Itinerary India

It is also the triumph of good over evil. Warm bonfires, colourful kites and delicious sweet delicacies are common parts of festivals in Northern India during the cooler months. There are regional and religious variations of each one, reflecting Indias diversity. India is predominantly a Hindu country, but is renowned for its religious and cultural diversity. each festival has regional variations, so practices and rituals will depend on where you are. As a place populated mostly by Sikhs, and also many Hindus, Amritsar is the perfect city to enjoy the procession of festivals that go on between January and March. The glorious Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, is at the epicentre of the city, and is an atmospheric place to be during all Indian festivals. Delhi, as the countrys capital, is home to the numerous landmarks and religions houses of worship. It hosts the architectural jewels of the Bahai Lotus Temple, Humayuns Tomb and Akshardham Temple to name but a few. Picturesque wonders can also be found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, with Lucknow as its capital. It boasts the cities of Agras Taj Mahal, Varinasis scenic view along the river Ganges, and Mathura, the birthplace of the Lord Krishna.

Holi
TexT JOdy-Lan CastLe

Indias Harvest Festival Season

(c) Poras Chaudhary

Many themes and practices are repeated throughout the Indian festivals of this season. The core of most celebrations of this time is the end of winter and the beginning of spring, as people look forward to a plentiful harvest.
Holi, the Festival of Colours, India

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Itinerary India
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pAk IstAN

Amritsar Vrindavan

neW DeLhi Lucknow Mathura

Yasbant Negi/India Today Group/Getty Images

It Is customary to snack on sesame seeds, peanuts and popcorn and throw them Into the fIre whIle askIng god to banIsh all lazIness for the year ahead.
Parades are organised all over the century

INDIA
Bay of Bengal Arabian Sea

GettInG tHere and arOund

Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the easiest to fly to from most cities. From Delhi to Mathura, the nearest train station to Vrindavan, the ticket will cost from 100 rupees. From Mathura, it will be 20 minutes to Vrindavan by rickshaw. Trains run regularly between Delhi, Amritsar and Lucknow. For timetables and tickets, see www.makemytrip.com/railways/

Lohri
Lohri, or Punjabi New Year, symbolises the winter solstice and is believed to be the longest night of the year. Families and communities gather around bonfires for warmth during this colder season, telling stories, singing songs, and dancing traditionally. It is customary to snack on sesame seeds, peanuts and popcorn and throw them into the fire while asking God to banish all laziness for the year ahead. The energetic traditional dance, Bhangra, is performed to the upbeat and lively Punjabi drums, Dhol. As joyful children march around the neighborhood singing of the famous Dulla Bhatti, famous for his morals and acts of bravery, they are handed mouth-watering Lohri sweets. Four types of seed, including sesame, are doused in jiggery and heated. The result is the famous Gachak, a sweet which is eaten during Lohri. Another Lohri sweet is Rewri, a sesame-coated crunchy snack. These are best eaten with a hot masala tea. 26 Jan:

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13 Jan:

28 Jan:

basant panchami

repubLic Day paraDe

Republic Day is a national festival, celebrating the activation of Indias constitution, following independence from colonial rule. The specific date signifies the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1930. It is characterised by the grand Republic Day parade, in which military marches are followed by processions of colourful music, dance and acrobatics performances circle the cities. The most extravagant of the parades happens in Delhi, as the capital city of India, however every states capital and major city put one on too. The national dresses of all the states are showcased at the Delhi procession, as well as army, navy and air force marches.

As the celebration of the Hindu Goddess of Music, Art and Knowledge, Saraswati, Basant is characterised by vibrant colour, dance and kites. Though it is a Hindu festival, it is also celebrated by Sikhs, and coincides with the beginning of Spring. Amritsar, boasting the awe-inspiring Golden Temple, is one of the best places to celebrate the festival of Basant. The pristine white walls with intricately-designed arched windows and doorways, surround the glorious Golden Temple, which houses the beloved holy book. The baths which encircle the shrine ripple with the wind, adding to the places serenity. Multi-coloured paper shapes glide through the sky as children enjoy kite-flying, and fallen ones fill the public bath of the Golden Temple. Girls wear yellow, a colour reflected throughout the festival, and dance the traditional Punjabi Giddha. One fine example of the hospitality that Indians are famous for, is the Langar (free kitchen) served at Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) throughout the world. Langar is a part of the Sikhs belief in service to humanity, so the food is all vegetarian, and is meant for anybody who visits. If youre celebrating Basant Panchami in Amritsar, Katra Jaimal Singh Bazaar with its colourful, ageing buildings, the Old City and the Nehru Centre are the perfect places to find modern and traditional Indian clothes, shoes and snacks. 8 March:

hoLi

According to Hinduism, King Hiranyakashipu wanted to punish Prince Prahlad for loving God more than him, by throwing him into a burning fire. But Vishnu saved Prince Prahlad for his devotion to God. That is why the bonfire is also symbolic of Holi,

reflecting how good was favoured over evil. As with Lohri, a communal bonfire is important on the first night of the celebrations. Families gather around to pray and lay offerings, and coconuts are thrown into the heart of the fire so that when the embers have died down, the inner soft white but may be devoured. Holi, which can last up to a week long, is the only time of the year when it is permissible for anybody to throw coloured water on strangers and passersby. Once daylight comes, balloons are filled with red, blue and yellow water, ready to burst and paint people multicolored. The streets are filled with laughter, excitement and vibrant colour, as people shout Holi hai (Its Holi). Bright flowers left to soak the night before are one of the sources of colour, and primary-coloured powders can be mixed up to create the remaining colours of the rainbow. Playful children smear paint on eachothers faces, and fill buckets and water-pistols ready for their next victims. Those who are smart begin the day wearing clothes that they know will be stained. Holi can be enjoyed in any town or city in India. especially in sacred cities that have resonance for many Hindus as the birthplace of the Lord Krishna, Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh are interesting places to see the festival. They boast many temples in the memory of Krishna and Radha, whose love is reflected by the flirtatious pastimes entailed in this festival. In Mathura, rows of men poise opposite rows of women, ready to start playful mock sword fights. As they fight with wooden sticks, those standing by spray the opposite team with coloured water. A range of brightly decorated floats also make their way through the streets. Believers of all religions come to Vrindavan on pilgrimages, and it is especially popular with Hare Krishna worshippers. It goes without saying that anyone visiting Uttar Pradesh should also visit the grand Taj Mahal, with its beautiful symmetrical architecture and gardens stretching from each side. AGP

WHen tO GO
The end of Winter and coming of Spring festivals begin on the 13th January 2012 at the earliest, and continue in various locations until the end of Holi on the 9th March 2012.

aCCOmmOdatIOn
shubham Hotel, Vrindavan www.shubhamhotels.in Hotel City Heart, amritsar www.hotelsneargoldentempleamritsar.com P.r residency, amritsar http://hotelprresidency.com

FOOd
surjit (4 Nehru Centre City North, Amritsar) Kesar da dhaba (Passian Chowk Old City, Amritsar) yellow Chilli (B Block, Ranjit Ave District Shopping Centre, Amritsar - 0183 5005504)

mOney
The currency there is Indian rupees. The current exchange rate is USD1 = INR49.62.

VIsa
Nationals from all countries, apart from Nepal and Bhutan, require Indian visas. Please see here for further information www.immigrationindia.nic.in/index.htm and remember to apply for visas well in advance.

InFOrmatIOn
www.incredibleindia.org www.up-tourism.com

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