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Vol. 3 Issue 8 March, 2015

Five Most PopularPilgrimageDestinations in India

Travellingwith Internet

March Festivalsaround the World

Five Must-visit Citiesfor ArchitecturalMarvels

Five Must-visit Citiesfor ArchitecturalMarvels

How to travel with cellular data efficiently

Editor-in-Chief :Manashree

Travel Writers :Prabha, Jeesha

ContributingPhotographers :Prakash, Marc

Sprengers

Website Counsellor :Pramathesh

Designer :Pranab

Manashree PrakashEditor-in-Chief

Luxury TravelWorld

Magazine

Travel does the traveller a world ofgood. Be it just a change of place

a few kilometres away or a change ofsurrounding in a different continentaltogether, traveling invigorates themind and soul. Some even travel tofaraway lands for spiritual

enlightenment. This issue of the magazine takes you toone such country – India. Read about the fascinatingFive Most Popular Pilgrimage Destinations in India.

Every city around the world has a signature style. Formany, the architecture screams the cities’ uniqueness.Bringing to you in our city section of the magazine, fivesuch cities which are must visits for their architecturalmarvels.

Connectivity has made the world a lot smaller for today’straveller. Sharing pictures, reaching out to friends on

social media and cloud access have allcontributed to an insatiable appetite forinternet usage for today’s traveller. Find

smart ways to appease your data needsin our feature article on Travelling withInternet.

Don’t forget to check out the regularsections of the e-zine!

Happy reading!

Vol. 3 Issue 8 March, 2015

Contents

Cover Story5

26City Guide 38 Happenings

Travelling withInternet

18FeatureFive Most Popular Pilgrimage

Destinations in India

April Festivalsaround the Globe

Five Must-visit Cities forArchitectural Marvels

44

World Luxury Travel Magazine

Introducing the MICE Directory bywww.worldluxurytourism.com (WLT)

To get listed, please send us the details of your MICEServices to [email protected]

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C o v e rStoryFive Most

PopularPilgrimageDestinationsin India

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India is renowned world over as a destinationfor spirituality. Nowhere can one find suchdiversity of faiths or places of worship. While itis common to find a shrine at almost everystreet in the country, there are some religiousdestinations in India which have been objectsof veneration for ages. Let us discover whatthey are.

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Kumbh Mela – The largest human gatheringon the planet

Places: Allahabad, Nasik, Haridwar, Ujjain

The Kumbh Mela is one of the mostincredible spectacles of mass faith on this

planet. Aeons back there was a tusslebetween the gods and demons for a jar ofnectar believed to confer immortality.During the fight, drops of nectar spilled tothe earth at four places- Allahabad, Hardwar,Ujjain and Nasik. A dip in the holy rivers atthese places is the focal point of thepilgrimage. The rivers are - The Ganges atHardwar, Sangam at Prayag, Godavari atNasik and Shipra at Ujjain. The most sacred

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site is Prayag(Allahabad), the area ofconfluence (sangam) ofthe three most sacred rivers– Ganga, Yamuna and the(mystical) Saraswati. This ritualdip is believed to wash away one’ssins and ensure salvation. The KumbhMela is held once every 3, 6, 12 and 144years.

A sea of saffron clad sadhus (ascetics) belonging to varioussects (including the famed unclad, fierce Naga sadhus),sadhus with matted hair, ash smeared bodies and sadhus

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performing incredible feats ofendurance can be seen at this festival.

The whole area is dotted with campshousing the pilgrims.

Why is it such a big deal?

The answer is a stunner! It isbelieved that the planetary

configuration, at theprescribed time of the

ritual bathing

invokes the highest cosmic energy. Thischarges the holy waters and the energyis absorbed by the pilgrims who bathe init. The powerful energies cleanse thespiritual consciousness of the pilgrimsand erase their karma! Thus thepilgrimage is a tremendous catharticcleansing of the mind and spirit.

Did you know: 120 million people visitedthe Maha Kumbh at Allahabad in 2013!

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Venkateswara Temple – Temple of Seven Hills

Place: Tirupati – Andhra Pradesh

The Balaji (or Venkateshwara) temple is located atop theTirumala Hills in Tirupati. It is the most visited and second

richest temple in India. Over four crore pilgrims visit thetemple annually. The shrine is dedicated to Lord

Venkateshwara or Vishnu. The purpose of thismanifestation was the salvation of mankind. According

to legend, Lord Balaji, during his earthly sojourn, fellin love with Princess Padmavati. To pay the bridal

price for his wedding, he took a huge loanfrom Lord Kubera (treasurer of the

gods). Kubera granted the loan

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on the condition that the Lord would notreturn to his celestial abode until the loanwas repaid. The temple commemoratesthe divine union, and to this day, devoteesoffer gold, silver and money at the templeto pay off the Lord’s debt. The temple isfamous for its delicious laddoos (Indianball-shaped sweet) which are offered tothe Lord and devotees.

What makes this the most visited templein the country?

The deity at the temple being‘svayambhu’ (self-manifested, not madeby a sculptor or installed by humanhands), it is highly revered. Lord Balaji isreputed to have performed innumerablemiracles as testified by millions ofdevotees.

Did you know: The gold plated tower-dome housing the main deity, is called‘ananda nilayam’ or abode of happiness!

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Vaishno Devi – The cave shrine ofGoddess Vaishnavi

Place: Katra – Jammu & Kashmir

Every year, around 80 lakh pilgrims headtowards the famous Vaishno Devi shrine,located in the Trikuta Mountain. Situatedat an altitude of 5200 ft., the temple isdedicated to Goddess Vaishnavi, thehuman manifestation of Goddess Durga.The idol is in the form of three natural

rock heads (pindies) and is housed ina 100 ft. cave with a narrow

entrance. The temple is openthroughout the year and people

trek up to the shrine from thebase village of Katra. The

12-km climb is

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challenging, especially inwinter when there issnowfall blocking the route.The pilgrimage can be doneon foot, horseback andhelicopter.

What makes it so special?

The Goddess here is themanifestation of thecombined spiritual powersof her three attributes –Goddess Kali, Lakshmi andSaraswati (representing hercreative, nourishing anddestructive powers). Theshrine is believed to bemiraculous and wishfulfilling. It is believed thatthe Goddess is actuallypresent here in the spiritualform and one can make thispilgrimage only when theyreceive a ‘call’ from thegoddess.

Did you know: GoddessVaishnavi was created outof the combined splendourof all the gods, forvanquishing DemonMahisasura.

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Sree Ayyappa Temple- Largest annualpilgrimage in the world

Place: Sabarimala, Kerala

This unique pilgrimage is dedicated to LordAyyappa. The temple is atop a hill (468m)in the Sahyadri Mountains in Sabarimala,Kerala. Annually 50 million pilgrims windtheir way through dense forests andmountains to climb the famed 18 templesteps to the sanctum sanctorum for aglimpse of Lord Ayyappa. The pilgrimsundergo a preparatory 41-day purificatory

penance. At this time they abstain fromalcohol, non-vegetarian food, haircuts,remain celibate, wear only black, do notwear footwear and maintain a spirituallifestyle. During the pilgrimage they carry‘irumudikettu’ (a bundle containing worshipmaterials) all the way to the top. Thepilgrimage season is from November toJanuary, to people of all faiths and to boththe sexes (barring women in their fertileperiod of life).

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What draws so manymillions here?

Makar Sankranti festivalis the highlight event here(mid-January). On thatday, when the Lord’sornaments are beingtaken to the temple, aneagle mysteriouslyappears, hovering till theornaments are takeninside, before it vanishes.A special and lone star isalso sighted at this time.Once the idol is deckedwith ornaments, the peakmoment arrives for whichall pilgrims wait. A divine

light appears on the hills opposite,flickers for a few seconds andvanishes. The air is charged withdevotion and the chants of‘Ayyappa’ reach a crescendo at thistime. It is impossible not to bemoved by a sense of divine presenceand the throbbing air of devotion atthis time. People report wishfulfilment and miracles but perhapsit is the sense of bliss and exaltationone experiences that draws millionsto undertake this arduous journey.

Did you know: Lord Ayyappa wasthe divine offspring of Lord Shivaand Lord Vishnu created to slayDemoness Mahishi!

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Harmandar Sahib – The Golden Temple

Place: Amritsar, Punjab

The Harmandar Sahib or the GoldenTemple is the most holy shrine of theSikhs. This gurudwara (Sikh temple) islocated in the middle of a beautifulsacred lake. It has four doors on all sidessymbolic of the openness of the templefor people of all faiths. Thirteen millionpeople visit this gurudwara annually. Thetop of the temple is covered with realgold, giving it its distinctive appearanceand name. The Guru Granth Sahib, theholy scripture of the Sikhs, is placed ona platform inside and is an object ofreverence.

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Why is it considered the holiestgurudwara?

The first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak, is said tohave meditated at this site, giving thetemple its sanctity. The Guru Granth Sahibhoused within contains the teachings ofseveral prominent saints. The beauty ofthe temple and the serenity it bestows onthe worshippers make it a popular placeof pilgrimage.

Did you know: Around 10,000 people arefed at the langar (free community dining)in the temple daily!

In search of inner peace

Whether it is for the fulfilment ofmundane desires or a deeper spiritual

quest, people have been heading to thesereligious sites for years. The list does notend here by any means. India has atreasure house of spiritual sites of variousreligions and they offer solace to thetroubled and guidance for those in searchof inner peace.

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Travellingwith Internet

Feature

How to travel with cellular data efficiently

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Travelling with internet comes with its own set of advantages anddrawbacks. In the age of smart phones and pocket internet,travellers are at crossroads while choosing a data plan that fitstheir requirement and budget. Cellular data is the elixir of moderntimes and doing away with it seems unlikely if not impossible formost globetrotters.

However globalisation has reported a new malady on the blocktermed as ‘mobile bill shock’ that seems to be victimising

unsuspecting international tourists in large numbers.If you are a jet setter and a cellular data junkie,

you might want to get a check

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list before youembark on your next holiday.Smart usage and an efficientmobile data plan often go a long wayto reduce the heartburn later. Here is acomprehensive guide to help you travelwith internet without drilling a hole in yourpocket.

Smart tips for using internet overseas:

Disable auto sync, updates and notifications – Thebasic and the most important thumb rule is toswitch off location services, auto sync, pushnotifications for apps and automatic updates whenyou are travelling. This will prevent the apps, news,weather, sports tickers etc. from eating into yourmobile data. Changing your email settings from“push” to “fetch” is another great option. That way

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you can choose when to fetch or download yourmessages rather than messages being continuously“pushed” to your device.

Unlock your handset – Get your phone unlocked fromyour operator or buy an already unlocked handset. Thiswill allow you to use a local SIM cards that you can buyat the airport after landing at your destination. Internetcharges as well as call costs are dramatically cheaperwhen you subscribe to local rates. Airports usually haveplenty of SIM cards outlets where you can buy and setup your mobile phone immediately after arriving. Keepyour Passport handy for identification.

Buy a cheap phone – You can rely on your smart phoneto use a local SIM exclusively to surf data at local rates.Buy another cheap phone to use your original SIM card

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if you do not want to miss out on important calls. However ifyou can give up on internet and do not mind switching off yournumber then only swapping your SIM card can solve the issue.

Turn off data roaming – Turn off data roaming when travellingabroad. Simply switching your phone off will not do the trickunless you disable data roaming. Mobile operators use localnetworks to give you access and in turn charge a higher sum. Ifyou are using a smart phone, consider enabling the “airplanemode”. You cannot make or receive calls and texts when inthis mode but can connect to Wi-Fi networks to transfer data.

Buy prepaid data – A prepaid data roaming pack often costsless than international data roaming though it will still be moreexpensive than what you pay domestically any day. Somecarriers offer monthly packs with pre-set data limit.

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Buy a data inclusive SIM card – Prepaid SIM cards with built in internetplans cost lower and prevent aspiralling bill. You may need to puta stop to video streaming orbrowsing YouTube since that aloneaccounts for high internetconsumption. The downside is ifyou have left over data at the endof the month, it usually does notget carried over.

Switch to Wi-Fi – Nowadays touristsswear by Wi-Fi hotspots to useunlimited data without the pocketpinch. Most of the hotels,restaurants, cafes, parks, buildings,malls, public spaces, railway stationsand airports provide free Wi-Fi. Youcan download or update yourfavourite apps, stream videos, surfendlessly, shares photos and files,browse YouTube, make or receivecalls, use Skype, WhatsApp and muchmore during your trip. You need notworry about voice and data chargesanymore. Some places might chargea fee and others may offer unlimitedmonthly usage everywhere for asmall sum. However most of thehotspots are readily available, free ofcost for the public.

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Set data limit – Whether you use aglobal or local network, aninternational pack or data roaming,you can always track your data usageto keep your bill in check. Find outhow much data you consume on aregular basis from your networkoperator and set your limitaccordingly. You can also revisepermissions and decide which appscan use data when you are overseas.

Use an optimum browser –Browsers like Opera Max beta orOpera Mini compress data and canreduce data traffic immenselyincluding video. The ‘saved pages’option preloads web pages andenables offline reading.

Use offline apps – Many of yourfavourite apps can be used offline,which also help to cut down on dataconsumption. Smart features canmake your important documentsand files accessible offline. Usefultravel apps that work offline such asWi-Fi finder help you find hotspotsnearby. Others let you to search fordirections, travel partners,restaurants, local attractions, hotels,flights, holiday packages and so on.

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Leave your phone at home – Last but notthe least, you may just leave your phone athome. This option is a bit harsh but notimpossible to do. Though this is not an idealsolution for business honchos, it works wellwith youngsters who cannot avoid thetemptation. You can depend on cyber cafesand hotel facilities for your internet usageand carry a modest phone around to makeor receive calls and texts.

Once you figure out whether your phonewill work internationally and opt for themost cost saving plan for voice and data withyour operator, you are ready to go mobile.Click and share photos on your favouritesocial network, connect with friends andfamily, document your travel adventuresand surf all you want without being plaguedby a sky high bill waiting to welcome youback home.

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Five Must-visit Cities

forArchitectural Marvels

CityGuide

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Just like our roots define and distinguish us from the rest of theworld, the architecture of a city gives it a character of its own.

You do not necessarily have to be a scholar of architectureenthusiast to admire the various masterpieces liberally sprinkledin different parts of the globe. These works of art reflect thecraftsmanship and sheer genius of gifted engineers.

Here is a rundown of some of the most splendid cities of theworld that are known for their architectural brilliance:

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Athens, Greece

Greek civilisation is believed to be one of the oldestin the world. The Ancient Greeks were political,religious and had great aesthetic sense. They werebuilders and architects in their own right. Theelaborate monuments they created and thestunning structures they erected often symbolisedtheir victories in wars or offered as odes to thevarious deities they worshipped. The temples,theatres, stadiums, domes, statues and publicbuildings stand to test the tide of time. Innovative,superior, refined and timeless, Greek architecturehas enthralled the entire world for ages.

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Athens beckons travellers who love touncover cultures, lifestyle and heritagethrough architectural explorations. Greekarchitecture is synonymous with templesand columns. The Doric, Ionic andCorinthian orders designed by AncientGreek architects can be found in most ofthe buildings scattered all over the city. The

Acropolis, Parthenon, and Temple ofPoseidon, Parthenon Temple of Athena andthe world famous ruins draw plenty oftourists every year.

Crowning Gems: Parthenon, Temple ofOlympian Zeus, Greek Parliament, andTemple of Hephaestus.

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Rome, Italy

The Romans improvised Greek andEtruscan architecture to create a newstyle of their own that was bothpractical and extraordinary. Thoughthe Greek legacy of architectureorders like the Corinthian is evidentin many Roman buildings, theyhowever invented new constructiontechniques, used new materials andcombined established techniqueswith creative design. This approachproduced a whole range ofarchitectural structures like thebasilica, triumphal arch, bridges,monumental aqueducts,amphitheatres, granary buildings,temples, domes, baths etc.

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Durability, utility and beautywere the dominantcharacteristics of Romanarchitecture. In fact architecturalstructures served two importantpurposes of ancient Romans – todisplay their wealth, power andgrandeur and to improve thequality of life of the citizens.Therefore they mastered the artof creating the dome, vault aswell as the use of concrete.When compared to the Greeks,the Roman Doric, Ionic andCorinthian Orders were moreslender and decorative. Bridges,aqueducts, public baths andsuperior quality roads weretypical to Romans. Theyestablished certain basicengineering prototypes .Theirinfluence can be seen inmonumental architecture,Byzantine and medieval Russianarchitecture as well as inRenaissance, Baroque andNeoclassical architecture aroundthe world.

Crowning Gems: RomanColosseum, Pantheon, TreviFountain, Piazza Navona, Arch ofTitus, St. Peter’s Basilica, and theRoman Forum.

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Barcelona, Spain

Anyone who has set foot in Barcelonahas probably been awe struck by thespectacular work and influence ofthe famous 19th century Catalanarchitect Antoni Gaudí. Taking cuesfrom modern Gothic and orientaltechniques, he transformedBarcelona into an architectural

paradise. In a city where the meresidewalks are decorative andbeautiful, it is obvious that thebuildings are mesmerising withimmense splendour and glory. Heis credited to have best capturedModernisme, or the Catalanmodernism movement in

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Barcelona that sought to bring to forefront thebrilliance of Catalan thought, art, literature andphilosophy.

Bright colours, predominance of curves overstraight lines, heavy decoration and detail,shapes and asymmetry, experimentation withmaterials like iron, stained glass, stone, tiledmosaic patterns and nature-inspired formsdistinguished Gaudi’s architecture from hiscontemporaries. His largest concentration ofceramic and stained-glass mosaics as well ashis undulating stonework and ironwork can befound in Barcelona. His masterpiece La SagradaFamilia remained unfinished when he passedaway but is expected to be completed by 2026.Other architects who have left their mark inthe city include Mies van der Rohe, JeanNouvel, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Josep Puigi Cadafalch etc. the Barcelona Design Fest is ahugely popular event in the city.

Crowning Gems: Park Güell, Casa Batlló, LaPedrera, Casa Vicens, Santa Maria del MarChurch, Torre Agbar.

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Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul pays tribute to its Byzantine and Ottoman heritagethrough its mesmerising architecture. The renowned HagiaSophia mosque is a beautiful example of a uniquearchitectural confluence - the Byzantine dome and colouredmosaics merge effortlessly with the Ottoman minarets andIslamic calligraphy. The Turkish hamams or public baths alsodeserve mention owing to their distinct features, utility andsheer beauty.

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Strategically located on both thecontinents of Europe and Asia,Istanbul has a diverse populationof Islamic, Christian and Jewishcitizens. As a melting pot ofculture, history and religion, ithas a quintessential appeal thatis reflected in its captivatingarchitecture. It is home to morethan 2,000 mosques, 100churches and 20 synagogues, anumber of palaces, hamams,European Baroque style and ArtNouveau mansions and castles,each of which is a wonder initself. The strong influence ofRoman, Byzantine, Latin andOttoman Empires can be easilywitnessed.

Crowning Gems: Sultan AhmetMosque (Blue Mosque), TopkapiPalace, Dolmabahce Palace,Cemberlitas Hamam, BasilicaCistern, Cagaloglu Hamam.

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Paris, France

Art and architecture go hand in hand in Paris. It is thecity of inspiration, variation and also that of transition.Some places go through periods of punctuatedequilibrium but not Paris. It has always revolved aroundthe theme of gradualism that is evident in the evolutionof its architecture. It is the convergence of Roman,medieval, renaissance, baroque, classical, neo-classical,empire, art nouveau, art deco, modern, post-modern andcontemporary architecture. However its architecturalhistory can be broadly divided into four time periodsnamely Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, and Classical.

A walk around the city will make you feel as if you areexploring a giant, never ending museum. Many of its

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palaces, squares, monuments, centres, pyramids,opera houses, galleries, cathedrals and towers standtill date as splendid testimonials to its rich culturalheritage.

Crowning Gems: Eiffel Tower, Musee d’Orsay, Mosqueede Paris, Cimetiere di Pere Lachaise, PromenadePlantee, The Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral.

Not only does architecture reflect the culture, heritage,influence and evolution of a region but also bestowsit with a quintessential charm that becomes anessential part of its existence. Find your way into theheart and soul of your favourite city as you delve deeplyinto its architectural relics and explore its variousattributes. Let the ancient building blocks be yourtrusted guide as you uncover the truths and myths thatsurround your place of interest.

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April FestivalsApril FestivalsApril FestivalsApril FestivalsApril Festivalsaround thearound thearound thearound thearound the

GlobeGlobeGlobeGlobeGlobe

Happenings

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Easter

Place: Worldwide

Dates: April 5, 2015

Just like spring, Easter iscelebrated for rebirth andrevival. The crucifixion ofChrist was followed by hisresurrection three dayslater. This glorious return iscelebrated by his followersworldwide as Easter. Thefestival marks the end of the40-day abstinence period ofLent. Easter also has itsroots in the pagan festival of‘Eostre’ dedicated to thegoddess of spring andfertility. In fact, the mostpopular symbol of Easter –the hare and the egg, were

symbols of the Goddess Eastre! Other popularsymbols include hot cross buns and whitelilies. Easter Sunday service sees high rates ofattendance world over. This is a time forcelebration, Easter parties and games,exchanging gifts, putting up colourful lanterns.

Trivia: The Holy Week leading up to Easterbegins with Palm Sunday and onto Maundy,Thursday, Good Friday and finally Easter!

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Baisakhi

Place: April 14, 2015

Dates: Punjab, India

The colourful, lively festival of Baisakhi is aharvest festival and is celebrated as theNew Year Day in Punjab. It marks thereadiness of the winter crop for harvestingand is a joyous occasion. It has a religioussignificance too, being the founding day ofthe Khalsa Panth by the tenth Sikh guru,Guru Gobind Singh. This laid thefoundation for the Sikh community. A visitto the gurudwara, participating in religioussongs, discourses, processions and eating

‘karah prasad’ at the langar (freecommunity kitchen) is an integral part ofthe celebrations. The exuberant spirit ofPunjab spills over in the lively, foot tappingGiddah and Bhangra dances. Dressed inriotous colours, the dancers mesmerisewith their joyous, rhythmic performances.

Trivia: New Year festival is celebrated underdifferent names in the various states of Indiaaround this time!

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World Ski & Snowboard Festival

Place: Whistler, Canada

Dates: April 10 – 19, 2015

Put together a multi-faceted show of dance,music, winter sports and much more againstthe background of snow and you have theSki & Snowboard Festival of Whistler. This10-day event and fun-filled festival featuresa whole lot of shows – winter sports,outdoor concert shows, film and fashionshows, photography and dance events anda variety of family activities. For winterthrills, catch up with skiing, snowboardingas a participant or spectator. Musical events

to watch out for include the free outdoorconcerts, Silent Disco and The End. If

the arts entice you, catch the Stateof the Art, The Filmmaker

Showdown and Filmmaker

Screenings, Best of the Fest or the ProPhotographer Showdown. The not to bemissed sports events include the ShredShow, the Demo Park and the World SkiingInvitational featuring some thrillingstopping action in the Big Air, Slopestyle andthe Halfpipe and Superhit.

Trivia: The friendly village of Whistler is agreat place for après-ski with greatrestaurants, nightlife and shopping!

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CoachellaValley Music &Arts Festival

Place:California, USA

Dates: April 10 – 12and 17 – 19, 2015

The hot desert air of Indio does not deterart and music lovers from gathering in theCoachella Valley every April to enjoy theMusic & Arts Festival held here. The three-day festival, organised by Goldenvoice andheld in the Empire Polo Club, is spread overtwo weekends. Rock, hip hop, indie,electronic dance music, the entire gamutis covered in this prestigious music festival.The stages across the grounds resoundwith live bands and concerts. The arts partof the festival is dedicated to installation

art and sculpture. The sculptures andinteractive art pieces are scattered acrossthe grounds and provide a visual feast forthe visitors. Camping on the festival site isalso extremely popular. Legendary nameshave featured in the past shows and thisyear’s line-up too includes names like AC/DC, Drake and Jack White.

Trivia: The general admission tickets for thefestival this year were sold out withintwenty minutes!

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Hana Matsuri

Place: Japan

Dates: April 8, 2015

This beautiful floral festival celebrates thebirthday of Lord Buddha. When Buddhawas born in the Lumbini Gardens, it isbelieved that nature burst into celebrationwith blooming of flowers and singing ofbirds and rain fell from the heavens. Theevent is symbolically captured in thenativity celebrations. Beautiful floralshrines (hanamido) are built denoting the

Lumbini gardens and images of babyBuddha are kept in it. The statue is rituallybathed in amacha (sweet tea), and sakura(cherry flowers) are offered. Lovelyprocessions of children carrying flowers,featuring small portable shrines andtraditional dance and music also form partof the festival.

Trivia: Buddha’s mother dreamt of a whiteelephant entering her womb before hisbirth, indicating that a divine child wouldbe born to her!

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Fiesta San Antonio

Place: Texas, USA

Dates: April 16 – 26, 2015

In 1891, a parade took place in honour ofthe war heroes of the Alamo and San Jacintobattles. Women decorated carriages andprams with flowers, and threw flowers ateach other. Today that event is one of thegreatest festivals in the US. It is an elevenday festival now with over a hundred eventsshowcasing San Antonio’s culture and

heritage and attracting around 3.5 millionvisitors. Colourful parades, dance,

music, fashion, food and every aspectof culture is on display here. The

festival is vivid and colourfulwith the costumes and

flowers competing

in catching the eye. People wear fiestamedals, break confetti filled eggshells overeach other’s heads and contribute to themerriment. The main events to catch are –The Battle of the Flowers Parade, the FiestaFlambeau Parade and the Oyster Bake.

Trivia: The Battle of Flowers Parade isproduced entirely by women, allvolunteers!

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Texas SandFest

Place: Texas, USA

Dates: April 24 – 26,2015

Held in the lovely PortAransas Beach, this is asand sculpture contestevent. Splendid worksof sand sculpture areon display here withmaster sculptors,amateurs and evenchildren, all formingpart of the event.Incredible works ofsand art ranging fromsmall to life size enthralthe visitors. There area lot of familyactivities, live music,games and sandsculpting lessons toenjoy as well.

Trivia: This is a non-profit event withproceeds going to localcharities andscholarships!

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