Fairs and Festivals of India

Festivals in India

India is such a diversified land that each Indian region has its own uniqueness. Round the year, people are seen merrymaking and frolicking in the ecstasies of festivals. The festivals in India are a reason to enjoy and celebrate some moments stolen from busy lives. The extravaganza of pomp and show in festivals is recent trend but otherwise, the festivals are a pregnant with social and religious importance.

Indian festivals bring people of various religions together on a common platform. The four major religions followed in India – Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity – have their own specific festivals. But you will find follower of one religion celebrating festivals of other religion. A Hindu celebrating Id and a Muslim rejoicing in Holi and Diwali is a common site in India.

The Indian festivals involve a lot many traditions, customs and rituals. The traditional values of India are reflected through the celebration of festivals. Preparations start long back the actual festival day. Children specially take interest during the time of festivals because this is the time when their schools give them off and they indulge in festivities.

Religious Festivals of India
The multi religion nation, India, sees people enjoying many festivals. Some of the major festivals that Indians enjoy are:
- Holi
- Diwali
- Dussera
- Rakshabandhan
- Janamashamti
- Shivaratri
- Makar Sankranti
- Id
- Christmas
- Easter

Tourist Festivals of India
The Indian Tourism Industry understands the importance of foreign travelers. It has taken adequate measures to ensure the comfort of the tourists. To attract more foreign tourists to India the Department of Indian Tourism and the State Tourism Department organize some tourist festivals. These festivals are the best time to explore the nuances of the region's culture, people, traditional ethos and social milieu.

You have an excellent opportunity to have a glimpse of the handicrafts, cuisines and costumes of the region you are enjoying the festival in. some of te major tourist festivals of India are:
- Desert Festival
- Elephant Festival
- Summer Festival
- Winter Festival
- Car Festival
- Kite Festival
- Marwar Festival
- Mewar Festival

Other Fairs and Festivals of India
Not only religious festivals but the fairs organized in India are also very famous. These fairs a part of Indian culture. Rajasthan is one such place where fairs and festivals have a social connotation as well. These fairs are meant for cattle trading, handicrafts exhibitions etc. These fairs give the villagers a golden chance to exhibit their adeptness, their promote their business. Some such fairs are:

- Pushkar fair
- Nagaur Fair
- Baneshwar Fair
- Shekhawati Fair
- Shri Mahavirji Fair

Come to India during the time of festival and you will see a different India rejoicing in sheer rapture.

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Indian Cuisine

Food habits in India are a bit different from that of rest of the world. In India, people are fond of eating and treating. Each occasion is marked with lot of feasting. Many people are so much involved in merrymaking through feasting that they do not hesitate to spend extravagantly for the event. Minus any exception, each region of India has its own specialty in terms of cuisine preparation, recipes, use of spices, use of condiments etc.
The lip smacking delicacies of Indian cuisine are a matter of perseverance and diligence. Use of spices add to the aroma of the the redolent dishes. Indian kitchens always ooze with that typical aroma of spices. The traditional way of cooking is now amalgamated with the modern ways and the offshoot of this is more unique and delicious food.

Vegetarian or non vegetarian, the Indian dishes have their own taste. The assortment of dishes and liberal use of spices with a different style of cooking is the key factor behind the uniqueness of Indian dishes. Indian cuisine is a reflection of Indian culture because the culture is major impetus behind the evolution of Indian food.

On one hand you can find regional variations in Indian food like:

- Mughlai
- Punjabi
- Kashmiri
- Avadhi
- Rajasthani
- Goan
- Marathi
- Konakani
- Parsi

and on the other you will find a similarity of ingredients and types of food like:

- Main course
- Deserts
- Breads
- Curries
- Snacks
- Beverages
- Spices
- Condiments

With due course of time Indian food habits have been changed. Various other cultures have influenced the Indian food preparation. The many schools of Indian food are a result of climatic and regional variations of India. However, the staple food in a Indian thali would comprise of:

- Dal
- Vegetable with gravy
- Vegetable without gravy
- Chapati (Wheat bread)
- Rice
- Curd
- Pickle
- Chutney
- Dessert

Visit India and taste the mouth watering delicacies and I assure that you will never forget that taste.

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Fashion Shows in India

The fashion industry is on its boom in India. The Indian fashion designers are making the nation proud of them. An international exposure to the fashion designers from India has made the world wide famous. Today, everyone knows the designers from India. In fact the International super models also know these designers well and so have started burning the ramp for them. The Divas and Hunks from abroad happily come to India and walk the ramp, mark their presence in Indian Fashion Industry.

The recent events of Fashion weeks have at least proved this, that now National and International models are taking these fashion events very seriously. Big names like Naomi Campbell from abroad and numerous Bollywood stars walk the ramp and create a sensation among the audience. These sensational stars cast a spell on the beholders.

The major fashion shows of India are covered on global basis. The Indian Fashion designers are now even for Hollywood stars. Isn't it an ushering of an new era in the Indian Fashion industry? The Indian Fashion Industry has got that due exposure and fame that it deserves. The giant names of designers are every now and then in news. Each designer organizes his or her own fashion shows. The very famous fashion designers from India are:

Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Abu Jani
Sandeep Khosla
Ritu Beri
Hemant Trivedi
JJ Vallaya
Maneesh Malhotra
Neeta Lula
Tarun Tahiliani
Rohit Bal
Vikram Phadnis
Nandita Mahtani
Rahul Reddy
Narendra Kumar Ahmed

The fashion shows of these designers are a spectacle for the fashion partisans. A wide of latest fashion trends can be witnesses in these fashion shows. Some of the major fashion events in India and abroad are:

Lakme India Fashion Week
Kolkata Fashion Week
L'Oreal Fashion Week
India International Garments Fair
Bridal Asia and Helsinki International Fashion Fair
National Garment Fair
Will India

These shows and events are a manifestation of the changing trends of Indian Fashion Industry.

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Indian Marriages

No event in Indian family is as big as marriage. Indian marriages are an affair of merrymaking and complete social responsibilities. Indian marriages are for every social requirement, family ties, passions, and monetary resources. Regarded as essential for everyone, Indian marriages are an institution that everyone is fascinated by. People give due importance to marriages in India.

Traditions in Hindu Marriages

The Hindu marriages in India are an affair of traditions and customs. Marriages are generally arranged by the older members of the family (the grandparents and in their absence the parents) where the prospective bride and groom formally meet each other in presence of their family members.
Attractions of Indian Marriages

Indian marriages are marked with great enthusiasm and feasting. The feasting and celebrations in an Indian marriage are the key attractions besides, there are many traditional customs that are preceded and followed by the main occasion. The functions held to commemorate the celebrations of marriage are:

a) Roka Ceremony
b) Godd Bharayi
c) Tilak
d) Mehandi
e) Varmala
f) Phere
g) Paani Grahan Ceremony
h) Vidaai
i) Muhn Dikhayi

All these functions have their own unique happiness where people enjoy and bless the would be couple.

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Dances of India

A Prelude to Indian Dances

The cultural heritage of India is very rich. Each state of India is distinct and so is its cultural legacy. India can boast of being the one among who have a special form of dancing. The grace and charm of Indian Classical Dance is inexplicable. The performance of these dances will take you to another world. The two dominant dance forms here are Folk Dances and Classical Dances. Where folk dances are more inclined and identified with the locales, the classical dances are associated with the temple culture and performed more or less as if to please and pray God and Goddess.

Classical Dances of India

The essence of these Classical Dances is aesthetic and spiritual. The cosmic element of these dances is affiliated with dance of life, myths, symbolism, mystic responses and philosophical explanations. The skillful dance performances are exceptionally remarkable. The distinct flavor of the dances is credited to the graceful body movements – which include eyes, neck , hands, - expressions both facial and eye, postures, jewelery, costumes.

In the history of Classical Dances dating back to about 2000 years, six main classical dances have evolved. Bharata's Natyashastra (Natya means Drama and Shastra means authoritative text) is considered to be the most important resource of describing guidelines and attributes of Indian Drama. The treatise offers two aspects of dance Nritta,the pure dance, and Nritya, the interpretative dance. Another bible of Indian dance is 'Abhinaya Darpanam' which gives the fundamental principles for every technique.

The Sangeet Natak Academy has bestowed the status of classical Dance on eight prominent dance forms:

1.Bharatnatyam of Tamil Nadu
2.Odissi of Orissa
3.Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh
4.Manipuri of Manipur
5.Mohiniattam of Kerala
6.Kathakali of Kerala
7.Kathak of North India
8.Sattriya of Assam

Out of these Bharatnatyam and Odissi religiously follow the principles laid down in Natya Shastra. A very important feature of the classical dances is use of mudras or hand gestures (sign language) used to tell a phenomena or concepts. The regional exclusivity and ethnic elements of the dances make them all the more charming.

Folk Dances in India

Folk dances of India are the backbone of the cultural aura. The variety and diversity of the cultural legacy is also dominant in the folk dances. The fascinating folk dances mark almost every occasion. A child birth, a festival, a wedding, any event does not go without these dance performances. Since a child's birth s/he is circumcised in the folk music. The folk dances are accompanied with various musical instruments. The folk dancers don vibrant costumes, elegant hair dos and ethnic jewelery and dance very rhythmically and gleefully to mark the occasion. The Folk dances of India are categorized into various regions like
Central India
Eastern
Northern
North Eastern
Southern
South western

Some of the famous folk dances of India are:

Bhangra, Gidda of Punjab
Ghoomar, Kalbelia of Rajasthan
Dandiya, Garba of Gujarat
Lavani of Maharashtra
Bihu of Assam
Chhau of Jharkhand
Jawara of Madhya Pradesh
Karma, Jatra and Paika of Bihar
Brita of West Bengal
Dalkhai, Goti Puas of Orisa
Dhumal of Jammu and Kashmir
Hikat of Himachal Pradesh

One has to come and experience for himself what the dance performances in India actually are. The status, the Indian dances, enjoy is well deserved.

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Traditional Embroideries in India

Indian dresses reflect the ethnicity of culture of India. The typical Indian attires will be found heavily embroidered and brocaded. The traditional embroideries of India are now fused with some modern fashion trends. As a result, the fashion world has very elegant ethnic Indian costumes. Each state of state has contributed in its own way to the traditional embroidery. Let us have a look at some of the famous embroideries of India:

Aribharat: It is traditional embroidery from Kutch which has a picturesque and ornament like quality. It takes its name from ari. As it was also used by the cobblers it became to be known as Mochibharat.

Bagh: The bagh is a result of phulkari. You will find bagh with green color as a base and geometric designs. The coarse cloth of cotton is made beautiful by the use of bagh stitch.

Banjara: Andhra Pradesh has contributed to this style of embroidery where Lambadas nomadic tribes use a fusion of appliqué with mirrors and beadwork. The crisscross stitches of red, yellow, white and black colored cloths makes it elegant.

Chikankari: In this blog itself I have spoken Chikankari – the famous form of embroidery from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. You will many kinds of stitches in the embroidery like murri, taipchi, shadow work, jaali, fanda etc. done on mainly cotton cloth.

Zari Work: The elegant zari work has now captured the fashion market where the fabrics of zari are much adored and preferred when it comes to traditional Indian dresses. You can have beautiful costumes like sarees, odhinis, lehanga cholis, bridal lehangas of zari work.

Kashida: Done in varied forms, Kashida is a type of embroidery that is typical to the Indian state of Bihar. The beautiful work enhances the elegance of the dress.

Kasuti: The varied themes and motifs ranges from geometric patterns to birds and animal images, blossoming trees and shrines of God etc. This form originally belongs to Dharwar region of Karnataka. You can have lovely handloom saris of this art with two techniques gavanti and murgi.

Kantha: Coming all the way from Bengal, Kantha is a kind of patchwork embroidery. A series of dotted lines appear on the cloth surface as small stitches are done on it. The fillings are done from the opposite side of the cloth by using longer floats.

Karchobi: You can have this beautiful work by raising the zari metallic thread and sewing it by flat stitches on a cotton padding. In India is mainly used for bridal dresses and formal costumes. Apart from this, you will also find cushions, curtains, tent hangings and chariot coverings.


Kathi: The gypsies of Gujarat have originated this form of embroidery. This rural art form is typical to the Kathi tribes of Gujarat. It is a kind of fusion of chain stitch, appliqué work further accentuated by mirror work. The main themes of this embroidery are Hindu scriptures.

Phulkari: As the name suggests, the embroidery is flowery in nature. This stitch is apparently a darning with countable stitches. One stitch missed, the whole pattern gets wrong. You will all kinds of motifs in Phulkari like animals, birds, flowers etc. Done by silk thread, the best of the Phulkaris are from Delhi, Hissar, Gurgaon, Karnal and Rohtak.

Pichwai: The most vibrant state of India, Rajasthan is a home to this stitch. The beautiful embroidery enhances the grace of simple cloth.

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Paintings in India

History of Indian Paintings
Indian arts and crafts have always been admired all over the world. Since ages, the tradition of paintings has been fostered in India. Indian artisans have proved their mastery in giving new meaning to the dull canvass, walls, cloths etc. The aesthetic quality of the paintings have made them world wide famous. The various styles and techniques with varied themes makes Indian paintings exquisite. The discoveries say that many patas have reference in Mudrakshaka. Even Vishnudharmottara too has principles of paintings.

Have you ever been to Bheemketa cave sin Madhya Pradesh, located in the central part of India? Here you will find some paintings and sketches of animals that date back to prehistoric times. Even the Harappan civilization have paintings in the form of seals. Later during the Gupta dynasty reign, the art of painting flourished too much. The period of 4 - 6th century A.D. is therefore called the Golden era for Indian arts.

Types of Indian Paintings
Indian arts are greatly influenced by the regional flavors. And so are Indian paintings. The regional variation in the paintings are no exception to it. The Indian paintings are either miniatures or murals.

Murals: The huge works of arts and embellishment done on walls that are solid. Examples of murals are present in Ajanta cave and Kailashnatha Temple.

Miniatures: Miniature paintings are executed on a piece of cloth or paper. The pioneer name in this tradition is of Pala kings from Bengal. The Mughal period gave new glories to the Indian miniatures. Further it was carried to Rajasthan and there it acquired some new schools like:

(a)Bundi
b) Kishangarh
(c)Jaipur
d) Mewar
e) Marwar

Even today Indian paintings are admired much by the connoisseurs. The contemporary artists have retained the aesthetic values of the Indian paintings and have skilfully adopted new techniques and themes.

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