Tuesday 9 August 2016

Top 6 Famous Traditional Festivals in Myanmar

Myanmar is a Land of Traditional Festivals. There is no single month that does not have a festival all the year round. Traditional Festivals are for merry-making, for preserving traditions, for religious observance, for competition and for commerce. Myanmar life and custom are so inextricably bound up with religion that no account would be complete without a brief description of the principal Myanmar Traditional Festivals.Myanmar is a country featuring many fascinating festivals. If you have the opportunity to travel to this country, you should experience at least one out of five most unusual festivals in Myanmar to learn more about the people and their lives.                    
         
Waso full moon festival

The traditional festival begins on the full moon of April in Myanmar calendar (July), with the duration of 15 days. This is the sacred Buddhist festival because this period is known as the first time the Buddha preached sermons after his enlightenment. This is also the time marking the beginning of the fasting month of Buddhism. The monks are not allowed to go out of the monastery at night but still go out for alms in daytime during the rainy season.  

Kason Festival

To honour Buddha’s birthday, every May sees the country acknowledge this auspicious event with an alternative water-pouring ceremony. This time, the focus of the occasion is the sacred Bodhi Tree, under which Buddha gained enlightenment whilst meditating. During the Myanmar river cruises we can either arrange for you to follow the processions of pilgrims to join in the ritual that ensures these precious fig trees do not succumb to drought or pour scented water in one of the country’s magnificent pagoda complexes.

Thingyan Festival

This Buddhist festival is usually celebrated from 13-16 April over a period of four to five days, leading towards the Myanmar New Year celebration. Water-throwing from any shape or form of vessel or device that delivers water is the distinguishing feature of this festival. Thingyan is comparable to other New Year festivities in Theravada Buddhism.

Kachin Manaw Festival 

How does joining a line of people dressed in their best costumes and dancing a spiritual dance around a totem-like pole sound? At the same time, be in awe at the beautiful traditional costumes and the colorful, traditional Manaw poles decorated in Kachin motifs. This is exactly what happens on the 10th of January in Myitkyina and Putao of Kachin state.

Wagaung Festival 

Held between July and August, Wagaung is a month for alms-giving. Lots are drawn and monks will receive whatever bowl his lot falls. Each donor also draws lots and the lucky donor often receives a sum of money. The winner is overjoyed with his luck and believes he is given another chance to do good deeds of merit. So, he spends his money for yet another alms-giving ceremony.

Water Festival

This is one of the most famous and vibrant festivals of Burma. During the festival, all the countrymen abandon their work bring their nation to a standstill. Water festival is seen as an indication of washing away of sins while welcoming the New Year with a fresh energy. During the season, people also meet each other, visit pagodas, and pay homage to monks.

Monday 8 February 2016

The Most Famous Temple in Madhya Pradesh

Temples in Madhya Pradesh are very famous by virtue of their historical prominence. The Khajuraho temple for instance in Madhya Pradesh is so famous that people from different parts of the world visit this temple at least once in their life time to get enthralled by the very ancient erotic sculptures found on its walls.

Among many Temples in Madhya Pradesh, the Sun Temple Madhya Pradesh, Kalbhairav Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Kamadgiri Temple and Gopal Mandir are the famous Hindu temples in Madhya Pradesh and draw many devotees from India.            
                           
Mahakaleshwar Temple

Mahakaleshwar temple is the most famous temple of Lord Shiva in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Mahakaleshawar temple is famous for Mahakaleshawar Jyotirling, it is one of the most famous jyotirling among all the 12. Mahakaleshwar temple is considered to be one of the most holiest temple located near the Rudra sagar Jhil(lake). Temple is built up inthe bhumija style of architecture.

Devi Jagadambi Temple

Devi Jagadambi Temple is also known as Jagadambika Temple or Devi Jagadambika temple. It is a cluster of approximately 25 religious places of worship located at Khajuraho, which is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Trimbakeshwar Temple

Trimbakeshwar About 28 km away from the city of Nasik, the Trambakeshwar temple is a Hindu paradise in Trimbak of Nashik District. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, as many other holy pilgrimage points of India, Trambakeshwar is one of 12 sacred Jyotirlingams of Shiva. The temple actually is located at the source of the revered Godavari River which is worshipped by large group of Hindu pilgrims in India. A number of banks of this river are considered sacred bathing places for the pilgrims.

Siddhavat Temple

Siddhvat Temple is one of the temples in Ujjain, where the activities related to funeral and serenity of their ancestors are executed. The opening time of temple is 4 a.m. in the morning and therefore visitors have to wait in line for the vision of God from around 2-3 hours ago the opening time.

Teli Ka Mandir 

Teli Ka Mandir is an Architecture splendor which is located in Gwalior. This is the tallest and most impressive temple within the precincts of the Gwalior Fort. This particular Rajput Temple is an amalgam of the northern and southern architectural styles of India, although many opine that it is closer in design to the temples of Orissa than the South.

Thursday 28 January 2016

Top 5 Modern Architectural Wonders of India

India is a land of unlimited Architectural wonders here we would talk about “The five Wonders of India,” which are worth a visit. Among these wonders, four are considered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These Architectural  wonders include the majestic architectural structures that attract tourists from all over the world.

India is a land of ancient civilization. The excellence in design and architecture can concluded by various art forms of forts and palaces constructed round the country. Here is list of such natural and architectural wonders of India.                
                                                 
Sun temple Konark, Odisha

This incomplete work of Konark, tells the saga of India’s rich heritage, devotion and extreme architectural marvel. The uniqueness’s of this architectural treasure are the beautiful and ornamental inscriptions covering the entire temple, build on the lines of a chariot with 7 horses and 24 chariot wheels along with a 52 ton magnet placed to create the peak of the main temple will leave you wondering how they ever built it.

Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh

This grandest monumental delight is an epitome of eternal love and beauty. The exquisite work of Islamic architecture has mesmerized billions of hearts and is considered as one of the world’s finest architectural treasure. This alluring structure shines magnificently like dream in the backdrop of the serene Yamuna.

Humayun’s Tomb

Located in New Delhi, Humayun’s Tomb was built under the inspection and commission provided by Humayun’s first wife, Baga Begum (Also known as Haji Begum).

Golden Temple

Most sacred place of worship for the Sikhs, located in Amritsar, Punjab. Also called Harmandir Sahib or Court of the Lord. The foundation of the Golden Temple was laid down by a Muslim saint Mian Mir.
It is mostly made out of marble but it is gold plated with real gold which covers most of the outside portion. The water that surrounds the Golden Temple is known as the Amrit Sarovar (Pool of Nectar) and the water of the pool is said to have special properties.

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

The temples at Khajuraho are known for their integration of sculpture and architecture, with structures adorned with detailed relief designs and scenes on their facades depiciting the four Hindu tenets of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

Sunday 24 January 2016

Most Important National Festival of Kerala

Festivals in Kerala are always celebrated with much pomp and show. The festive seasons display the best of Kerala’s rich culture and heritage. You will not want to miss the vibrant colours, exotic fragrances, scintillating music, and century long traditions that set each festival apart from the other.

Kerala hosts almost all Hindu, Christian and Muslim festivals with the same enthusiasm and charm. Festivals of Kerala are famous also because they involve various aspects of day to day life such as temple, boat, bamboo etc.                        
           
Onam

Onam, the national festival of Kerala, is undoubtedly the king of festivals in the state. It is the largest ted day harvest festival celebrated in the month of Chingam in Malayalam Calendar and August-September in English Calendar. There is an old legend associated with Onam. Once a generous king named Mahabali ruled Kerala and perfect harmony and prosperity prevailed during his reign.

Vishu

Among the various Hindu festivals in Kerala, Vishu occupies a unique position in more than one respect. As symbol of the unostentatious Malayali, Vishu is free from the usual pomp and show and merry-making associated with other festivities.

Kerala Boat Festivals

Kerala is famous for its backwater rides, the main highlights of the state. The beautiful river, lakes and Arabian Sea are all the part of these backwater rides, where you can also visualise the boat festivals of Kerala. Boat Festival is enhanced with different sizes of the boats, where you can see the team spirit among participants, great enthusiasm among the riders and people cheering each other all around the place.

Easter

Easter is celebrated worldwide to signify the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the Christians in Kerala account for about 23% of the state’s population, Easter is observed with the same fervour as in the west and is marked by four distinct periods.

Thrissur Pooram

Kerala is land of temples and temple festivals. If you visit Kerala during the period of January to April, you can watch numerous festivals related to famous temples throughout the state. Thrissur pooram is the most famous among them. This wonderful and vibrant festival, celebrated in the Malaylam month of Medam or generally in April or May, attract even foreign tourists at Vadakkumnathan Temple in Thrissur, Kerala.