I am so happy today! My Brother reached home
this morning @5.30 am on17th Oct’13. He is visiting from Germany
after around 2 years. At around 5am, I woke up thinking that I am dreaming about his arrival. I am so happy right now that my words just can’t explain the
excitement.
I was with him last year around same time for October
fest in Germany; we later went road tripping all around Spain. Ah! What a wonderful
trip it was. I should maybe write a
post about it.
So the deal is, he is here and our happiness knows no bounds right now. These are the special times because we will be celebrating Diwali together after n number of years. What further adds mountains of excitement to our happiness is
the wedding of our baby cousin. It’s going to be a fabulous festive couple of
months that I am dearly looking forward to.
So this blog post is dedicated to Diwali, the most relished festival in my family, along with the other world festivals happening all around world. Some of the most amazing world festivals are lined up in November and December and I would be on top of the world, if only, I could visit these just once in my life
with my entire family.
1. Diwali in November { Celebrated all across India }: My list cannot be complete and has to start with Diwali. Diwali is
incomplete without family and some extremely dear friends. It’s just the cheer
brought around by everyone’s presence that makes it so special. Diwali for me
is all smiles, good food, great times and good luck. It’s this festival that makes
me feel 'Oh SO FREAKING' blessed. I am not a big of a fan of crackers (for the concern
for environment, child labor issues etc.), but the bright, colorful lights, Rangoli, diyas that I always end up buying in bulk, candles of all kinds, fat, tall,
floral, floating and sweets (cartons of them, literally} get all my love
on Diwali. To all who wish to and already do celebrate Diwali, I wish you a very Happy and Blessed Diwali!
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| Diwali, India |
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| India during Diwali |
Image courtesy: Pinterest
2. Seoul and Chaing Mai lantern
festival held in November { Chaing Mai, Thailand }:
I really want to go for Chaing Mai lantern and flower festival this year. I do
have all the right reasons to go for this trip, as one of my old friends is
planning a trip along with his MBA classmates. A four day trip, I badly
wish to go for, but just can’t because of the leaves constraint at my 10am – 7pm
job which btw, will pay for my Dec’13 travel (so excited for it, already). Here
are the pictures that show, just how beautiful the lantern festival in Chaing
Mai is.
Cool
Factor: People write their wishes on the fire lanterns
and release them into the sky believing these will come true. I hope they do come true. J
Image courtesy: Pinterest
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| Lantern Festival, Chaing Mai, Thailand |
3. Rann Utsav
Kutch in November { Gujarat,
India }: Everyone has heard of Pushkar Camel Festival held every year in November. I recently got to know about Rann
Utsav that is held in the desert of Kutch, Gujarat around the same time. I was told that everything looks
white in middle of the desert during this festival. But what won my heart, are the pictures (see below) with a full moon view. Rann Utsav is held admist a wild life sanctuary and stands for all that Gujarat is; the authentic Gujarati essence, Dandiya, the traditional Guajarati dance, camel
safari, rich handicrafts, art and artifacts and Gujarati food esp. the Gujarati
thali. It’s held in November in Kutch, you can check out more details here. If
you’ve ever visited it, please do share your experience.
Image courtesy: Pinterest
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| Rann Utsav Kutch in November, Gujarat, India |
4: Thanksgiving { New York, USA }: Not that I enjoy it a lot (in terms of celebration
quotient), fire crackers are good, but doesn’t compare to the fireworks during Diwali
in the city of Delhi. It’s the Thanksgiving sale that drives everyone including
me, absolutely insane. It gets me drooling, drooling with my mouth wide open, with
my jaw dropped so low that it touches the floor. Buy! Buy! Buy! For the entire
family, for brothers, for sisters, for cousins, aunts, friends and everybody you can accommodate
in your small pocket with meager income. I want as PS or X-Box this Thanksgiving,
with tons of awesome games to go with it.
Apparently, Macy’s Thanksgiving
Day Parade held in New York every year is quite a rage. I saw some of its pictures
that left me impressed. Below, I have shared a collection of few vintage
pictures of the parade with GIANT character shaped balloons that are paraded all
around the New York City.
Didn’t get a chance to visit New York during my 2 and a
half year long stint in USA, so this particular parade goes to my, Must Visit Festivals list.
Image courtesy: Pinterest
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| Vintage Images of Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade |
5. Junkanoo,
Nassau on December 26 & January 1 { Bahamas }: This list cannot be complete
without a festival in the tropics.
Leaving all the celebrations in
the chilling weather behind, let’s go to BAHAMAS baby! The visual of saturated colors, turquoise blue beaches, dance, music and celebrations, is already getting me in the groove. Below are some pictures from Pinterest that will leave you craving and wanting more of these street festivities, elaborate costumes and just the tropical
vibe in December to bring in the New Year. Awesome!
Image courtesy: Pinterest
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| Junkanoo Festival, Nassau, Bahamas |
I would love to know which one is your favorite
festival. Which will be your pick for a near future?
Until the next trip
- Rakshita
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