Wednesday 30 June 2010

June 30, 2010

Thoseghar Waterfalls



The Thoseghar is just 20 kms from the Satara city. It is situated at the beginning of Konkan Region. A 1000 feet waterfall makes the village very special. There are thousands of people come from all over Maharashtra to visit this place especially in Rainy season. You will experience the heavy rain fall here.

There is a newly constructed Platform to stand and take a good view of the waterfall. You can enter in the Vally and see where exactly the water falls except the Rainy season (due to heavy rainfall). Do not try adventure here because many people have wasted their lives due to such adventures. This place is full of Natural beauty and pleasant climate to experience this you need to visit Thoseghar in Rainy season.

There are some hotels where you can enjoy a food(especially Non-veg) after enjoying the mighty of water fall. You can bring meet with you and tell the hotel guy to make ready for you. The guy will charge you but will make a delicious food to enjoy with. There is Veg food also for Vegetarian people.

How To Reach?
You can reach Thoseghar with state transport buses or via your own vehicle. The road direction and milestones direct the way to Thoseghar. On the way to Thoseghar you will see Parali dam and Sajjangad. The road to Thoseghar is not so good.

Best time to visit
July to November.

What to See?
Thoseghar Waterfall.
Chalkewadi Wind Mills Project (It is near from Thoseghar).
Beautiful Nature (In Rainy Days)

Friday 11 June 2010

June 11, 2010

Ratha Yatra, Nashik



A festival called Janmotsava is celebrated at Sansthan Shri Kalaram Mandir, Panchavati, Nashik every year. The festival, which spans 15 days begin from the first day of Chaitra till Chaitra Purnima. The Janmotsava, which is witnessed by thousands of pilgrims takes place exactly at 12 noon. 

The main attraction of the festival is the rathyatra that takes place on the second day, in which Shri Ram rath and Garuda rath moves through the Nashik city. The Rathyatra starts at about 4.30 p.m. The Rathyatra is made up of 5 links, 1st is the bullock cart of Sanai / Choughada, followed by the Palkhi of Shri Ramachandra, Pujadhikari, Garudarath (the rath of Lord Hanuman) and finally the Ramrath (the rath of Lord Rama). 

The pujadhikari walks with the rath all the way it is moving by facing towards the rath with folded hands. He maintains fasting, which starts from day one of the Chaitra to the Rathyatra. Both the raths are pulled by the rath sevakas with using heavy rope. 

Nashik is well connected by road, air and train with rest of India. Hotels are available in Nashik.

Thursday 10 June 2010

June 10, 2010

Pune Festival



Pune festival is held between August and September during Ganesh Mahotsav. It is the biggest festival of Pune. The festival goes for ten days - starts with the installation of idols of Lord Ganesha on the first day to immersion of the Lord's idols on the tenth day. 

Pune festival is mainly emphasized on the celebration of art and culture, song and dance, custom and tradition. It was started as a local event but now has succeeded to attract visitors from across India and abroad. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation joining hand with the Union government actively promotes the festival abroad as a major tourist attraction. 

Classical dance, music recitals, film, drama festival, automobile rallies and traditional sports are held as a part of the festival. Maestros and stalwarts from all over India are invited to perform during the festival. The denizens of Pune and also the visitors from outside enjoy the event with fullest during the celebrations. 

Modern sport events, shop for exquisite textiles and handicrafts, appetizing cuisine are some of the new additions since past few years. 

Pune is well connected by air, rail and road with the important places within and beyond the state. Accommodations are available at the hotels in Pune.

Wednesday 9 June 2010

June 09, 2010

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival



The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is an annual festival, usually around nine days long, held in late January or early February, in the Kala Ghoda area of South Mumbai, India.

From its inception in 1999, the Festival has grown in stature and popularity, attracting visitors and participants from other parts of the country, and the world.

The Festival is organised by the Kala Ghoda Association (a non-profit organisation that states its objectives as "physically upgrading the Kala Ghoda sub-precinct and making it the Art District of Mumbai") and curated by teams handling each of the sub-festivals.

The sub-festivals feature the visual arts, dance, music, theatre, cinema, literature, lectures, seminars and workshops, heritage walks, special events for children, and a vibrant street festival. Entry to all events is free to all (only restricted by the size of the venues) and costs are met through corporate sponsorship. Venues include The Jehangir Art Gallery, The National Gallery of Modern Art, the David Sassoon Library, Max Mueller Bhavan, Elphinstone College, the K R Cama Institute, the M C Ghia Hall, and the street area of Rampart Row. Rampart Row is closed off to vehicular traffic for the duration of the festival, with the entire area becoming a street mela, with food stalls, artisans selling their creations, artists who sketch instant portraits, street art installations and the like. In recent years, the Festival has expanded beyond the Kala Ghoda crescent, with events being held in Azad Maidan and Horniman Circle as well.

The success of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival has, arguably, encouraged the setting up of several other arts and cultural festivals at that time of the year, when the weather in Mumbai is cool and the sun sets early. These include the Mumbai Festival, the Celebrate Bandra Festival, and in 2007, the Kitab Festival.

However in recent times, local residents have gathered up in arms to complain about the noise, and left over mess that is left at the end of the festival. If some reports are to be believed, the festival is slated to be moved to nearby Horniman circle. However, this change of venue has not been confirmed by the organizers. 

June 09, 2010

Shriram Janmotsav Fair



The Shrirama mandir near Jalgaon is an ancient temple belonging to the Peshwa period. Excepting the shrine of the temple the other parts of the temple including the auditorium and seating room were built about 70-80 years back by Appa Maharaj, a devotee of Rama with the financial help of his disciples.


In veneration of the deities in the temple an annual fair is celebrated on the Kartika Sad. On that day the images of Rama, Laxmana and Sita are carried in a palanquin to the river Girna for a bath. After the bath the images are decorated with ornaments and garlands. Devotees visiting the temple on the festival days are mostly from Jalgaon and nearby places. Nearly 25,000 people visit the temple during the days of the fair.


Location : Near Jalgaon, Maharashtra.
Presiding Deity : Lord Rama
Falls on : October - November.

Tuesday 8 June 2010

June 08, 2010

Mahalaxmi Navaratra Fair



Mahalaxmi Navaratra temple is one of the popular temples of Jalgaon. It is located in the district of Jalgaon's heart. This festival is dedicated to the Mother Goddess Mahalaxmi and it is celebrated with the lots of joy for 10 days. This festival is starts from the Hindu day of Ashiva Sud one to Ashvina Sud ten in the very religious Navaratra temple of district of Jalgaon. This temple is as beautiful as other Hindu temple, elegant and its architecture is such delightful that it touches your soul. And on the top of this attractive temple there is Kalash. Within this temple, all the 4 pillars are made of brass and it has been fitted but not in the walls of the temple, because of this architecture system, much light can enters inside the temple. In this festival, majority of the devotees are come from the district of Jalgaon and the villages which are near to the Jalgaon.

Back portion of the Mahalaxmi idols is made of sheets of silver; the size of this sheet is forty one by Forty one. Within the temple, there is also presence of God Shiva by placing the Pindi and as per the Hindu customs, each and every work or Temple has the picture of Lord Ganesh at the back side of the Mother's idol. You will also get to see the idol of powerful God Hanuman by 3 and ½ inches height idol; it is very rare but attractive idol of Lord Hanuman. Because of the long duration of festival, people thoroughly enjoy and worship the Mahalaxmi goddess. Jalgaon is nicely developed district, here's transport is connected with the major cities like Mumbai, Pune etc. if you like to travel by rail then you can take train from Mumbai for Jalgaon. Mumbai Nagpur highway is the major road through which you can reach at the Jalgaon by road. Taking part in the such a religious festival would be a very unique and refreshing experience for you.

Region : Maharashtra, Jalgaon

Dedicated Festival : Goddess Mother Mahalaxmi

Duration of Festival : Ten days

Sunday 6 June 2010

June 06, 2010

Mount Mary Fair, Bandra



Bandra Fair is a week long fair held annually in the Bandra suburb of Mumbai, India starting on the following Sunday after September 8. It is celebrated to commemorate the Nativity of Mary, mother of Jesus, on September 8 at the Mount Mary Church, Bandra.

The Bandra Fair is estimated to be around 300 years old. The fair started when a statue of Mother Mary was found floating in the Arabian Sea between 1700 and 1760, which, according to a legend, a Koli fisherman had dreamt about a few years earlier.

Although the current church edifice is just 100 years old, the history behind the current statue of Our Lady of Mount goes back to the 16th century when Jesuit priests from Portugal brought the statue to bandra and constructed the Mount Mary Church there. In 1700 Arab pirates disfigured the statue by cutting off the right hand. In 1760, the Mount Mary Church was rebuilt and the statue was substituted with a statue of Our Lady of Navigators from the St. Andrew's Church nearby in Bandra. This statue had an interesting legend. It goes that a Koli fisherman dreamt that he would find a statue in the sea. The statue was found floating in the sea between 1700 and 1760. A Jesuit Annual Letter dated to 1669 and published in the book St. Andrew's Church, Bandra (1616–1966) supports this claim. This was believed to be a miracle by the locals, and the Bandra Fair was started to celebrate this. However, in 1761, the original statue of the Lady of Mount was renovated with a child in her arms and is worshiped at the fair ever since.

The Fair draws lakhs of devotees and pilgrims annually. Many faithful attest to the miraculous powers of the Mount. During the Fair, tens of thousands visit the shrine of Our Lady of Mount. The shrine attracts people from all faiths who pray to the statue for thanksgiving or requesting of favours.

During the Fair, the entire area is decorated with festoons and buntings. Many pitch up stalls selling religious objects like wax idols of Mother Mary along with an assortment of candles shaped like hands, feet and various other parts of the body. The sick people choose one that corresponds to their ailment and light it in Church, with the hope that Mother Mary will consider their appeals for help.

Sweets like Guava cheese, Kadio bodio (tiny stick made of Maida flour dipped in sugar syrup and dried) from Goa, Mawa peda (thick cookie made using evaporated milk) from Uttar Pradesh, Halva from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi, and the chikki (a sweet made from groundnuts and jaggery) from Maharashtra are usually found at the stalls during the fair.

The Bandra Fair is very popular in Mumbai. Every year, different political parties set up their political banners across the suburb of Bandra inviting the pilgrims to the Fair.

The Bandra Fair is also popular across the world especially with the Indian Catholic diaspora. A similar event called the "Bandra Feast" is organized annually by the India Social and Cultural Centre (ISCC) in Abu Dhabi.

Saturday 5 June 2010

June 05, 2010

Kumbha Mela Nashik



Kumbh Mela is the most important Hindu spiritual gathering in India that comes once every three years, rotating between four major Hindu pilgrim centers of India - Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. The Maha (Grand) Kumbh is held every 12th year in each of the following four locations. 2007 Maha Kumbh Mela is scheduled to be held at Nashik in Maharastra. 

In Maharashtra, the festival is held in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik. The Nashik Kumbh Mela is generally considered to be the most sacred of all the festivals. Kumb Mela in Nashik, like other fairs is also a mammoth affair attending by nearly three and a half million pilgrims. Thousands of sadhus and holy men and millions of pilgrims take dip in the holy Ramkund and Kushavarta reservoirs. 

August 14th and 25th and September 8th and 20th are regarded to be the peak of the festival days. Residential arrangement for Sadhus is made in Tapobhumi called Tapovan on left bank of Godavari river. 

Nashik being one of the major cities of Maharashtra, the city is well connected by train, road and air with different parts of India. Accommodation is available at the hotels in Nashik.

Friday 4 June 2010

June 04, 2010

Kiran Utsav



Kiran Utsav is one of the popular festivals in India. It is organized at Mahalaxmi Temple of Kolhapur district in Maharashtra on 31st January, 1st February, and 9th, 10th, and 11th November every year. Goddess Laxmi is worshipped during this festival. 

The Mahalaxmi Temple is elegantly decorated for this festival. Millions of pilgrims throng to Kolhapur to take part in this festival from all over India. One can witness the amazing architecture of the Mahalaxmi Temple, which had been built in a way that the rays of the setting sun coming through a window touches the Goddess's feet before it vanishes. 

Kolhapur is well connected by air, rail and road with the important places within and beyond the state. Numbers of hotels are available in Kolhapur for accommodation.

Thursday 3 June 2010

June 03, 2010

Khuldabad Urs


Khuldabad Urs festival is also popular as valley of Saints. It is a sacred town, which is located in the Aurangabad's Ellora path, the distance is very less around five kilometer from the caves of Ellora and from Aurangbad, it is almost twenty two kilometer long. Khuldabad Urs festival is an annual festival; the duration of this festival is five days. This festival is celebrated by many people because many migrated Sufi people come at this place before many years ago. This place is spiritual place of Muslims and it also contains the coffin of the Aurangzeb's Mughal emperor. This festival is very much popular because large numbers of pilgrims visit this holy place during this festival. This lace became so religious because of the Zain-ud-din and Burhan-ud-din these saints of Muhmmaden.

Wednesday 2 June 2010

June 02, 2010

Changdeo Fair



Changdeo fair is known as the spiritual place and it is very well known for Sage Markandeya. There is a history behind, this place to become a religious place. This place became holy place because this place where Sage Markandeya practiced his attrition and also because here is the point of conflux of two rivers Tapi and Purna. Many pilgrims of different place visit this holiest location. It is around six kilometer distance on the Edlabad's North West side. This Changdeo fair is held in the month of January and February which is called as Magha. Almost eighty thousand pilgrims visit this fair in every year. This pilgrim contains peasants, workers and within these pilgrims most of the people came from the Maharashtra state's Vidarbha part.

If you going at this holy place by air then the nearest airport to land would be Nagpur airport and from their the distance is one hundred seventy seven kilometer. By rail, the closest railway station is Chandrapur and from their, it takes ninety one kilometer distance. By road, you can reach at this religious place through Mul road of Nagpur, Chandrapur. If you want to go by short cut, they you can take a route of Milswali Sakhri, it is around one hundred eighty three kilometer.


Location : 6 Kms. at the North West of Edlabad, Maharashtra
Famous as : Religious Site, Sage Markandeya Is Believed To Have Practised Penance Here.
Time of the festivity : January - February

Tuesday 1 June 2010

June 01, 2010

Fairs of Maharashtra

Do Visit