Indian Festivals: Festivals in March

As all the harvest festivals recede and the Indian landscape is touched by clearer weather, it’s time for some colour and fun in the month of March. The famous festival of colours, Holi, brings with it wide scale celebrations across the country.

Holi-colors

Here are some of the places that you must keep in mind while planning a trip to India in March. 

Holi 

Almost all North Indian cities burst in colour and celebrations in the month of March, with the ‘festival of colour’, Holi. Dry and wet colours are thrown with the aid of balloons and sprinklers on each other. This joyous festival is a ‘no bar’ day when everyone’s threshold is challenged or rather soaked in colour. ‘Bhaang’, the wet residue of cannabis is used in drinks and foods to add more fun. The Holi of Varanasi, Barsana and Mathura are the most popular.

Holi-Re-Rasiya

Jaipur Elephant Festival 

You can safely spend a fair amount of time in Rajasthan in the month of March. Around the same time as Holi, Jaipur also hosts a grand festival which displays its royal heritage in the form of an ‘elephant festival’. Splendid parades with elaborately decorated elephants and even tug of war games make for quite an entertaining spectacle for visitors.

Rangilo-Hathi-in-Jaipur

Paripally Gajmela 

A month for elephants, this festival is held at the Paripally Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakaali Temple around an hour’s drive from Trivandrum in Kerala. 50 elephants are richly decorated and then paraded to make offerings at the temple. A photographer’s delight, it is one of the lesser known festivals to capture. It is likely to have more local participation over the well advertised festivals of Kerala which attract more tourists.

Elephants-decoration-Kerala

Thirunakkara Arattu 

Another elephant oriented festival in the month of March is celebrated in Kottayam district of Kerala. The 10 day Thirunakkara Arattu is held in the honour of the local temple. The procession of elephants is complemented by folk dances such as the Mayilattom (peacock dance) in the temple compound. 

Gajmela-in-Kerala

The International Yoga Festival 

India is the Yoga Mecca of the world and what could be better if you have an international festival which is a congregation of all yoga lovers in one place. The festival is held in the spiritual capital of the India, Rishikesh and has attendance from over 30 countries. Discussions, camps, cooking classes and a charity fundraiser are part of the event apart from classes for all the participants. 

Yoga-at-River-Ganges-Rishikesh

Other festivals not to miss this month …

Some of the other festivals to look out for are the Mewar and Gangaur Festivals of Rajasthan. Another Kabir related festival of Sufi music starts in February but spills into March in the state. You can think of this month as a Rajasthan focused visit to India. 

Camel-Jaipur-Streets

Rajasthan Tourism: Jaisalmer Desert Festival 2013

Jaisalmer is probably the only city in the Great Indian Desert that brings out to the world the beauty of the desert life like no other. The Golden City of India, the gold sand stone fortress of the city “Sonar Quila” atop the Trikuta Hills has mesmerized many a visitors to this land who have been enchanted by the sites and sees of this illustrious city.

Sonar Quila (Golden Fort)-from sunset point-Jaisalmer

Built in the 12th century by Maharawal Jaisal, it was strategically built on the ancient desert caravan routes to Central Asia and North Africa, which allowed this bastion of the Bhati clan of the Rajputs to prosper for the coming many generations.

Desert Camp-Preparation-for-Jaisalmer-Desert-Festival

Jaisalmer as a tourist destination has a lot to offer to its visitors, there are so many places to explore in this medieval era city that has a great relevance in the Rajputana history. In accordance with its image of being the representative of the desert life to the world, Jaisalmer hosts the Jaisalmer Desert Festival from the 23rd-25th of February 2013 to celebrate the desert way of life.

Participants-of-Mr-Desert-Competition

The event sees the coming together of everything the desert life of Rajasthan has to offer to the many tourists that come at its door. The festival is a major attraction among the foreigners who just can’t get enough of Rajasthan.

Camel-Race-Jaisalmer Desert Festival

The festivals brings together folk artists from around Rajasthan to perform the stories of the land displaying in their acts the beauty of this land, other attractions include performances by snake charmers, puppet artists and folk singers. There are competitions like turban-tying, longest moustache and Mr. Desert. Camel involved competitions include Camel race, Camel polo and Camel decoration.

Cultural-Dance-Jaisalmer Desert-Festival

The event till has been a blockbuster among tourist from all parts of the world and this time around also the event will see high turnout.

Camel Polo Match-Jaisalmer-Desert-Festival

Harvest festivals of Indian states

Harvest festivals of Indian states occurs at the time of main harvest of a the region and people. The 28 states of India celebrated its own Harvest festival at various times throughout the year. Major Harvest festivals in India are Makara Sankranti which is also known as Pongal,Uttarayana,Lohri,Poush Parbon and Bhogali Bihu.

Makara Sankranti in January

Makara Sankranti is one of the major Indian Harvest festival celebrated with different name and innumerable way due to the diversity of culture in India. Festival of Makar Sankranti is most auspicious days for Hindus and take a dip in holy places like Ganga Sagar and Prayag. Makara Sankranti is known as Pongal,Uttarayana,Lohri,Khichdi,Shishur Saenkraat and Maagh Bihu, major kite festival also held at this day in Gujarat. Kumbh Mela 2013 will be the biggest attraction of Indian during the festival of Makara Sankranti, schedule to held in Allahabad at the confluence of the holiest Ganga and Yamuna rivers.

Makara-Sankranti-Festival

Holi in February–March

The festival of colors is celebrated between the February and March month and known as Phagwah as well. Holi has many significance and one of them is changing of season and beginning of the new spring season. Its a bid adieu to winter and welcome the season of spring with enjoyment and pray for good harvests. The religious purpose of Holi is Holika Dahan and Rangapanchami,the Braj region is famous for its traditional Lathmar Holi,a major tourist attraction in India.

Holi-re-rasiya-festival

Baisakhi in April

Baisakhi or Vaisakhi is the major festival celebrated across the north region of India, especially in the Punjab state. Vaisakhi is celebrated as the Indian thanksgiving day by farmers of Punjab, praying for future prosperity and thanking God for harvest. It also has religious significance for the Sikhs community as the foundation of the Panth Khalsa on this day by the Guru Gobind Singh.

Baisakhi-festival

Rongali Bihu in April

Bihu is the national festival of Assam celebrate three time in the year, Maagh in January, Bohaag in April and Kaati in October. Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu is the major among the other and most popular Bihu festival celebrated as the Assamese New Year in mid April along with Spring season. The seven days festival is celebrated with the feeling of joy,worship,traditional cuisines and folk dance.

Bihu-Festival-Assam

Hareli Festival in July-August

Hareli is one of the major harvest festival of tribal Chhattisgarh state,celebrate during the holy month of Sawan or in the month of monsoon (July-August). During the Hareli festival of Chhattisgarh tribes worshipping farm equipment, cows and pray for good crops along with many social and cultural events. Cher-Chera is another most popular harvest festival of Chhattisgarh celebrated with traditional folk songs and dance like raut nacha,Panthi,Gaur Madiya and Karma in the tribal region of state.

Hareli-Festival

Onam in August–September

Onam festival is the grand carnival of Kerala state, celebrated during the month of Chingam (August–September). The ancient festival has a significance of homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali and harvest of rice and rain flowers in Kerala. The ten day festival is celebrated with various festivities such as flower carpets,Vallamkali,Puli Kali and Kaikottikkali.

Onam-dance-in-kerala

Nuakhai in August–September

Nuakhai also known as Nabanna is the Harvesting Festival of Orissa celebrated in the month of August–September. The harvest festival Nuakhai is mostly celebrated in the western region of Orissa and a major social festival of Kosal.

Nuakhai-Festival

Diwali Festival in October-November

The festival of lights is also celebrated as Harvest Festival, as it occurs at the end of a cropping season or the last harvest of the year before winter. Diwali is the most popular festival in India, celebrate the triumph of good over evil, in the form of lighting up of houses, burning the candles and set off fireworks.

Diwali-Festival

Kut Festival in November

Kut festival is a major Post Harvest festival celebrate in the month of November by Kuki-Chin tribes. The annual festival is a leading festivals of Manipur state and does not restricted by community any more, various cultural events are Organized to celebrate the kut festival such as folk dances,traditional dances and songs along with Miss Kut contest. Another harvest festival of Manipur is Chumpha Festival,celebrated by the Tanghul Nagas tribes of the region.

Kut-festival

Tokhu Emong in November

The festival of Tokhu Emong is celebrate by the tribes of Lotha nagas in the first week of November. Tokhu Emong is a popular post harvest festival enjoy with tribal folk dances and old folk songs and held for 9 days.Other harvest festival of the Indian states includes Navanna in West Bengal,Wangala in Meghalaya,Pawl Kut of Mizoram and most famous Garia Puja of Tripura.

Tokhu-Emong-festival

Indian Festivals: Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganeshotsav, The most popular Hindu festival in India,celebrated on the occasion of birthday of Lord Ganesha, Son of Great God Lord Shiva and Goddess Maa Parvati. Lord Ganesha is the superior to all the Hindu gods and known as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated across all over India mainly in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. The festival generally falls between 19 August to 15 September and celebrated for 10 days by worshiping the models of Lord  Ganesha. A sweet dish called modak is the most famous dish made during the festival of Ganesha.

Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra

Ganesh Chaturthi is the major festival of Indian state Maharashtra,The birthday of Lord Ganesha is celebrated in each and every house of Maharashtra with tradition and rituals. Big idols of Lord Ganesha are placed in every society and worship twice in a day by offering Modak and other traditional dishes. Mumbai is well known for its big Idols of Lord Ganesha and Girgaum Chowpatty as the famous immersion place.

Lalbagh-Cha-Raja

Ganesh Chaturthi In Andhra Pradesh

Ganesh Chaturthi is known as Vinayaka Chtaturthi in the state of Andhra Pradesh and celebrated as most ancient festival. Biggest and Tallest idols of the elephant-headed God are install in different parts of city, Khairathabad Ganesha Idol is one of the most famous among all.

Hyderabadi-Ganeshji

Ganesh Chaturthi in Karnataka

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with prayers to the mother of Lord Ganesha by Gowri Puja, The married women worship the Goddess Gowri for a long lasting marriage life and marital bliss. Lord Ganesha festival celebration goes on for three days five, seven or ten days, Somewhere, it is stretched to twenty one days. Dodda Ganesha Temple of Bangalore is the most famous temple of Lord Ganesha with a 18 ft tall in height and 16 ft wide Ganesha idol.

Ganeshji-from-Bangalore

Ganesh Chaturthi in Goa

The Lord Ganesha festival is celebrated across all over Goa, Goa is started celebrating it as an Eco-friendly Ganesh festival by using the biodegradable materials to create Ganesha idols. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the biggest festival for the Konkanis people in Goa. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are also celebrates the festival of Lord Ganesha.

Goan-Ganesha

Ganesh Chaturthi Outside India

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated outside India as well by the migrant Hindu people or the Indians residing in the countries. In UK Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated by Gujarati and in USA by the south Indian people. It is also celebrated by the Hindus of Canada, Mauritius,Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma and Fiji. Celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi is very much popular in the above countries and government of some of these countries has declared a public holiday for that day.

Ganesh-Chaturthi-in-USA

Eco Friendly Ganesha Festival

As per the Hindu tradition On the 11th day, the statue is taken to be immersed into a lakes, river and the sea, due to the immersion of these idols made of Plaster of Paris,chemical paints heavy metals and other non degradable substances water of these reservoir, environment and the aqua wildlife face serious impact. These are the few solutions proposed by the NGO’s and governmental bodies to celebrate Eco-Friendly Ganesha Festival.

User traditional natural clay idols.

• Immerse them in household water bodies or in a bucket.
• A permanent idol and used every year.
• Reuse of last year idols by repaint.
• Ban on the immersion of Non degradable idols into lakes and rivers.
• Use the biodegradable materials to create Ganesha idols.
• Immerse the idols into man made or artificial tanks of water.

Indian Festivals: Festivals in February

Even as the New Year vigour recedes with the advent of the second month of the year, nothing keeps India from celebrating. February brings in pleasant weather and lots of festivities with it in almost all regions through the country!

1. Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Mumbai

Many international tourists arrive in Mumbai due to its connectivity with international destinations. Landing in February in India, gives you an opportunity to plunge in right into the myriad culture of the country but in an urban set up. The Kala Ghoda region of suburban Mumbai transforms into an energetic venue for various stall, photography exhibitions, theatre, street food stalls and artefacts from all over. It might be overwhelming but also gives a fine picture of modern India embracing its culture and trying to include it in their lives.

Kala-Ghoda-Art-Festival-Bombay

2. Taj Mahotsav, Agra

For many first timers, the Golden triangle circuit is a must do, thus touching the 3 main culture heavy cities of India – Delhi, Jaipur and home to one of the wonders of the world, Taj Mahal, Agra. If travelling in February, you can attend the Taj Mahotsav –a 10 day carnival to celebrate the brilliance of this monumental wonder! The festival is organised by the U.P Tourism and showcases the unique arts, crafts, dances and music of the state.

Taj-Mahotsav-Festival

3. Konark Dance and Music Festival

The exquisite sun temples of Konark become the magnificent backdrop to the annual Dance and Music Festival, every year. Celebrated performers of the country congregate for a period of days to give the public an intimate exposure to classical forms like Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Kathak and Chau Dance. One can also hear may live concerts in an open air auditorium.

Konark-Dance-Festival

4. Goa Carnival

The otherwise laid back state of Goa comes alive in February with the Goa Carnival celebrated in various destinations. It marks the period of festivity before people start fasting for Lent. Enjoy the indigenous floats and parades through the towns, making wonderful photo opportunities. Don’t be afraid to shake a leg with the locals.

Goa Carnival - Popular Activity

5. Delhi Garden Festival

The annual garden festival of Delhi has a legacy of over 7 years. Apart from showcasing a large variety of different flowers, this becomes a reason for the city to step out and enjoy the natural beauty around India. The President’s famous gardens are also opened to public during this period.

Garden Festivals - Delhi

6. Khajurao Dance Festival

Khajurao defines Indian architecture with its exquisite representation of the culture in intricate sculptures. These beautiful temples form the backdrop to the annual dance festival, which is regarded as one of the most coveted venues for established artistes in India. Get a quick introduction the Indian cultural scene if you decide to make this part of the itinerary.

Khajuraho-Dance-Festival

7. Maha Shivaratri 

Shivaratri is considered one of the major religious festivals of the country is celebrated to commemorate Lord Shiva. One of the key destinations to watch all the fervour is Varanasi, which is considered to be the Lord’s haven. Temples are adorned with flowers and offerings and prayers go on till wee hours of the morning. With Shiva’s own approval on ‘bhaang’ (marijuana based concoction), the city sways in joy with careless abandon!

Shivaratri-festivals-decoration

8. Jaisalmer Desert Festival 

Rajasthan is replete with festivals giving a peek inside local life to tourists. The Jaisalmer festival is one of the famous ones, which gives patronage to Rajasthani art forms, showcasing camels and bringing the diversity of the state under one platform. Also, this is a great season to visit Rajasthan when the harsh winter has receded and pleasant weather beckons.

Jaisalmer-Desert-Festival

Please note that all festival dates are subject to change, so check the one you are interested in before visiting.

Indian Festivals: Festivals in January

There is nothing better than starting the year with a great holiday to one of the most exotic destinations of the world. If you are travelling to India in January, ensure that you check the Indian festival calendar to catch some of these exciting events.

Here are some of the Indian festivals and events in January to check out:

The Jaipur Literature Festival

There is no better way to ring in the New Year with some intellectual company! Asia’s largest Literature festival invites authors and thinkers of international repute to present their work and interact with audiences in the form of readings, discussions, talks and personal interactions. Names like William Darymple, Ahmad Rashid, Avijit Ghosh, Gurcharan Das and John Elliot have been present in the past years so one can expect an impressive list in 2013 as well. Also, the destination could not have been better, as one can complete the Rajasthan sector with ease.

The Jaipur Literature Festival -2013

Kambala Buffalo Races

The Mangalore ( South Western) belt of India has an interesting period from January to March where the villages indulge in a unique sport called’ Kambala Buffalo Races’. These are held over the weekends where the young men of the village come together and compete ferociously in slushy fields. A photographer’s delight, this event is definitely not a one to miss.

Kambala-race

Kite Flying in Rajasthan

The harvest festival of Baisakhi / Sankranti is held on 14th January all over North India. Rajasthan is especially colourful on this day as thousands of kites sprinkle the blue sky in a competition of might. Local terraces spill with people as teams are formed with vigour to ensure that opponent kites are brought down instantly. This festival gained popularity in Jaipur in the initial years but is now celebrated all over the state.

Kites flying high in Rajasthan and Gujarat

Pongal

While the North of India celebrates with kites, the same harvest festival in South is known as ‘pongal’ and is celebrated vivaciously across the state of Tamil Nadu and other Southern states with Tamil population. It is best to get invited to a local house so you can see the food preparation and the making of the ‘rangoli/ kollam’ outside houses. Incidentally, pongal is a dish made of milk and rice.

Pongal-Festival Rangoli

Republic Day in Delhi

Book ahead to sit and watch the annual parade in Delhi, which commemorates the success and independence of India on 26th January every year. Watch the armed forces march impressively and state floats represent the growth in India in a half day parade. The event is held under heavy security but will be a fun experience to see thousands in the stands, cheering on!

Republic-Day-Flag-2013

Hampi Festival

The pride of Karnataka and the former Kingdom of Vijaynagar, Hampi, celebrates the annual festival of dance and performing arts every year in January. The festival is held in the backdrop of an impressive topography, unique to Hampi. It has gained international acclaim in the last 5 years and one can see a variety of south Indian arts in this forum.

Hampi-Festival

Goan Wine Festival

A relatively new concept, Goa is the chosen destination for The Grape Escapade, a wine and haute cuisine festival. With the influx of western tourists, this is an apt destination for wine connoisseurs. Free wine tasting and attractive discounts on exotic wines are part of the festival. Apart from that, one can enjoy the cultural performances, music concerts and fashion shows.

Goan-Wine-Festival

Bikaner Camel Fair

The winter month of January is an important one for Rajasthan. The camel fair at Bikaner is a great opportunity for photographers to capture camel trading between locals. The destination starts with aplomb with camel parades and also includes races, dancing and pageants for the animals.

Camel Fair in Bikaner - rajasthan

Mamallapuram Dance Festival

The coastal town of Mamallapuram hosts a unique dance festival each year in January. The rock sculptures of the town make a wonderful backdrop while Indian art forms are performed by famous artistes in an open air venue.

Mamallapuram-Dance

Indian Festivals: Eid Ul Fitr in India

Eid-ul-Fitr (breaking of the fast) is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. It is a time of quiet reflection and worship. It is believed that more than 1,300 years ago, in the month of Ramadan, the prophet Muhammad received the Qur’an, the holy book of Muslims. Hence Ramadan is also knows as the ‘month of the Qur’an’.

Jama-Masjid-Delhi,India

Breaking the fast

A few dates and a glass of water is used to break the fast every day. Other foods consumed may vary from platters of fresh fruits, salads, nuts, legumes to fried savouries and kebabs. The meal with which the fast is broken every day is known as ‘iftar’. Iftars are often community gatherings, with people gathering to break their fast together. The meal is shared with family and friends, and it’s common for Muslims to invite non-Muslims over. Iftars in India have grown into mega banquets with politicians and celebrities throwing iftar parties all through the month.

Breaking-Fast-during-eid-ul-fitr

New moon

At the end of Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr is heralded in with the sighting of the new moon. Most countries rely on news of an official sighting and it is common to see newspaper reports like this one: “Eid to be celebrated on Wednesday, moon spotted”. Since the time of the moon sighting varies according to which part of the world one is in, Eid celebrations can begin on different dates.

The festivities

On Eid day, Muslims gather early morning in mosques or outdoor locations to perform the Eid prayer. After the prayer, new clothes are taken out and visits are made to relatives and friends. Colourful bazaars and malls are full of families doing their last-minute Eid shopping; women apply mehndi (henna) and wear colourful bangles. Children look forward to getting ‘eidi’ (money given by elders to children).

Festivities-shopping-Eid-ul-Fitr

It is common for non-Muslims to visit their Muslim friends and neighbours on Eid to convey their good wishes. It’s also time for feasting on special Eid delicacies like sheer khurma – a sweet dish prepared with milk, roasted vermicelli and garnished with dry fruits. After a month of fasting, sheer khurma comes like a warm bowl of comfort.

Other mouthwatering items on the menu include biryani, kebabs and korma and the delicious haleem – a meat stew made with lentils. The nihari is another popular dish during Ramadan – a rich stew of goat meat or beef, it is cooked overnight for six to eight hours and served hot early morning. In south India, Muslims break their fast with nonbu kanji, a rich, filling rice dish of porridge consistency, cooked for hours with meat and vegetables.

Eid Hot Spots: Where to celebrate

Eid-ul-Fitr is a public holiday in India and government offices, businesses and schools remain closed. While Eid is celebrated all over India, there are some cities that are well-known for the scale and range of festivities. If you want to get a taste of the real thing, it is best to get an invite to a Muslim household. Here’s a list of places where you can get get a ringside view of Eid celebrations.

• Jama Masjid in New Delhi where huge crowds gather to pray
• Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, another location where people come together for prayer
• Aishbagh Idgah (the biggest prayer ground in the city) in Lucknow
• Dargah Sharif in Ajmer
• The Red Road in Kolkata where thousands of Muslims gather for a community prayer on Eid – it is a sight to behold.
• Agra is another great place to witness Eid festivities. In 2011, the Taj Mahal was opened to all for free for three hours on the occasion of Eid.
• In, Mumbai, the place to be seen at is Mohammad Ali Road. The place comes alive after sunset every day during Ramadan when restaurants in the area stay open all night serving up sumptuous dishes like tikkas, kebabs, hot paya, deep-fried parathas, kheeri and kaleji and stuffed baida rotis.

Indian Festivals: Ladakh Festival

With the Himalayan wonder, Ladakh, becoming more accessible to visitors from across the country, it is a great opportunity to get an intimate view of the unique festivals of the region.

One of the most exciting cultural extravaganzas, the Ladakh Festival, is celebrated between every 1st to 15th September. Great weather and fewer tourists make this a great time to enjoy the region’s heritage, depicted in dances, music and local food.

About the Festival

The Ladakh festival was the brainchild of the state tourism ministry and local communities to bring forth the rich cultural heritage of the region for everyone to enjoy. Leh, Kargil and the farway Zanskar valley participate in this festival.

Lamas-dancing-during-Festival

The festival starts with parades of local dance and music troupes which slowly go past the main Leh market to finally end in the Polo Ground. The most important part of the Ladakh Festival is the polo match. The winners are conferred with the Ladakh Festival Cup. This was introduced to take forward the lineage of this traditional sport of the Western Himalayas. Some of the other events include archery, singing contests and dance competitions.

Ladakh-Festival-Cup-Polo

The most exhilarating performance is that of the Lamas, who dance to haunting tunes in traditional colourful masks. These monks are chosen from a handful of monasteries and their performance is one of the highlights of the festival.

Childern-Dancing-Ladakh-Festival

Local food stalls line up at the venues so dig into some Tibetan food like Thukpa and Tsampa. Skyu is also something worth a try. This is a pasta dish with vegetables. Apart from the local food, you can also find local versions of other cuisines.

The festival marks the end of the pleasant weather as soon after the festival, the weather gets chilly and the in a month’s time, the high passes close due to snow. The Ladakh Festival leaves visitors and locals with colourful memories before the cold takes over the region.

Parade-during-festival

How and When to get there

Leh, the capital city where the festival is held, is accessible by both road (via Manali or Srinagar) and air. The road trip itself is magnificent, but if you are planning on arriving on the opening day, you should keep 2 days for road travel. You can also fly in from Delhi, but arrive at least a day or two early to acclimatise to the altitude. With much walking, participation and following the parades, it can get very exhausting.

Tips for Visitors

• Get local help beforehand to get seats in the Polo Ground if you want to watch the entire procession. Alternatively, a great vantage point from atop a building also makes a good viewing point.
• With prior permission from the Tourism office, you can also get close access to the parade to get brilliant photo-opportunities.
• If you can arrange to meet some of the troupes before or after the parade, more up-close pictures can be obtained.
• This is also a good time for shopping for handicrafts as locals bring out their best wares and the variety is incredible. Although be prepared to bargain as visitors can be over charged a little. Local help will come in handy to get a decent bargain. Silver jewellery, mementos, prayer flags and more elaborate souvenirs like shawls and rugs are in plenty.