TravelBird | Carnival Circuit - Celebrations around the Globe (Page 1 of 4)

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Carnival Circuit

Celebrations around the Globe...

Thanking the Gods with fiery fireworks

Wed, Nov 17 2010 12:09 AM
What : Yenshui Fireworks (Beehive Rockets) Festival
Where : Southern Taiwan
When : Annually, first full moon of the Lunar New Year

Do you think running the bulls in Pamplona is the only crazy and dangerous festival in the world? No, there are more. A custom featuring a nineteenth-century plague expulsion ritual has become a unique and spectacular fireworks festival in Yenshui of Tainan County in Taiwan. It is something of a kind that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world... Click to Read

Dance of the Lamas

Sun, Aug 25 2010 11:02 AM
What : The Hemis Gompa Festival
Where : Ladakh, Leh
When : June 20 – 21, 2010

Buddhist monks clad in colourful costumes and masks dance to the tune of brass trumpets, cymbals and drums – a pantomime that proclaims the victory of good over evil, and all this in the stunning backdrop of the magical Ladakh mountains. The Hemis Gompa festival showcases one of the most varied customs and traditions of the Buddhism. This two day festival honours... Click to Read

Fire Rockets this Easter - Rouketopolemos

Sun, Mar 28 2010 03:27 PM
What : Rouketopolemos or Rocket war
Where : Vrondados, Greece
When : April 2010

The people of the Greek island of Chios have a unique way to celebrate Easter. The congregations of two rival churches fire rockets at each other during the Sunday mass before Easter! Rocketopolemos or rocket war as it is known is a glittering spectacle in the night sky that attracts many visitors to the charming village of Vrondados. The congregations of the churches... Click to Read

To the beats of the Samba

Fri, Jan 29 2010 11:40 PM
What : Carnival of Rio
Where : Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When : February 13 - 19

Hear the faraway beats of Samba? Yes it is time to head to Rio. The carnival capital of the world welcomes you to the biggest of them all, the Rio Carnival. One of the most awaited events in the world, the Rio carnival is a wild 4 day celebration with dance, music and raucous partying that extends to the wee hours of the night. Thousands arrive in costumes, some flashy, some glittery... Click to Read

Kumbh Mela - A dip in the holy water

Sun, Jan 10 2010 01:02 PM
What : Kumbh Mela
Where : Haridwar, Uttarakhand
When : January 14 - April 28 2010

In the foothills of the Himalayas, the ancient holy city of Haridwar prepares for the mother of all pilgrimages, the Kumbh Mela. It is in this hilly city that the holy river Ganga emerges out of the mountains to start its journey towards the Bay of Bengal. Millions of devotees arrive to take a dip in the Ganga on the day of the new moon. An auspicious practice which is said to cleanse... Click to Read

For a hot cuppa in the hills

Mon, Nov 23 2009 02:25 PM
What : The Teesta Tea and Tourism Festival
Where : Darjeeling, West Bengal
When : November - December

‘Let’s have a cup of tea’ ... oh, how we love that sentence! The faint gold brew with the rich aroma has come a long way from being part of the English high tea’ and the humble brew of the Asians. And what better way to celebrate this rich brew than a festival in its name? Head to Darjeeling then, to the Teesta Tea and Tourism Festival. Jointly organised by... Click to Read

In the land of camels

Tue, Oct 28 2009 12:11 AM
What : The Pushkar Mela
Where : Pushkar, Rajasthan
When : 30 October - 2 November 2009

Races, beauty contests, musical chairs…all for camels!! Visit the Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan and you’ll know what we’re talking about. Apart from fun and games, Pushkar Mela is the largest cattle fair in this part of the world. Thousands arrive to trade, take in the culture and to be a part of the pulsating atmosphere. Pushkar becomes the throbbing centre of Rajasthan... Click to Read

Taste, smell, see and feel the 'Choco'

Tue, Sep 23 2009 12:05 AM
What : Choco-Vienna 2009
Where : Haus der Industrie Schwarzenbergolatz 4, Wien
When : 2 – 4 October 2009

It is a festival that offers to sweeten a whole weekend with all the dark and light delights. The event will not just tickle your palate but also offer an overall experience for all the senses. The claim is from Choco-Vienna, an annual fete that tempts and tantalizes all the sweet-lovers with choices that only chocolate can offer. In the first weekend of October the choco-fest... Click to Read

At the Wild and Outrageous BooooOmTowN !

Fri, Sep 03 2010 11:34 AM
What : The Boomtown Fair
Where : Secret Location, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
When : Held annually in the month of August

Do you think it is strange for a town to celebrate a festival in the name of a goat? Well the folks of Killorglin in Ireland have a different opinion. For them the male goat or the 'Puck' is a hero!! Legend has it that the origin of 'King Puck' and Puck fair have their roots in the story of Oliver Cromwell and the 'Roundheads'. When the Roundheads raided the villages near Killorglin... Click to Read

All in the name of a goat

Sun, Aug 25 2010 10:53 AM
What : The Puck Fair
Where : Killorglin, Kerry, Ireland
When : Aug 10 - 12, 2010

Go for Gangaur - The festival of colours

Sun, Mar 07 2010 09:49 PM
What : Gangaur Fair
Where : Rajasthan, India
When : March 18 - 19

Seek out the essence of Rajasthan in the colourful Gangaur Festival. The land of desert, palaces and camels welcomes you to this traditional festival which is nothing short of a cultural extravaganza. Gangaur is named after Shiva (Gan) and Gauri (Gaur), the epitome of a good married couple. Gauri is the goddess of marital bliss and well being and both married and... Click to Read

A Fairy tale in the French Riviera

Sun, Jan 10 2010 01:05 PM
What : The Nice Carnival
Where : Nice, France
When : 12 – 28 February 2010

A carnival with fantasy, flowers and fairy tale charm in the backdrop of the glorious French Riviera- what more do you want? A carnival that dates back to the 17th century, the Carnaval de Nice is one of the largest in the world. Large flowery floats parade the streets where snazzy costumed revelers strut their stuff. It’s more than 15 days of fun with the sun, sand and sea... Click to Read

A Festival in the land of stones

Sun, Jan 10 2010 01:04 PM
What : The Hampi Utsav
Where : Hampi, Karnataka
When : 27 -29 January 2010

Hampi is a majestic land where stones tell tales of a colourful past, a paradise for lovers of history, art and architecture. The Hampi Utsav is the perfect time to capture the grandeur of the city of a bygone era. The Hampi festival is a three day gala organised by the Government of Karnataka to attract visitors to the city. This time the festival is being held in January... Click to Read

Light up a million lamps

Tue, Oct 28 2009 12:15 AM
What : Loi Krathong Sai Festival
Where : Bangkok, Thailand
When : 1- 2 November 2009

Hundreds of tiny lamps floating in the dark shimmering waters in the cool night taking away mortal grief and misfortune - a lyrical and ballad-like concept that underlies the Loi Krathong festival in Thailand. A nationwide celebration, the festival abounds with customs and colourful folklore. Most of the Thaïs believe that it is to express apologies to the river goddess... Click to Read

Montecarlo in Festa

Tue, Sep 23 2009 12:02 AM
What : Montecarlo in Festa
Where : Montecarlo
When : 1 - 8 Sep 2009 (annual)

Apart from its casinos and luxury yachts, Montecarlo, the playground of the rich and the famous, has one more asset to flaunt before the world. That is its wines, reputed to be the favourite of many popes and statesmen! Your taste buds also get a chance to savour the rich, fragrant flavours of the local reds and whites straight from their makers during an annual event held... Click to Read

Dance of Light and Colour

Mon, Sep 07 2009 10:41 PM
What : Pyronale 2009
Where : Maifield at the Olympic Stadium, Berlin
When : 4, 5 September 2009

Prepare to be dazzled by spellbinding fireworks and colourful choreography of light and artistry that creates magic in the sky. Witness this fiery spectacle and be a part of the most spectacular competition on earth, or should we say –in the sky?! Pyronale is not just another competition; it is a feast for the eyes. Pyronale was started in 2006 and three years later it has grown... Click to Read