India is indeed a country of festivals. And once you actually start writing about them, and researching about them in detail, you realize the number of festivals just cannot be counted. So many states. So many cultures. So many ways of celebrating the same festival. As one festival ends, preparation for another festival begins. One of such festivals is Navratri, and it is right around the corner. Time to celebrate!!

Navratri (Nava = nine, and Ratri = night) means a celebration of winning of a nine-day long battle, at the end of which Goddess Durga defeated Mahishasura (A demon). It is the win of good over evil. If you want to read about the mythological bit in detail, have a look at this article.

Let’s celebrate Navratri

As we all know, every culture in India has it’s own way of celebrating their festivals. It’s not just Navratri, but also Garbha-Dandiya, Ramlila, Golu, Durga Pooja, and more. All of these differ from region to region.

South India

Starting with Tamil Nadu, where we celebrate Golu. Hundreds of dolls and idols are put up for display on wooden/steel steps which are specially built for this purpose. These idols are set in a way that they talk about old mythologies and other lives, while some create modern scenes.  It is all set up like a mini-museum in your houses.

This begins on Mahalaya Amavasya (New moon) when they start arranging steps (minimum 5, maximum 9). At each step, various figures of gods, goddesses, humans etc depict instances. One of the steps has a Chettichi couple, with rice, grains, pulses, fruits and vegetables to symbolize grocery and food. The last step normally has Kalasam (ceremonial brass/mud pot with coconut on top). They fill these pots with rice and coins. There is one step for the kids too, which keep the park, zoo etc spread on mud with other creative ideas to capture the attention of the kids.

 Little kids start their kindergarten at the end of this 10-day ritual. And you can always find kids walking up to their neighbours doors and singing and getting gifts (Indian Halloween). On the 10th day, which is considered as the most auspicious, they start learning new skills. At night, the dolls are put to sleep and packed away for next year the next day.

In Karnataka, it is celebrated as a lavish and royal festival. The marvelous palace at Mysore is decorated and elephants are decorated and brought to the premises.

 

Eastern India

Here, Navratri is celebrated as Durga Pooja, which was Durga’s win over a demon. Not only is this a celebration of good over evil, but also the greatness of females. Bengal, in particular, is swamped with idols of Durga, and people celebrate this with immense happiness.

 

West India

Here we celebrate with the dance festival – Garba. It is an amazing dance form, with vibrant attires and people dance on the streets with 2 sticks (Dandiya). This has become a global event, as even universities in the US organize this event in October.

 

North India

I have been fairly more familiar with this celebration – The victory of King Rama over Ravana. If you have ever heard about the great Indian epic of Ramayana, you most definitely know about Lord Rama and his battle with Ravana. At the end of a 9-day battle, on the 10th day, Rama defeated Ravana. And to celebrate this victory, gigantic effigies of the ten-headed Ravana are burnt in each neighbourhood, with fireworks and Ramayana plays. This is called ‘Dussehra’ or ‘VijayaDashmi’.And there are many more. I wish I could go in deeper detail about every state, but well, we have too many states for that. But here’s more that I can tell you though.

The Math behind the Colors of Navratri

The people who follow Navratri enthusiastically (especially in Maharashtra and Gujarat), follow a different color for different days. Goddess Durga had 9 different forms, and every colour is dedicated to a different form. Devotees dress up in these colours, and also decorate their idols in the same. 9 days. 9 forms of a Goddess. 9 colors. And each year, there is a different set of colours which are followed. There is a math behind it, which not many know about.

1. The first Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday represent White, Red, Royal Blue, Yellow, Green, Grey, and Orange; in that order.
2. Next, comes Pink, and purple and/or sky blue alternatively for each year.

According to this, the colour theme for Navratri in October 2016, is:

DATE	DAY	COLOR
26 September 2022	Monday	GREY
27 September 2022	Tuesday	ORANGE
28 September 2022	Wednesday	WHITE
29 September 2022	Thursday	RED
30  September 2022	Friday	ROYAL BLUE
1 October 2022	Saturday	YELLOW
2 October 2022	Sunday	GREEN
3 October  2022	Monday	PINK
4 October 2022	Tuesday	PURPLE

Not many know of the math behind this, but there is one. And I hope this helps you with your garba-dandiya outfits. I am a little enthusiastic about the whole thing (except the fasting), but it’s become a part of life now. And I genuinely love how we have so many festivals, and reasons to celebrate and be around family.

I hope you and your folks have the best Navratri this time. Have fun.

Author:  RADHIKA CHUGH

 

 

 

Do you have 10 days for vacation? Are you planning for a trip to Leh Ladakh? Then, I am here to share Leh Ladakh Itinerary for 10 days. This itinerary personally worked out for me and so I would like to share the same with you. But, before we get into the itinerary, you might be wondering why you should visit Leh Ladakh.

Why Visit Leh Ladakh?

 With a wide range of mind-blowing places to explore, Leh Ladakh is a place that everyone should have on his/her bucket list. Ladakh stays vivacious at all times and here are some of the reasons for the same:

• Hundreds of passengers, vehicles and bikes flank this part of India from across the world
• The colour-changing lakes
• Adventurous spots at high-altitude
• Home for monasteries with prayer flags.
• Tough screes of the Himalayas
• Rugged roads

Now, we will start our Leh Ladakh Itinerary for 10 days beginning from Srinagar. During your 10-day trip, you can explore places like Manali, Jispa, Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley and of course, Leh.

Day Zero:

On this day, you will have to start from your home or even before this day. The idea here is to make sure that you reach Srinagar on Day one of your Leh Ladakh Itinerary. If you plan to travel by train to get to Srinagar, you will have a couple of options. You can book your train either to Udhampur Railway Station or Jammu Tawi. These two stations are connected well with varied parts of India.

Day One:

Reach Srinagar:

Once you reach the Jammu Tawi or Udhampur Railway Station from your home station, you can reach Srinagar from these stations with ease. You can take either a taxi or even you can take state government buses to reach Srinagar. Once you reach Srinagar on the first day of your Leh Ladakh itinerary for 10 days, you can spend the remaining part of the day taking rest in your hotel.

Day Two:

Travel to Kargil from Srinagar:On your second day, you will have to reach Kargil from Srinagar. It is better to make sure that you start early in the morning from Srinagar. The reason is that you can capture the vibes of the Indian Army when you travel at this time. It will take around five hours to reach Kargil via NH1. The distance is about 202 km between these two places. When travelling, make sure to capture the unbeatable serenity all through your trip. Even, in the middle of your trip, you can take a rest. After reaching Kargil, you can spend the remaining day in Kargil staying in this place.

Day Three:

Travel to Leh from Kargil:

Again, on the third day, you will have to spend your time travelling. The distance between Kargil and Leh is around 216 km. Even, on this day, you can start early to enjoy a serene ride. It will take around four and half hours of travel on the NH1 road. Again, it will be a serene trip and after reaching Leh, you can spend the rest of the day spending time in your accommodation.

Day Four:

Nubra Valley:

On the fourth day of your Leh Ladakh itinerary for 10 days, you will travel from Leh to Nubra Valley. The distance between these two places is around 160 km. So, it will take around three-and-hour to four hours to travel. When you start early, you can reach Nubra Valley early. Here are certain things you can do in this place:

• Take a ride on a camel
• Get a panoramic view of the Panamik Village
• Make sure to visit the most attractive Hunder Village
• Cycle in villages around this valley
• Take Zanskar river rafting
• For exploring enchanting landscapes, visit Samstanling Monastery
• Visit the Holy Lake Yarab Tso
• Make sure to visit the popular Turtuk Old Mosque
• Take Khardung La Pass Adventure trip
• Visit the Balti Kitchen to eat Baltistani Dishes

You will be going to spend this night in the Nubra Valley. So, do whatever things listed above as possible during this stay in this valley.

Day Five:

Head back to Leh from Nubra:

Again, start early from Nubra on the fifth day. If you start early, you can reach Leh early. After reaching Leh on the fifth day of your Leh Ladakh itinerary for 10 days, you can head out from your accommodation to get attractive views of Leh. Make sure to wind up things by the evening. On the fifth night, you will stay in Leh.

Day Six:

Head from Leh to Pangong:

Let the sixth day be dedicated to exploring the Pangong Lake. It will take around five hours of travelling. You will be surprised to know that this lake changes its colours all through the day. So, you can capture the attractive colours that keep changing in this lake. Also, this lake holds the pride of being one of the high altitude lakes in India. This night, you can camp amidst the salubrious nature. 

Day Seven:

Get back to Leh from Pangong:

Now, on the seventh day of your Leh Ladakh itinerary for 10 days, you will have to start early from Pangong to reach Leh. Even, you can start late from Pangong after exploring the early morning beauty of the lake spot. The distance from Pangong to Leh is around 222 km. So, it will take around five-and-half hours via Pangong Lake Road. After reaching, based on the time available, you can either spend the rest of the day in your accommodation at Leh or you can explore some shops near your accommodation. After spending some time outdoors at the night, you can get back to your accommodation to take a rest as the next day, you will have to again travel.

Day Eight:

Travel to Jispa from Leh:

You will have to spend most of the 8th day in travelling from Leh to Jispa. Yes, from Leh, it will take around 9 hours to reach Jispa. Of course, after travelling for these many hours, you will have to spend time in Jispa the night in your accommodation. Also, you have the option to camp at night in Jispa.

Day Nine:

Travel from Jispa to Manali:

On your 9^th day in the Leh Ladakh itinerary for 10 days, you can travel from Jispa to Manali. The travelling time will be just around two-and-half hours. So, you can start early and after reaching Manali, you can cover as many places as you can in Manali this day. Here are some places you can cover in Manali:

• Van Vihar
• Hadimba Devi Temple
• Himalayan Nyinmapa Tibetan Buddhist
• Mall Road
• Jai Durga Handloom Handicraft Emporium
• Desi Swaad

These are just a few important places that you should never miss out on visiting in Manali. You can spend this night in Manali.

Day Ten:

On day 10 of your Leh Ladakh Itinerary for 10 days, you can dedicate the day to preparing to leave your home. Based on the timing of your return train or flight, you can plan your packing and other things. If you have your return flight or train in the night, you can explore some places in Manali if time permits.

Conclusion:

This Leh Ladakh itinerary for 10 days will help you plan your trip successfully to the most beautiful spot that you should never miss out on visiting at least once in your lifetime.

 छत्तीसगढ़ एक जनजाति बहुल राज्य है, ग्रहा 42 प्रकार की जनजातीय अलग-अलग क्षेत्रों में पाई जाती है। यहां का भौगालिक परिद्दष्य जनजातियों के जीवन के अनुकूल है अतः उनके स्वतंत्र अस्तित्व के निर्माण में सहायक है। छत्तीसगढ़ की जनजातियों में अनेक प्रकार के पर्व मनाय जाते है, जो अलग-अलग जनजाति में अलग-अलग प्रकार के हैं। जनजातियों के प्रकृति प्रेम ही झलक उनके तयोहारों में प्रदर्षित होती है। जनजातियों के पर्व प्रकृति, ऋतु, कृशि इत्यादि से संबंधित है। छत्तीसगढ़ की कुछ महत्वपूर्ण जनजातियों द्वारा मनाए जाने वाले पर्व इस प्रकार है: चैत्र माह मे साल वृक्ष में फूल आने पर उराव जनजाति  द््वारा सरहुल पर्व मनाया जाता है इस पर्व में सूर्य व धरती का प्रतीकात्मक विवाह किया जाता है।

  बस्तर अंचल में माडिया जनजाति द्वारा आशाढ़ माह में गोचा पर्व मनाया जाता है और रथ यात्रा निकाली जाती है, जिसकी षुरूआत पुरूशोत्तम देव ने 1468 ईस्वी में की थी, यह पर्व 14 दिनों तक चलता है। कृशि के दौरान कोरवा जनजाति द्वारा बीज बोहिनी, कोरा, घेरसा पर्व मनाया जाता है। गोंड जनजाति द्वारा भादो पूर्णिमा के अवसर पर नया फसल आने पर नवाखाई पर्व मनाया जाता है। भादो मास में ही सरगुजा क्षेत्र में उराव जनजाति द्वारा करमा पर्व मनाया जाता है। भादो माह में ही गोंड जनजाति द्वारा आम फलने के बाद आमा खाई पर्व मनाया जाता है तथा अभुझमाडिया द्वारा काकसर पर्व मनाया जाता है। गोड जनजाति द्वारा माटी त्यौहार में पृथ्वी देव की पूजा की जाती है। मड़ई त्यौहार मे मुड़िया माडिया जनजाति द्वारा अंगा देव की पूजा की जाती है।

 माडिया जनजाति द्वारा कार्तिक माह में दिवाली के दूसरे दियारी पर्व मनाया जाता है जिसमें फसल की पूजा की जाती है, पषुओं को भोजन दिया जाता है। पौश माह मैं गोड, भुमका, पनका जनजाति द्वारा छेरछेरा पर्व मनाया जाता है जिसमें बच्चे घर घर जाकर धान मांगते है तथा पुराने खाते बंद कर नए खाते बनाए जाते हैं इस दिन कृशि कार्य नहीं किया जाता। गोड जाति द्वारा फागुन माह में मेघनाथ पर्व मनाया जाता है। भतरा और हल्बा जनजाति द्वारा फागुन माह में तीज के समय लक्ष्मी जागर पर्व मनाया जाता है पूजा के दौरान अनिवार्य वस्तुएं घड़ा, सूपा, धनुश  को षामिल किया जाता है, धनकुल नामक वाद्य यंत्र बजाया जाता है। कोरवा जनजाति द्वारा उतरा (सरसो, दाल) फसल काटने के बाद घेरसा पर्व मनाया जाता है जिसमें खुड़िया रानी की पूजा की जाती है।

  छत्तीगसढ़ के मुख्य त्यौहार जो छत्तीसगढ़ के सभी क्षेत्रों में मनाए जाते हैं इस प्रकार हैंः हरेली त्यौहार छत्तीसगढ़ का प्रथम त्यौहार है जिसे गेड़ी पर्व भी कहते हैं, यह पर्व सावन आमावष्या को मनाया जाता है जिसमे किसान लौह उपकरण की पूजा करते है। अक्षय तृतीय बैषाख षुक्ल पक्ष तृतीय को मनाया जाता है जिसमे पुतरा पुतरी का विवाह किया जाता है। हल शश्ठी भाद्र पद कृश्णपक्ष शश्ठी को मनाया जाता है जिसमे माताएं अपने पुत्र को लंबी आयु के लिए व्रत रखती है। पोला पर्व भाद्रपद अमावस्या को मनाया जाता है जिसमे मिट्टी के बैलों की पूजा की जाती है। हरित तालिका भाद्रपद षुक्लपक्ष तृतीय को मनाया जाता है जिसमे विवाहित महिलाएं अपने मायके जाकर अपने पति के लिए व्रत रखती है। देवउठनी एकादर्षी  कार्तिक षुक्लपक्ष एकादर्षी को मनाया जाता है जिसमे तुलसी विवाह किया जाता है। तुलसी विवाह के बाद में सभी षुभ कार्य प्रारंभ हो जाते है। इस प्रकार हम देखते है की जनजातीय समाज ने अपनी को बखूबी संजोया है। जनजातीय त्यौहार उनके प्रकृति प्रेम और सामाजिक एकता को एक सूत्र में बांध कर उनके वनांचल जीवन को उत्साह प्रदान करता है।

Author: Mr. Sumit Kumar Shrivastav 

M.Tech,PGDCA

 

 

 

Chhattisgarh is an amazing tourist destination for those who prefer serene, less crowded vacations. Here you can find beautiful scenery, waterfalls, heritage temples, and ancient monuments. Because rice is abundant here, it is also known as the "Rice Bowl of India." This location has also preserved the rich tribal culture. Here is detailed description of one of the favourite tourist destinations.

Mainpat is a delightful tourist destination surrounded by forests. It has a family of beautiful hill slopes, farms, and waterfalls and is a hill station that, by God's grace, has remained untouched by exploiters. The hill station is located in the Vindhya ranges and is well-known for its Tibetan exile population. The overall setting is lush green, with a lovely dusky sky and a love-filled dawn. You can meet Tibetan families who can tell you about Mainpat's history. Because of the large Tibetan population, Mainpat is also known as "Mini Tibet." and because of what nature has bestowed, it is also known as the Shimla of Chattisgarh.

Mainpat's scenic beauty is like looking at beauty and purifying the mind. Your soul will be satisfied by its quiet beauty. It has living forests with huge branches creaking out, chattering squirrels, rustling of leaves, whistling of wind around trunks, live music from birds, insects humming, and animal rustle.

On the way, you can stop at Tiger Point, which has a beautiful water fall and a water flowing spot with big rocks and huge hills. There are snacks and tea available for refreshment and enjoyment of the view.

On the way to Mainpat one can visit Ghunghutta (Shyam) is a medium irrigation project built across the river Ghunghutta, a tributary of Rehar, on the way to Mainpat. The project is in the Sarguja district of Chhattisgarh, near the village Libra. Ambikapur, the district headquarters, is 14 kilometers away.

Ways to Reach :

By Air: Raipur Airport is the nearest which is 350 Km, It is connected to many major cities via Flight.

 By Rail: From Raigarh, Mainpat is 178 kms away which is a major station and from Ambikapur it is 80 kms away.

 By Road: It is 380 kms by road from Raipur Airport.

Weather

The weather in Mainpat is typical of the tropical plains. Summers are hot and humid, with a chance of rain. The opposite is true in the winter, with pleasant and cool days and chilly nights. The monsoon season is also pleasant, with abundant rainfall increasing the region's green cover.

History

Mainpat was historically mostly jungle and remains one of the country's most forested regions. The Yadavs and native tribes such as Manjhi, Manjhwar, Kanwar, and Pahadi Korwa lived in the village and the forests in previous centuries. Following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1960s, many Tibetan exiles sought refuge here, and they remain an important part of the local population.

Interesting Facts

Mainpat is well-known for its gravity-defying waterfall, Ulta Pani/Bisar Pani, which translates to "upside down water." This is a canal in which the water appears to flow upwards or against gravity. So far, there is no scientific explanation for the phenomenon, which is usually regarded as an illusion. However, this strange natural feature makes the village popular and places the previously unknown village on the tourism map. 

Places to visit in Mainpat

Mainpat has a plethora of places to visit due to its abundance of natural beauty. On your trip, visit these well-known locations: 

Dhakpo Shedupling Monastery: A Gelug monastery that serves as a religious and learning center for Buddhists, this is one of Mainpat's most prominent monasteries. It is also the most visited in the area and houses Tibetan relics and artifacts.

Fish Point is named after the river that flows through it, the Machali Nadi, or Fish River. The river is well-known for its abundance of a specific type of fish. The river flows through rugged hills and joins into an 80-meter-high waterfall, creating a beautiful nature spot with greenery, water, and a serene atmosphere.

Tiger Point Falls: Tiger Point Falls is another scenic waterfall in Mainpat that originates in the Mahadev Muda River and is surrounded by dense forests on all sides. There were once tigers in the forests here, which gave the area its name. At the moment, this waterfall site is a popular picnic, swimming, and hiking destination.

Mercury Falls: The Mercury Falls, one of Mainpat's lesser-visited waterfalls, is the tallest in the village. This site, hidden within hills at a height of 400 feet, requires some serious hiking and may be difficult to reach.

 Bhutahi Jalprapat: This waterfall is one of the most beautiful in Mainpat. The water flows in a zig-zag pattern and appears white and frothy. Because the torrential flow sounds like a scream, it is frequently referred to as "ghostly."

 Best time to visit Mainpat?

The best time to visit this picturesque village is during the winter or monsoon season. These are the only times of year when the weather is suitable for exploring the local nature and engaging in outdoor activities. The post-monsoon season is also ideal for travel, with lush greenery and washed hillsides offering panoramic views.

Author: Dhaneshwar Yadav (MBA,MA,LLB)

 

The Mendri Ghumar Waterfalls (Hindi: मेंद्री घूमर) is a seasonal and natural waterfall located at around 44 kilometres (27 mi) to the west of Jagdalpur, in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. It is very close to Chitrakote and Tamda Ghumar Waterfalls.

Mendri Ghumar Waterfall is located in the middle of Chitrakote Falls, Tirtha and Barasur and situated in Jagdalpur. The height of the fall is almost 70 meters with a lush green surrounding and eye-catching places. The interesting part is that the Mendri Ghumar Waterfall forms its best during the rainy seasons. The water collected from the rains, continuously flows through the hill thus making it an eye-catching waterfall. It is surrounded by lush green forest on both its sides, making it one of the most well-liked ecotourism destinations in the state.[1]

 The Mendri Ghumar Waterfall has its own versions, during the summer and monsoons. The waterfall over flows during the monsoons, wherein the water gushes slowly and calmly during the summers

Author:- Sakshi Dubey