Some countries are endowed with festivals and this is mostly seen in the areas of Asiatic region than anywhere else in the world. India perhaps tops the list of the number of festivals in a year and the myriad variety of these that are seen within the country are too unbelievable or rather too exotic for tourists especially for those coming from foreign countries. True, many of these festivals have a generous sprinkling of the religious and customs based on traditions of the past, as is usually the case with festivals, yet on the whole they display a great difference in one way or the other. This might be the reason why in India and many of the Asian countries there is a lot of festival travels as well as religious travels as in many instances both are seen to be intricately connected. But for those who think that travel means simply fun or amusement for the very sake of it this kind of Festival Travel may look somewhat off the mark unlike those established and marked traveling or touring spots of interests. Well, the time of fun can be easily replicated near to your own home, say your town or at the outskirts of it with its greenery and mountainous surroundings. For touring doesn't mean simply having fun at some remote place, but to study the uniqueness of the place itself including the customs, traditions and the festivals attached to the place that actually highlights it along with others in the World Tourist Map or the Tourist Map of a Country or region. In fact, some of this type of fun can be replicated even while you visit one of your home country's National Parks or say one of the Amusement Parks catering both for children and adults.
Then why look into festivities? The reason is that there is a lot of difference as there are differences between staged plays and the actual event taking place before ones own eyes. A festival place is a gathering quite unique to the population residing within the boundaries of that particular place and those who visit can either join into the fun event or look at the event as an opportunity to understand the traditions, customs and the culture of the people of those parts. Unlike those drab days where even the ordinary folks of a place are at their secretive best and try to drag themselves away from any queries asked of them by strangers, festivals offer enough scope for inquisitive tourists to place questions to just about anyone at any moment.Of course, I am not talking about extra conservative cultures who would look the other way than do any communicating. Yet festivities bring about the change in human disposition due to the very environment that prevails around a person or society and this is why it is surely the best bet for travelers or tourists to move about and understand the large and tiny differences that exists in societies that make them so special and worth much of a person's time and energy.
There is one thing that all travelers visiting strange lands ought to keep in mind and that is all festivals that one come across in the brochures of different Travel Operators or Travel Depot or one that is distributed by agents of different domestic and international airlines, may not sound so sweet as depicted in them. The reason is that festivals nowadays are just about anything and everywhere no matter what place you are in. This is a good sign for all good things that are likely to come with the positive affects of globalization and possibilities of closer mingling of people of different societies to make the world a lot more smaller in space and time. Yet for an unwary traveler or tourist or simply a visitor on business visits this type of selection could turn into a nasty jolt for life. In many cases until and unless the person is well versed in the culture of the society that he or she visits, the festival names can be really a shocking experience close to a nightmare.
So, be selective about festivals and chose them in consultation with the travel offices of the place one visits or intents to visit. A good well established tour operator or a consulting guide in travel of the Travel department or good Airline Agents can give an elaborate account of the festival and the time required and the ways to enjoy them and even help you with the selection of mode of transport and the likely expenses you might have to meet. In other words, visit or make sure that you visit only festivals that are famous within the country or state or district and are celebrated by the whole community with mass gatherings. Never try to go for festivals that are boldly written in the Travel Brochures simply for the sake of going. I am not saying that all travel brochures have an explanation of Festival times of a place. Far from it for many never ever mention it even once in their travel slips. This being the case it is better for first time travelers or visitors to make some discreet queries and make list of festivals that one would wish to celebrate along with the local communities. This also means to strike off holidays that are not proper festival time for visitors or because of the nature of the festival itself. Let me give a few examples here. Holidays like environmental day, children day or woman's day or for that matter any holiday in all likelihood marked as festive day then 'Beware'. This may sound nothing, but simply hogwash for visitors until and unless there is something special event being stage managed by a group of people or members of a society. This is what I had earlier stated that if ever you wish to travel and enjoy travel then do it with a purpose. In fact, many listed festive holidays are big and very important yet there is nothing much for a visitor to enjoy or entertain. Among the famous holidays in the list in a country like India where there are thrice as much festivals in one or the other part of the country that it becomes really very confusing for a first time visitor who must have read or seen video back at home that this country is full of colorful festivities all over.
Hence, I repeat that all vacationing tourists must have a purpose for enjoying festivities and this is more markedly seen in the case of FESTIVAL TOURISM. Take the case of Dewali festival practiced throughout the length and breadth of India save a few states.This festival is mostly an indoor family affair and until and unless the visitor has some very close ties with one or more such families celebrating the event it will be rather not all that enjoyable for them. Again, the fireworks that go off during the night can be rather an event to be watched, but otherwise the whole thing is confined to a family matter of give and take of sweets, greetings, gifts and more sweets. Yet in some parts of India the Dewali festival may have an additional event that might be worthy of watching or enjoying as this may be done with the intention of drawing the whole of that community to celebrate the event together.Hence, selection of the festive event is very important. Never do traveling for the sake of traveling only for you may get quite bored with it if this is your second or third trips to the same place.
Tourists visiting places as a holiday can select their interest in line with their profession or as hobby and there is a range of festivals that if done with a selective bend of mind can be really an exhilarating experience just like first timers on a trip to the Himalayas. These festivals unlike those of the religious or community flavor has more of globalized version for those with specialized tastes. For instance, there can be festivals like Dog Shows, Canine Shows, Flower Shows, Gardening Shows, Technological Shows, Art Shows and even shows like Sports Festivals,Theatre Festivals, Music Festivals, Film Festivals and the like. You may just name it and it is there within your Google system or just within the range of your internet. It needn't be confined to these only. In fact, it depends upon the creative intellects of the local people and the places of origin and the way the festivity is given an altogether new view at some far off place not anywhere near its original place. For instance, there can be myriads of such festive delights and it depends upon the mindset of the organizers as well as the inclination of the travelers to enjoy it. Gorgeous Don Bosco School Mannuthy compound is presently a host to the relic of Don Bosco that would arrive after its tour to the rest of the world. The major event is to be held at the school on 28th September, 2011 with immense publicity. The event is expected to have participants from all communities as the Rev Don Bosco was very much within the hearts of children all over the world.
However keep it mind that you can enjoy the festivals only if you really have an interest for it. But if you feel you may try to make one of your trips a festival oriented one and then you will never regret as long as the selection is good.
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