shacks open up during this season and people can spend hours getting soaked under the sun.
  • There are flea markets which are very popular for handicrafts and jewellery. Tourists can buy local stuff also at cost-effective prices.
  • Night clubs of North Goa for partying are very popular. Tourists love to unwind in such places and have fun.
  • Water sports activities also start around this time of the year. Parasailing, speed boat rides, banana boat rides, jet skiing, etc. are some of the activities in which the tourists can indulge and have fun.

It is the perfect time of the year to indulge in fun activities in Goa. The flights also offer great packages which the tourists can avail. The hotels and resorts also start offers which are difficult to resist.

Jagannath Temple, Puri

Built in the 11th century and being one of the ‘Char Dhams’, the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, is perhaps one of the most revered places of worship for Hindus.It also serves as a mighty historical structure built about millennia ago, in the year 1078.The temple is famous for its annual Rath Yatra which is witnessed by millions as the three colossal chariots carry the deities.

The English word Juggernaut shares its origin from this annual parade. But that’s not the sole specialty of the place. Millions of people visit Odisha to gain Lord Jagannath blessings.Some amazingly enigmatic activities without any scientific explanation is found to be prevalent in this breath-taking place.
Some stupefying facts on Jagannath Temple.
1.Defying Nature’s Code of Conduct: The flag mounted on the top of the Jagannath Temple is a unique example of a stupefying fact. This particular flag flows in the opposite direction to the wind’s course without any scientific background to back it up.
2. The Daily ascent: Every day a priest scrambles the walls of the temple having a height equivalent to that of a 45 storey building, to change the flag atop the temple dome. This ritual date far back to the day the temple was built. The practice is done with bare hands without any protective gear. It’s believed if the ritual is skipped one day from the calendar, the temple will be shut down for a long 18 years.
3. No Shadow: The temple is reported to have no shadow at all, at any time of the day from any directions