India - Best Places of Interest

February 4, 2016 Events and Festivals, India, Weekly photo challenge

KGAF 2016

The above is a mirror art that my friends are admiring at KGAF- Kala Ghoda Art Festival. For this week’s photo challenge on ‘Mirror‘, I thought about this festival. Below are the details about the festival written earlier during the year.

The Kala Ghoda Art Festival (KGAF 2016) will begin from 6^th Feb and will go on till 14^th Feb 2016. It is an annual festival that commences on the first Saturday of February and closes on the second Sunday in February.

The festival has various sections: visual arts, dance, music, theatre, cinema, literature including children’s literature. There are also workshops, heritage walks, urban design and architecture.

THE FESTIVAL VENUES

Children
Lawns of (CSMVS), The Museum Mumbai
Kitab Khana at Somaiya Bhavan
Children’s Literature
Kitab Khana at Somaiya Bhavan
Dance
Cross Maidan
Dance Workshops are at Somaiya Centre, Somaiya Bhavan
Cinema
The Coomaraswamy Hall and The Visitor Center at (CSMVS), The Museum Mumbai,
Auditorium at Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
Food
Westside
Restaurants in the district
Food stalls at Rampart Road and Cross Maidan
Literature
DSL Garden
Artist’s Center
Author’s Lounge at Serafina
Seminar Hall of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
Stand-Up Comedy
Irish House
Street & Stalls
Rampart Row
Cross Maidan
Music
Cross Maidan
Steps of the Asiatic Society Library (Town Hall)
Visual Arts
Rampart Gallery
Lawns of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
Gallery 7
Art Entrance
Artists’ Centre
Coomaraswamy Hall
Cross Maidan
DSL Garden
Tarq for Art Walks
Workshops
Somaiya Centre
Artisan’s and Artists’ Centre
Theatre
Horniman Circle Garden
Auditorium at NGMA (National Gallery of Modern Art)
C. Ghia Hall at Kaikashru Dubash Marg,
Stand up comedy at Irish House at Kaikashru Dubash Marg
Gallery Beyond
Urban Design & Architecture
Library at Max Muller Bhavan
NGMA
Art Entrance Art Gallery

The following are some programmes to look out for

Children – Only where children gather is there any real chance of fun.” ~Mignon McLaughlin, journalist, and author

Creating an Impromptu 3-D forms which shall be conducted by Arzan Khambata and Sunil Padwal. They will assist you in experimenting with daily, one-time used objects to create a spontaneous 3D object. This will be at Museum Garden on 7^th Feb.

Food– ‘One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well ~ Virginia Woolf

An olive oil workshop is on 6^th Feb at Westside. Ranveer Brar, Chef will teach recipes from his TV show.
On 7^th, you can learn to cook Canadian and Indian food with Chef Curtis Pintye at Westside.
Masterchef Sanjeev Kapoor will be at Westside on 13^th Feb, showcasing his selected recipes.
On 14^th, celebrate Valentine’s Day with wine and wine coolers from Elixir Benedictine

Workshops– In everything that must be done, there is an element of fun ~ PL Travers

‘The cat and the comma’- by Niloufer Venkatraman, editor in chief, National Geographic Traveller India. At the workshop, she will be giving tips on travel writing on 7^th Feb.
‘Foot Forward’- Travel photography by Indranil Mukherjee will give tips about travel photography.
Dancing on Paper- An interactive session conducted by Nazia Vasi on Chinese calligraphy is on 12^th Feb.

Make in India Festival –

The dance and music program for the KGAF until February 14, 2016, has been extended by three days February 15, 16 & 17, 2016. The program has been finalised in consultation with the Ministry of Culture, Government of Maharashtra.

Kala Ghoda Association’s (KGA) involvement with the Make in India program in Mumbai at Cross Maidan will include cultural music and dance programs which will be extended until the 17th of February, to incorporate the MAKE IN INDIA program.

Photo Gallery of my visit to KGAF 2014 with my friends

References: For complete schedule, visit Kala Ghoda Association

Google Maps

January 19, 2016 Events and Festivals, India

Festa De Diu

Diu, the Isle of Calm, has always been a destination for people who would like to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Diu is renowned for its scenic beauty, the wonderful sandy beaches and the heritage buildings.

How to get to Diu–

By Flight– Diu airport at Nagao is connected by a daily flight from Mumbai. Rajkot airport connects major cities in India and from there is a short drive to Diu.

By train– Veraval is the nearest station at 90km from Diu. Major cities are well-connected to this station.

By bus– State-run buses and private buses serve from Ahmedabad to Diu. The journey is of 10 hours.

By car– It well-connected to the major National highways Gir 67 km, Somnath 90 km, Rajkot 219 km, Ahmedabad 450 km and Mumbai 815 km.

Diu is hosting the longest beach festival to celebrate art, culture, music and much more. There are special performances by Kailash Kher, Shreya Ghoshal and Sivamani.

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Adventure – There is an incredible adventure that awaits you from a Hot Air Balloon ride, Zip Lining and Bungee Jumping.

Here is a glimpse into the Beach Festival at Diu

Jan 21- Jan 24 ARTS WEEK

January 21– Tera Cotta Workshop at the amphitheatre 5 pm

January 22– Painting Workshop at the amphitheatre 5 pm

January 23– Fashion Show at Diu Fort 5-7 pm and Rapid Painter at Amphitheatre at 5 pm

January 24– Symphony Orchestra at the Beach 8 pm-10 pm

January 25– Performance Lambada Band at the Beach 8pm-10pm

Jan 26-Jan 31 Patriotic Week

January 26– Prince Dance Group at amphitheatre 7 pm onwards and Ragga Trippin at the beach at 8 pm

January 29– Cultural Show- Bal Bhavan Board-Diu Cultural Zone at Amphitheatre -8 pm onwards.

January 30– Performance- Manipuri Acrobats, Thang Ta, Pung Cholom, Dhol Cholom at Amphitheatre-7 pm onwards

January 31– Concert by Kailash Kher at the beach -8pm-10pm

Accommodation– Festival village has 60 luxury tents, over 200 conference seating and 2 spas. So, if the above excites you to be at the beach festival, you can stay at the Luxury Tents with air-conditioning. The tents have king-size beds and TVs. You have the option to choose from a Luxury Cottage and Luxury Cottage with Sea View.

Other attractions– While at Diu, you could also visit Gir National Forest and Wildlife Sanctuary which is 67 km from Diu. It is home to tigers, leopards, hyenas, crocodiles and lions inhabiting. You will have an unforgettable experience with lush hillsides and pristine nature.

You could also visit the Somnath temple which is 90kms from Diu. The most sacred among the 12 jyotirlingas in India.

Once back in Diu, enjoy the beautiful sunset with delicious seafood and drinks.

References: Image courtesy Festa Diu logo

Nagoa beach

January 7, 2016 Events and Festivals, India

The International Kite Festival

With the onset of January, there are many festivals to look forward to. According to the Indian calendar, the day when winter begins to turn into summer and the farmer gets ready for the harvest season it is called Makara Sankranti or Uttarayan. It is a bright sunny day with brisk breezes ideal for the kites to soar in the skies. It is celebrated every year on 14^th January.

The International Kite Festival (Uttarayan) is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Gujarat, India. The kites are manufactured months before this festival at Patang Bazaar, the special kite market where you can get kites and kite supplies. The kite makers prepare a strong kite with springy bamboo frames and kite paper. This is then attached with a spool of manja (a kite-string that is coated with the mixture of glass and glue so that you could cut strings of rival kites.

Manja (the string with which kite is flown) Maker, Meena Kadri - http://www.flickr.com/photos/meanestindian/357930034/ — Manja (the string with which kite is flown) Maker

The International Kite Event takes place in Ahmedabad. The event is organised by Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited. You could enjoy this festival at its best from Sabarmati Riverfront where the sky is filled with thousands of kites. This festival is on 10th and 11^th January. It is one of the most colourful festivals to be celebrated on the national and international level. There is fervor of humanity, celebration, vigor and excitement. It is a platform that allows people from all walks of life to come together and display their skills in flying.

International-Kite-Flying-Festival-in-Gujarat-768x576

Kites are made from different materials like paper and cloth. There is an amazing collection on display from simple and fancy kites in all shapes and sizes. Kites also have social messages, awareness information in unique patterns and designs. Each kite is unique. Kites with geometric designs are a common sight. Kite flyers experiment with various things like string, kite shapes, sizes, and materials like paper, khadi, silk, fibre glass and polyester film.

International-Kite-Festival-2016-in-AHmedabad

Schedule of the event across Gujarat, India is as follows:

8^th Jan 2016 – Surat, Rajkot

9^th Jan 2016- Vadodara and Bhavnagar

10 and 11^th – Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad

12^th– Bhuj and Porbandar

13^th -Modhera and Khambhat

14^th– Pol, Ahmedabad

International Kite Flying -2016 will have around 100 participants from various countries like UK, Germany, Austria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Singapore, USA, Canada, Thailand, Italy, Estonia, Cambodia, Netherland, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Philippines, Vietnam, Argentina, China, Turkey, Brazil, Belgium, France, Nigeria, Poland and South Korea.

Kite Masters and flyers from around the world showcase their unique creations and wow the crowds with their unusual kites. A few years back, kite makers from Malaysia brought their wau-balang kites, giant banner kites were bought by kite innovators of USA and Japanese rokkaku fighting kites shared space in the sky with sculptural kites from Italy and flying dragons from China.

If you are in Gujarat, India, in the month of January then do not miss out this festival.

*/ PS. The above schedule is subject to change. /*

Image sources: indiatvnews.com

news.maffat.com

Meena Kadri

October 21, 2015 Events and Festivals, Food, India

Navaratri Festival and Dusshera

Continuing from my previous posts on Navratri …….

On the days of Indian rituals and religious festivals, vegetarian food is prepared at home. There are households who do not have onions and garlic. Thus, the choice becomes limited about what to cook.

The most common dishes for Navaratri are:

Sabudana puris and vadas which are made of tapioca
Sabudana kheer- Pudding made of tapioca
Sabudana khichdi- Made from tapioca
Vrat ke chawal- The rice that is made during fasting
Singhare ka halwa- Water chestnut pudding.
Lauki halwa- Pudding made from Bottle gourd
Vegetable rice cutlets- cutlets made of mixed vegetables and rice.

Below are videos where Manjula shows how to prepare these dishes for Navratri in her kitchen

Tomorrow shall mark the tenth day of Ashwin in the Hindu lunisolar calendar. The first nine days being celebrated as Navaratri. This Hindu festival is celebrated across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Dussehra or Vijayadashami marks the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasur, the demon. Durga Puja ends on this day with the immersion of idols. People visit each other’s house and exchange gifts. The saffron-colored Marigold are particularly associated with this festival and sold in abundance during this festive period. They are used for worship and decorating workplaces and homes.

In northern India, mainly Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and western Bihar, there is a tradition to plant barley seeds in earthen pots on the first day of Navratri. The sprouts on the tenth day, Dussehra, are used as symbols of luck. Many plays and dramas based on Ramayana are performed during this period known as ‘Ramlila’. The effigies of Ravana filled with firecrackers containing phosphorus are burned on Dussehra. The ceremonial burning of effigies of Ravana celebrates the victory of Rama. Dussehra is a festival of victory of Good over Evil.