List of best festivals and celebrations in 2020

BITS PILANI - Goa Campus

2021-04-24T18:26:00.009+05:30

One of the fastest-growing festivals, Waves the Cultural Fest of BITS PILANI - Goa Campus is one of the top-rated College Festivals of the country. Let's not talk much about its history which can be known from Wiki also. Instead, I'll just mention a few of the best things which ever happened in the country.

Last year, Waves was the first-ever College Fest to associate with Sunburn and together hold Sunburn Campus, a pre-Sunburn event in the Campus, which later went to other colleges too!

It won't be hard for you to tell at how high a rate, the current graph is tending to rise. And since it's Goa, it's getting a mix of how amazing celebrations can be like. :P None of the fests have ever seen such a peak in so little time.

The best part about Waves is that not even a single penny is funded by the government unlike many big cultural festivals in India. Everything from bringing sponsors, taking pictures, making official videos, publicizing, accommodation, hospitality, decorations, and arrangements are done by the students and only students! Everything taking place during the festival brings along history with it. Students seldom learn to handle great things. :)

And the best part, apart from the National attention, which it had till 2011, it started going International with the Australian Band Dead Letter Circus in 2012, and Monuments which is about to come this year. \m/

Searock, the rock band competition, is the biggest college level event in the Country till date! Excited!?

Top 10 colleges with best fests in India

2020-11-07T19:51:00.005+05:30

Top 10 colleges with best fests in India

College life is all about fun, glamour, fashion, frolic, enjoyment and tough semesters for the youngsters. Fests in colleges are huge events for the students as they get to enjoy to the fullest during the fest and have a gala time. Right from the perfect music to the crazy dancing, a college fest easily makes as one of the top moments of one’s entire college life

1.Mood Indigo (IIT Bombay)

This fest needs no introduction as sit is one of its largest kinds in the entire Asia. Students from around 1500 colleges come to the fest every year. The date for this fest is December 26-29 this year. It gets considerable

amount of media attention and huge sponsorships from companies round the globe. Popular performers such as Zakir Hussain, Hariharan, DJ Lyod and Asha Bhonsle too have performed in this fest. There are also theatre fests along with music and dance competition. To sum it up, it has everything to make it one of the best college fests in India.

2. Pulse (AIIMS)

This is the biggest fest of medical fraternity in the whole South East Asia. 40,000 students from around 700 colleges come together for this fest. More than 200 events take place in this fest and is one of the most awaited days of the year for medical students.

Do drop by these fests to witness extravaganza of an altogether different level. Colleges and their students put in a lot of effort to make these events successful. Come and celebrate with the youths!

3.Saraang (IIT Madrash)

This is a 5 day long fest help at IIT Madras, now Chennai. It has a wide range of performers coming and displaying their expertise. Various dance and music competition takes place in this fest which brings it to number 2 spot on the list. Every year there are 50,000 footfalls for the fest from students all over the country. Choreo night, an inter college dance competition organised here is known as the biggest in the entire South India, making it a rightful part of the list of best college fests in India.

4. ANTARANG (TECHNO LUCKNOW)

Antarang is a cultural fest organized in one of India’s leading upcoming colleges, Techno Group of Institutions, based in Lucknow. TGI’s fest Antarang is noted for the variety in its programs, ranging from cultural to business oriented programs and contests to a high profile ramp walk for the fashionistas in the college. The youthful energy and dynamism is most palpable during the best college fests in India. From music to dancing to interesting quizzes, one will find everything in this fest. If you wish to experience the adrenaline pumping fest experience, you must set foot on Techno’s sprawling campus during the month of February when Antarang is organized.

5. Incident (NIT Kanpur)

This is the fest of Nation Institute of Technology, KARNATAKA. It ranks second in the entire South India amongst other best college fests in India. Popular events include- Haute couture (Fashion show) and Bandish (contemporary and classical music event) are two of the biggest attractions of this fest. There are also workshops in this fest such as animated film making, photography and self defence for women. Popular artists such as Sunidhi Chauhan, Led Zepplin, Indian Ocean and many more have performed here over the last few years. NIT K owns a private beach which further enhances the aura of the event!

6. RIVIERA (VIT)

The theme of the event is relieving the era. Vellore Institute of Technology organises this fest every year and as many as 4000 students from other colleges come to the fest along with the existing 45000 students of the institute itself. More than a 100 events are organised based on dance, music and fine arts. The debate competition held here is one of the most popular in South India. Top artists who have performed in the past are- KK, Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan, Euphoria and many more!

7. OASIS (BITS Pilani)

This is a 96 hour long fest that i organised by BITS Pilani. It all started in the year 1972 and since then it is known to get participation from over 200 colleges every year. Rocktaves, organised in this fest is one of the biggest rock competitions in the country. Exposure, a photography event is also huge and very popular in this fest. Also, this fest is known to be the only fest that has Rap battles lined in the events! Performers such as Niraj Shridhar and Kailash kher have performed here in the past.

8. Unmaad (IIM Bangalore)

Events based on dance, music and fine arts are in plenty in this event. Unmaad, Haute Couture and B-rock event are the major attractions. This fest even goes online and hosts events such as quizzes and sher-o-shayari for the participants. Workshops on film making, women’s safety and clay pottery are held. Farhan AKhtar, DJ Suketu and likes of them have performed in the past at IIM Bangalore fest.

9. Rendezvous (IIT Delhi)

This is the cultural festival of IIT Delhi and is conducted in the month of October. A huge folk of 50,000 students visit the fest from around 350 colleges from all over India. Events such as beat boxing, dancing, fashion and drama are organised in the fest and are popular among the crowd. Huge sponsors come for the event which further adds to the popularity and visibility of the fest over media.

10. Pravega (IISC Bangalore)

It is one of its kind cultural, tech and science fest of IISC Bangalore. This is a unique one because events of chemistry, physics and such fields also take place in the fest alongside cultural and music dance and fine arts events. It the perfect place to be for a geek! R&D exhibitions and workshops are also conducted.

Essay on onam festival

2020-11-03T15:16:00.003+05:30

Essay on onam festival

Kerala’s most important cultural festival, Onam, will be celebrated all over India with much gusto, and the land of tall palms and calm backwaters will turn into a riot of colours. Though Onam is celebrated for 10 days, the actual day of the festival is on Thiru Onam, named after the star associated with Lord Vishnu. Here are only some reasons why we’re super-excited about the festival.

1. The Delicious Spread of Onam Sadya

The Onam Sadya is a selection of traditional Keralan vegetarian dishes served on a banana leaf, to be eaten by hand. The feast carries over 15 different dishes that include accompaniments (called Kootan) like Parippu curry (dal served with ghee), rasam, aviyal, pickles, sambar, pulisseri (curried buttermilk), olan (veg stew in coconut milk), payassam and prathaman (sweet pudding made of rice, fruits and jaggery) . All of this is served with a lot of love and warm hospitality.

2. The Excitement of Snake Boat Races

Water sports are a big part of Onam, with the boat races making heads turn all over the world! These boat races take place at Aranmula and other places, with the Aranmula Boat Race being the oldest in Kerala. The Nehru Trophy Boat race has over 100 participating boatmen, and is the second most popular boat race during Onam. Watching the cheering crowd egging the boatmen on is an adrenaline-filled experience!

3. The Elaborate Floral Rangoli

The rangoli for Onam is made using flower petals, and is called Pookalam (floral designs). These floral patterns are seen outside homes and on roads, almost giving you a carpet of flower petals to walk on, except that they are so pretty that you wouldn’t want to step on them. The designs depict the history of the festival, and are considered to be auspicious elements.

4. Kasavu Sarees and Traditional Finery

Those white saris with golden borders have tempted many women to purchase one, because they look oh-so-elegant, especially when teamed-up with gold jewellery and flowers in the hair. The Kasavu sarees, as they are called, are quite a rage during Onam, and have even inspired some Raja Ravi Verma paintings! Did you know—this saree, also known as the Mundum Neriyathum, is the oldest form of saree?

5. The Colourful Street Processions

You need to be in Kerala to witness Onam processions in their full glory. If you are not, it’s time to put it on your bucket list! The spirit of Onam is on a grand display as people come together to participate in narrative dramatics, folk dances, street plays and performances held on the streets.

Diwali and ownward festivals

2020-10-25T14:02:00.006+05:30

Diwali 2020: Find out dates of 5-day Diwali festivities, including
Dhanteras, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj

Diwali 2020 Date, When is Dhanteras, Govardhan Puja date in India, Bhai Dooj Date in India Calendar, The auspicious festival of Diwali falls on the 15th day of Kartik, which is considered as the holiest month as per traditional Hindu calendar. Here is the date and time of Diwali 2020- dhunteras

Diwali 2020 Date, When is Dhanteras, Govardhan Puja date in India, Bhai Dooj Date in India Calendar: Come the months of October-November and we can already feel the festivities kicking in. With the on-set of Navratri, the countdown for one of India’s biggest festival, i.e Diwali begins. From meeting our loved ones, decorating our houses with lights and diyas, preparing delicious delicacies to the excitement of opening gifts, the festival brings with itself not just the prosperity and success but also excitement and happiness.we also here about the big billion days sales on amazon on festive season also we can see impact on film festivals. As we celebrate each day of Navratri, our minds are already preoccupied with the idea of Diwali and, for some, the preparations have already begun. If you are reading this article, it is evident tha you are eagerly waiting for this beautiful festival and want to know the exact dates. Answering the much-awaited question, Diwali falls on the 15th day of Kartik, which is considered as the holiest month as per traditional Hindu calendar. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on November 14, i.e on Saturday. Since the festivities of Diwali extends over a period of 4-5 days, here’s what each day signifies. We also hear about the amazon great indian festivals sales, harvest festivals.

Dhanteras 2020

Going by the word ‘DhanTeras’, Dhan signifies wealth and teras signifies 13th day in lunar fortnight. On this day, people perform puja and buy gold, silver and other ornaments ahead of the big festival. Dhanteras is considered as a very lucky day for making big purchases as some believe that the day marks the birth of Goddess Laxmi. This year, Dhanteras will be celebrated on November 12. Choti Diwali 2020 Date in India Choti Diwali is regarded as the onset of Diwali. It is a mini preview of what is to follow on the main day of Diwali. On this day, people decorate their house, meet their friends and family, buy new clothes and light diyas. Choti Diwali will be celebrated on November 13. When is Diwali 2020? The most auspicious day of the 5-day festivities, Diwali will be celebrated on November 14.

Govardhan Puja

Slated to be celebrated on November 15 this year, Govardhan Pooja has different significance in different parts of India. In North India, the festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna’s triumph of Lord of

Thunder and rain.

The term "Govardhana' has two meanings. The word "Go' means cows, and "vardhana' means nourishment. In the other meaning "Go' stands for senses and "vardhana' means to increase the diversion of the senses towards Lord Krishna. Both these are done by Shree Giriraja. He kindly blesses the devotee by increasing his devotion. Thus by residing in the foothills of Shree Giriraja, all the senses and their respective duties of a soul attain divinity and are inclined to serve the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna. Govardhan Hill those who are not aware of was a mountain now a hill that is situated in Vrndavana, India.The story of Goverdhan pooja:-One day Lord Krishna saw that all the residents of Gokul are busy in preparing many kinds of foods and dishes. Out of curiosity he asked them that why they are preparing many kinds of foods, they replied that this preparation is being done for the Lord Indra. Because, only if Lord Indra would be happy, residents of Gokul will get the rain and the problem of livelihood would be solved. By hearing this Lord Krishna condemned Indra and alleged him. He also said to the residents that you must worship the God who is visible to you and he himself will come to accept the offerings made by you (residents of Gokul). Milkmans said to the Lord Krishna that you should not criticize the Lord Krishna in this way as he is the one who is helping them to survive. By hearing this Lord Krishna said, â€œWhat kind of power Indra is having which is helping us for raining? The mount of Goverdhan is more beautiful and powerful than Indra, so we must worship the mount Goverdhan as it is visible too. Lord Krishan made residents impresses by his ingenuity of speech and also agree them to worship the mount Goverdhan. They gathered around the Goverdhan to worship it. Because Lord Indra not worshiped, he felt insulted and angrily ordered his clouds to go to the Gokul and by the holocaustic torrential rain, destroy the Gokul village. By seeing mount size holocaustic clouds, villagers became worried, they all went to the shelter of Shri Krishna and asked him, â€œNow what we will do, as Lord Indra wants to sink our village in rain? Lord Krishna made the villagers calm and said, You all go to the shelter of mount Goverdhan with your families and cows, he will protect all of you. All villagers followed the Lord Krishna's instruction and gathered around the mount Goverdhan. Lord Shri Krishan lifted up the mount Goverdhan on his little finger and all the villagers come down under the Goverdhan and for seven days they happily stayed there; a single drop of rain could not touch them. It was a great surprise for Lord Indra, he realized the glory of the God and by leaving his arrogant attitude he went to the shelter of Lord Shri Krishna and apologized. On seventh day Lord Krishna replaced the mount Goverdhan and by remembering that day Goverdhan pooja is celebrated every year since then. Bhai Dooj

A celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters, Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on November 16 this year. Bhai Dooj 2019: Celebrated on the fifth day of Diwali, Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Dooj is a special Hindu festival that observes the bond of love between brother and sister. Also known as Bhau Beej, Bhatra Dwitiya, Bhai Dwitiya, Bhathru Dwithiya and Bhai Phonta. We can see the cultural events around us on the bhai dooj.

Applying tilak or teeka (vermilion) on their brother's forehead, a sister prays for his longevity, well-being and prosperity. The brother gives him money or any gift by using debit card or by many things .These day mostly shops give the instant discount .The sisters keep a fast and prepare a meal for their brothers. In return, the brothers offer gifts to their sisters and promise to protect them from every evil force. Bhai Dooj From timing to significance know all about festival that celebrates bond of love between them

On Bhai Dooj, sisters apply tilak or teeka on the foreheads of their brothers and pray for their prosperity. The festival is called Bhau Beej among Gujarati, Marathi and Konkani-speaking communities, Bhai Phonta among Bengalis, Bhai Teeka in Nepal, while in southern parts it is called Yama Dwitiya. It also shares similarities with Raksha Bandhan.

History and Significance:

According to Hindu mythology, on this day, Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra after killing the demon Narakasura. Subhadra marked the occasion by applying the ceremonial teeka on his forehead and performing aarti. She is also the homecoming special by offering him sweets and flowers. Overwhelmed by her gesture, Lord Krishna blessed Subhadra with many boons. Hence, the festival of "Bhai Dooj" was born. Another myth says, Yamraj, the God of death, visited his sister Yami (Yamuna) on this day. She welcomed Yamraj with an aarti, teeka on his forehead and offered him sweets. Moved by her gesture, Yamraj presented her with a gift that signified his love and affection towards her. The God of Death also declared that any brother who would receive an 'aarti' and 'tilak' from his sister on this day should never be afraid of death.

Happy Navratri

2020-10-24T21:11:00.012+05:30

Happy Navratri & Hopes Bonhomie Continues Forever

“Festivals Teach Us To Live Together As Humans”

Happy Navratri

Festivals are a way to celebrate our culture, heritage, and traditions. But much more than that, festivals are special occasions to realize that we are humans beyond our religion, color, caste, and creed. The moments of rejoicing inspire us to share our love and bonhomie with others too, irrespective of whether they are of the same religion or not. It is this feeling of oneness and brotherhood that noted entrepreneur wants us to feel and share beyond this year’s Navratri festival. As this year’s Navratri – the nine days on which nine different forms of Goddess Durga are celebrated, worshipped, and cherished – draws to a close, Mr. Sarkar has wished all his Hindu brothers and sisters ‘Happy Durga Puja’ and with that, he has a wish that he wants to share with everyone.

In his words, “Indians come in all hues and shades and so are our festivals. While I may celebrate Eid at home, in my office, I celebrate all the Indian festivals, including Holi, Diwali, Christmas and Navratri because my workforce has employees belonging to different religions and faith. We encourage ‘Sarva-Dharam Sambhaav’ at the workplace and it is this bonhomie that inspires the hope for a better future among us all.”

As Indians, everyone has welcomed the festive season with open arms, after suffering different phases of lockdown for months this year. However, at the same time, the general atmosphere in the country has also become disturbed because of incessant religious bigotry and unnecessary politicization of issues of public interest. Amidst all this, festivals like Navratri and Eid add hope to our hearts as we feel generally happy and content with what we have in life. This warmth and geniality that comes with each special occasion could well be the key to a better life for all of us, if only we learn how to live like this beyond the festivals, feels Mr. Sarkar.

He says, “Faith is what drives Indians. It is our core strength irrespective of which God we pray to. If we imbibe our faith and all that is good about it in our daily life, into our daily behavior, wouldn’t that be just wonderful!” He asks, “When we are so accommodating and tolerant towards others around us during Diwali, Eid, Holi, Christmas and Navratri, what makes us so intolerant and unaccommodating towards other faiths during the rest of the year? Why do we turn our backs on our friends, relatives, and neighbors during regular days?”

He cited an example of one of the famous Durga Pujas of the country, organized in Kidderpore, Kolkata, one of the oldest Muslim-dominated areas of the state of West Bengal. In keeping with their 80-year-long tradition of religious harmony, people of all faiths in the area are engaged in preparations for the Durga Puja Pandal, which is being set up with financial help from Hindus as well as Muslims. Quoting one of the organizers, Mr. Sarkar said, “A festival is for humans, not for different faiths. So, we all should come together to not just celebrate it on that particular day, but carry that feeling of religious bonhomie throughout the year.”

In another example from his personal life, Mr. Sarkar adds, “Being an entrepreneur, I have a lot of people from different faiths working for me. These days, being Navratri, I get messages on my phone that end with Jai Mata Di. I don’t have to think twice before writing back ‘Jai Mata Di’ while acknowledging the messages. That is because I have faith in humanity and I consider all Indians my brothers and sisters. But this feeling of oneness is what we need for the rest of the days too.”

Festivals are not about just that day or exchanging greetings for just one day in a year. Festivals teach us to keep up the spirit for the rest of the year too. Whether it is our neighbors, siblings, or colleagues, the way we come together on festivals, despite having bad blood between us! So, what keeps us from staying together for the rest of the year?

“Festivals are for a lifetime, not for one single day. The bonhomie and love that we feel for each other during Navratri should continue the next day as well. We shouldn’t forget it all and get back to our routine lives of religious disharmony and cruelty the very next day. In a few days, we are going to celebrate Dussehra too. Wouldn’t it be nice if we burn the Raavan inside us too, along with the Raavan outside?”

"If you like Navratri share it."

Fyre Festival

2020-10-24T11:50:00.011+05:30

Fyre Festival Promoter Has a Podcast, and a Spot in Solitary Confinement

Billy McFarland, the disgraced entrepreneur behind the notorious Fyre Festival, and a current federal inmate, has been placed in solitary confinement, his lawyer said on Friday, after Mr. McFarland participated in a new podcast about his crimes that was released this week.

Mr. McFarland, 28, who is serving six years for fraud, can be heard discussing his various high jinks and their aftermath in detail from a prison phone on a show titled “Dumpster Fyre,” which premiered Tuesday. According to Mr. McFarland’s lawyer, he has been in 23-hour-a-day solitary confinement since last week, after a trailer for the podcast was released online, and may remain there for up to 90 days or more, pending an unspecified investigation by the federal Bureau of Prisons.

“We believe the investigation stems from his participation in the podcast and the photographs that were taken and utilized in the trailer, which were all properly taken,” said the lawyer, Jason Russo. “We don’t believe he’s violated any rule or regulation, and there can’t possibly be anything else. He’s been a model prisoner there.” Mr. McFarland was previously placed in solitary at a different facility for possessing a flash drive, his lawyer said.

A spokesman for the Bureau of Prisons in Washington declined to comment and said that the agency never discusses the housing arrangements of inmates for privacy reasons. Mr. McFarland is currently being held at FCI Elkton in Lisbon, Ohio.

Mr. Russo said that inmates there are permitted to use the phones, and that all calls are recorded and screened by the prison. As for the photos of Mr. McFarland inside, which have been posted to an Instagram account that bills itself as being “managed by Billy’s team,” Mr. Russo said that inmates are permitted to use disposable cameras to take photos, and that those, too, are screened before they can be kept or mailed out. “They absolutely should have already known” about the podcast, Mr. Russo said.

Mr. McFarland’s cellmate, who participated in the podcast, was also placed in solitary confinement, the lawyer said.

Podcasting from within prison is not unheard-of. “Ear Hustle,” produced at San Quentin State Prison, was created in 2017 by an inmate at the time, along with the help of an outside volunteer, while “Uncuffed,” from the NPR affiliate KALW, also tells the stories of people incarcerated in California from the inside.

On the first episode of “Dumpster Fyre,” in which Mr. McFarland is interviewed by the podcaster Jordan Harbinger, Mr. McFarland says that the inspiration for the podcast came last year, during his previous three-month stint in solitary, which he called a “much-needed confrontation with reality” and the “hardest but most impactful period of my life.”

“Solitary led to this forced reflection on my mistakes and the people I hurt,” Mr. McFarland said, noting that any proceeds he earned from “Dumpster Fyre” would go toward the $26 million in restitution he owes his victims. “The first thing I need to do is take responsibility for all of my actions,” he said, promising to follow “all the rules” and give “complete transparency.”

The Fyre Festival, which was the subject of dueling documentaries last year, was supposed to be a luxury music festival with glamorous accommodations and top-tier talent, but never happened after guests arrived to find a shambolic setup on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas in April 2017.

Mr. McFarland initially pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud after investigators said that he had defrauded investors in his company, Fyre Media, and a subsidiary that promoted the music festival, resulting in $24 million in losses. But while out on bail, Mr. McFarland was charged with two additional counts of fraud related to a new company that prosecutors said sold fake tickets to fashion, music and sports events and was said to have cost at least 30 victims a minimum of about $150,000.

“The defendant is a serial fraudster and to date his fraud, like a circle, has no end,” Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald said when she sentenced Mr. McFarland to prison. “Mr. McFarland has been dishonest most of his life.”

On the podcast, Mr. McFarland said, “I was desperate and thought I could dig myself out of the hole.” He is currently scheduled to be released on Aug. 30, 2023, according to his lawyer.

Cara Buckley contributed reporting.

Mexico Festival

2020-10-23T18:53:00.011+05:30

Six of Mexico’s Biggest Festivals Team for Un Festival Mexicano

Mexican festivals, as in most of the world, were hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis, with many forced to cancel, reschedule or go online. Led by the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG), six of the country’s most important festivals have banded together to create Un Festival Mexicano, an in person event running Nov. 20-27 in Guadalajara.

FICG 35.2, the rescheduled 35th edition originally scheduled for March of this year, will be joined this year by representatives and films from Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal’s itinerant documentary festival Ambulante, DocsMX, and the Los Cabos, Guanajuato and Monterrey film festivals in an unprecedented union of some of Mexico’s most important and well-established cultural events.

Un Festival Mexicano comes after a devastating reduction from 2019 of federal government support for Mexican film festivals, put through by new Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. This saw central government incentives scythed last year by more than 75% in the best of cases or cancelled in their entirety.

“The federal government must recognize the importance of our film festivals, and that’s primarily what Un Festival Mexicano is about. It’s a way for us to organize and stand together to back one another,” FICG director Estrella Araiza told Variety. “We have to support each other’s film festivals.”

Un Festival Mexicano Credit: FICG

“As cuts to cultural sectors were made, film festivals became neglected,” she explained. “Film festivals depend on federal and state support. Because ours is the first major festival of the year we got funding before the pandemic, but other festivals weren’t so lucky.”

Many Mexican festivals were forced completely online this year, so the idea is to host those events and allow them to integrate part of their programming, which they had wanted to present physically, in with Guadalajara’s on-site offer by co-curating this year’s program.

Knowing that travel will be difficult for some and impossible for others, parts of Un Festival Mexicano will be made available online.

“We will be hybrid, but with a very strong physical component,” Araiza detailed. “We want to do one complete physical program, and that’s Un Festival Mexicano. Then we will also host several events which will be available via online streaming such as masterclasses, roundtables, and even some films.”

Reinforcing its commitment to the local community – where it is part of the cinema school, operates a stop-motion animation academy and studio and supports year-round cultural events -FICG is also working on agreements with local broadcasters to make parts of the festival available on free-to-air TV for those who can’t attend in person and don’t have internet in their homes.

Of course, health and safety concerns are paramount for the physical component of this year’s event as well. FICG is headquartered and hosted at the Cineteca FICG UdeG, part of the University Cultural Center (CCU) of the University of Guadalajara (UdeG), an ultra-modern indoor-outdoor hybrid facility with wide passageways, airy theaters and a massive exterior arena where films can be projected on the side of the building. It’s an ideal location for hosting a large event which will still allow for ample social distancing.

Program screenings will be free this year as a means of limiting the number of people queuing and entering the building at the same time. By reserving a seat online and downloading the ticket onto a mobile device, audiences will avoid being crammed together in entryways and ushers won’t need to make any physical contact with attendees.

Further details about the festival program and industry section will be made available in the coming weeks

Durga Puja

2020-10-23T17:55:00.007+05:30

Corona demons tower over India's Durga Puja festival

Every autumn the streets of Kolkata come alive with the sounds of Durga Puja. The Hindu festival, which celebrates the triumph of good over evil, is marked in West Bengal and neighbouring states as a time for dancing, drumming, eating and worship.

Yet the festival’s most defining feature are the pandals - displays of towering religious sculptures depicting the story of Durga Puja: the moment that the Hindu goddess Durga triumphed over the demon Mahishasura.

Pandals are known for their creativity, and this year, as the festival began on Thursday under the shadow and restrictions of Covid-19, it was no different. But now, in several pandals, instead of the usual sculptures of the Mahishasura demon, a new malevolent being has been put in its place: the coronavirus demon, better known as the Coronasura.

The Coronasura has taken several shapes. In some pandals, the head has been made to look like a Sars-CoV-2 particle, with its head covered in long trumpet-like fronds. Others have simply made the demon green, as if he is an embodiment of the virus.

Babu Pal, secretary of the artisans association of Kumartuli, the street in Kolkata where most Durga Puja icons are made, spoke of the inspiration behind the Coronasura they had made for a customer.

“Corona is the demon that everybody recognises, it is the demon that everybody is fighting, and we are all looking for the strength to defeat it,” said Pal of the sculpture. “Also we had no Covid cases in our artisans area, and we wanted to make this icon to thank the goddess for protecting us from the demon of corona here.”

The humanitarian impact of the coronavirus pandemic also inspired artist Rintu Das to create a very different pandal for the Barisha Club Durga Puja committee in Kolkata this year. Rather than a goddess, Das portrayed Durga as a migrant woman making the treacherous and exhausting walk along India’s roads with her children.

It is based on the experiences of tens of millions of India’s migrant workers who, when the country went into lockdown with just four hours notice, found themselves stuck hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of miles from home. With no work and no transport available, most began walking home in what became the greatest exodus of people across India since partition. Almost 1,000 migrant workers are known to have died on their journey.

Related: India racked by greatest exodus since partition due to coronavirus

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“I would turn on the TV and I would see all the images of migrant women walking hundreds of miles along the sides of the roads, often carrying their children, with just a handful of rice to eat and feet that were raw and bloody. Women, mothers, daughters, who looked so desperate as they walked,” said Das.

“That’s when the idea came to me to make a Durga Puja idol which showed the goddess as these migrant women. These women who are in pain and suffering but also full of strength and determination and power, who should be respected and worshipped; women who have God within them.”

In an acknowledgment of the demon of hunger faced by migrants and so many other people in West Bengal during lockdown, the towering 14ft sculpture has been surrounded by 30,000 rice sacks which were lit up with bulbs and hung up around the pandal.

“I pray that my Durga gives a new life to everyone who encounters it, that she takes away pain from everyone who is suffering right now,” said Das.

The pandemic has altered this year’s Durga Puja beyond recognition. West Bengal, a state still battling rising cases of coronavirus, introduced a series of strict measures to prevent millions coming out into the streets and causing a feared spike in cases, which now total more than 7 million in India. The 4,000 plus pandals across the state, the biggest and most popular of which usually draw in millions of visitors, have been banned from allowing anyone but organisers and performers to enter. Barricades have been erected around these usually buzzing places of worship.

It has been particularly tough for the traditional artisans who earn a living by making the icons for Durga Puja out of clay and fibreglass. Usually they receive orders and begin creating the sculptures five months before the festival, but this year they had less than two months. Even then, orders only trickled in.

Prasant Pal, 47, an artisan in Kolkata’s Kumartuli street who has been working for over 25 years, said last year he had received orders for more than 50 icons: this year it was just 15 small ones, and his income had fallen from 3 million rupees (£31,000) to just 70,000 rupees (£725).

“Artisans have suffered a lot because of this pandemic,” he said sadly. “Most of the artisans left Kolkata and were scared to come back because of Covid. But we had to persuade them because if they don’t work they will die of hunger.”

Yet even though visitors are not allowed into the pandals, the Durga Puja committees of West Bengal have found other ways to ensure they can be enjoyed. Many, like the Nutan Sangha Durga Puja committee in a neighbourhood of Kolkata, have gone digital.

Abhishek Bhattacharya, a committee member, described how they were offering “an augmented 360-degree video tour of our pandal so people can be in their homes but still virtually walk through and enjoy seeing the idols as if they were really there.”

People can also log in in anytime to YouTube and Facebook to watch a live feed of the pandal, which is on the theme of introspection, and there will also be video broadcasts of dancing and celebrations “so we can still reach out to the crowds wherever they are”.

The committee for one of Kolkata’s most popular pandals, the Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja, have also, reluctantly, gone digital. Sajay Ghosh, who sits on the committee, spoke nostalgically of previous years when 10,000 people per hour would visit their grand pandal, which would take months to create.

“People can view our pandal virtually online, but in our hearts we know it is not the same,” said Ghosh. “We all want to feel the warmth of the festival, and we are all feeling so sad at the situation this year, I can not even express it.”

Dussehra

2020-10-22T17:37:00.003+05:30

The Victory of Good over Evil In Dussehra

Dussehra falls two or three weeks prior to Diwali. Thus, it falls usually around September to October. Everyone waits for this festival eagerly. It brings great reasons to rejoice by all. The ladies prep for their pujas while the men buy crackers and more to celebrate it heartily.

Dussehra is also known as Vijayadashami in some regions of India. If we set aside the regional differences, the main events of this festival have one motto i.e. the victory of good over evil.

In other words, this festival signifies the victory of the power of good over that of the power of evil. If we look at the Hindu mythology, it says that on this day Goddess Durga removed the demon called Mahishasura from the earth. Similarly, other traditions believe that Lord Rama fought and eliminated the Demon King Ravana on this very day.

Thus, we see how both events have the same outcome. The outcome that is of light over dark, truth over lies and good over evil. Therefore, we see that while people’s belief may differ, they celebrate the very same essence throughout the country.

Dussehra Celebrations

People all over India celebrate Dussehra with immense enthusiasm, pomp, and show. The different cultures do not affect the celebrations of the festival. The spirit and zeal remain the same throughout the festival.

Furthermore, Dussehra marks Lord Rama’s victory over Demon Ravana. Thus, people enact the battle that took place between them for ten long days. This dramatic form is called Ram-Leela. People in North India act out the Ram-Leela by wearing masks and through various difference form.

Subsequently, following the Ramayana, they make giant size paperboard effigies of the three principle demons like Ravana, Meghanada, and Kumbakarna. They are then filled with explosives in order to burn them. A man plays the role of Lord Rama and shoots fiery arrows at the effigies to burn it down. People usually invite a chief guest to act as Lord Rama and burn that effigy down. This event is carried out in an open field with thousands of spectators.

People of all ages enjoy this fair. They witness the fireworks and are left mesmerized by the stunning visuals. Kids wait for the most for this event and insist on their parents to take them to see the firecrackers.

In conclusion, Dussehra carries a lot of importance in the Hindu religion. However, people from all religions witness the marvelous act of burning Ravana. It unites people as the audience is filled with people from all walks of life, and not just the Hindu religion. Most importantly, Dussehra teaches us that good always trumps evil and that light will always conquer darkness.

WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR DUSSEHRA

दशहरा का महत्व हिन्दी मे – Importance of Dussehra in Hindi

सामान्यत: दशहरा एक जीत के जश्न के रूप मे मनाया जाने वाला त्योहार है जश्न की मान्यता सबकी अलग – अलग होती है|

आज के वक्त मे यह बुराई पर आच्छाई की जीत का ही प्रतीक है| और हमे प्रति वर्ष अपने से किसी एक बुराई को खतम कर विजय दशमी के दिन इसका जश्न मनाना चाहिए

बुराई पर अच्छाई की जीत
झूठ पर सच्चाई की जीत
अहम ना करो गुणो पर
यही है इस दिवस की सीख

दशहरा कब मनाया जाता है – Dussehra Essay In Hindi

यह आश्विन माह की शुल्क पक्ष की दशमी के दिन मनाया जाता है| नवरात्रि के नौ दिनो के बाद विजय पर्व के रूप मे दशहरा/विजयदशमी के रूप मे मनाया जाता है|

दशहरा पर्व की कहानी – दशहरा का महत्व हिंदी में

दशहरा के दिन के पीछे कई कहानियाँ है, जिनमे सबसे प्रचलित कथा है भगवान राम का युद्ध जीतना अर्थात रावण की बुराई की विनाश कर उसके घमंड को तोड़ना| राम अयोध्या नगरी के राजकुमार थे, उनकी पत्नी का नाम सीता था एवं उनके छोटे भाई थे जिंनका नाम लक्ष्मण था|

राम के पिता दशरथ थे| राजा दशरथ की पत्नी कैकई के कारण राम लक्ष्मण और सीता तीनों को चौदह वर्ष के वनवास के लिए अयोध्या नागरी छोड़ कर जाना पड़ा|

उसी वनवास काल के दौरान रावण ने सीता का अपहरण कर लिया| रावण महाबलशाली राजा था, जिसकी सोने की लंका थी लेकिन उसमे अपार अहंकार था| वो महान शिव भक्त था और खुद को भगवान विष्णु का दुश्मन बताता था|

वास्तव मे रावण के पिता विशर्वा एक ब्राह्मण थे एव माता राक्षक कुल की थी इसलिए रावण मे एक ब्रह्मण के समान ज्ञान था एवम एक राक्षक के समान शक्ति और इन्ही दो बातो का रावण मे अहंकार था| जिसे खत्म करने के लिए भगवान विष्णु ने रामवतार लिया था.

राम ने अपनी सीता को वापस लाने के लिए रावण से युद्ध किया और अंत मे भगवान राम ने रावण को मार कर उसके घमंड का नाश किया|

माता सीता की खोज मे किया
लंका पार
दिलाया सभी दुखियो को
विश्वाश
तोड़कर महा अहंकारी का
अहंकार
किया दुखियो का उध्दार

इसी विजय के स्वरूप मे प्रति वर्ष विजयदशमी मनाई जाती है| आज के समय मे दशहरा इन पौराणिक कथाओ को माध्यम मानकर मनाया जाता है| माता के नौ दिन की समाप्ती के बाद दसवे दिन जश्न के तौर पर मनाया जाता है|

जिसमे कई जगहो पर राम लीला का आयोजन होता है, जिसमे कलाकार रामायण के पात्र बनते है और राम – रावण के इस युद्ध को नाटिका के रूप मे प्रस्तुत करते है| कई जगहो पर इस दिन मेला लगता है जिसमे कई दुकाने एवम खाने पीने के आयोजन होते है|

इस दिन घर के सभी पुरुष एवम बच्चे दशहरे मैदान पर जाते है| वहाँ रावण, कुंभकरण एवम रावण पुत्र मेघनाथ के पुतले का दहन करते है| उसके बाद शमी पत्र जिसे सोना चाँदी कहा जाता है उसे अपने घर लाते है|

घर मे आने के बाद द्वार पर घर की स्त्रियां अपने उनका तिलक लगाकर आरती उतारकर स्वागत करती है| माना जाता है की मनुष्य अपनी बुराई का दहन करके घर लौटा है इसलिए उनका स्वागत किया जाता है| इसके बाद वो व्यक्ति शामी पत्र देकर अपने से बड़ी के चरण स्पर्श कर आशीर्वाद लेता है|

अगर एक पंक्ति मे कहे तो यह पर्व आपसी रिश्तो को मजबूत करने एवंम भाईचारा बढ़ाने के लिए होता है, जिसमे मनुष्य अपने मन मे भरे घर्णा एवंम बैर के मेल को साफ कर एक दूसरे से एक त्यौहार के माध्यम से मिलता है|

यह पर्व हमे एकता की शक्ति याद दिलाते है जिन्हे हम समय की कमी के कारण भूलते ही जा रहे है ऐसे मे यह त्यौहार ही हमे अपनी नीव से बांधकर कर रखते है|

दशहरे का बदलता रूप – दशहरा पर निबंध हिंदी में😀😀😀😊😊😊😊

बुराई का रूप अब भ्रष्टचार है रावण के रूप मे नेताओ का अत्याचार है देश रूपी इस लंका मे कौन राम बनेगा यहाँ तो अब बस मिलावटी व्यवहार है|

आज के समय मे त्यौहार अपनी वास्तविक्ता से अलग जाकर आधुनिक रूप ले रहे है, जिसने इसके महत्व को कही न कही कम कर दिया है| जैसे – दशहरे पर एक दूसरे के घर जाने का रिवाज था, जब ये रिवाज मोबाइल कॉल एवंम इन्टरनेट मैसेज का रूप ले चुके है|

रावण दहन के पीछे उस पौराणिक कथा को याद रख जाता था, जिससे एक संदेश सभी को मिले की अहंकार सर्वनाश करता है, लेकिन अब तरह – तरह के पटाके फोड़े जाते है, जिनके कारण फिजूल खर्च बढ़ गया है| साथ ही प्रदूषण बढ़ता जा रहा है एवम दुर्घटनाए भी बढ़ती जा रही है|

इस प्रकार आधुनिकरण के कारण त्यौहारो का रूप बदलता जा रहा है| और कही न कही आम नागरिक इन्हे धार्मिक आडम्बर का रूप मानकर इनसे दूर होते जा रहे है| इनका रूप मनुष्यो ने ही बिगाडा है|

पुराणो के अनुसार इन सभी त्यौहारो का रूप बहुत सादा था| उसमे दिखावा नहीं बल्कि ईश्वर के प्रति आस्था थी| आज ये अपनी नीव से इतने दूर होते जा रहे है की मनुष्य के मन मे कटुता भरते जा रहे है| मनुष्य इन्हे वक्त एवम पैसो की बर्बादी के रूप मे देखने लगा है

हम सभी को इस वास्तविकता को समझ कर सादगी के रूप मे त्यौहारो को मनाना चाहिए| देश की आर्थिक व्यवस्था को सुचारु रखने मे भी त्यौहारो का विशेष योगदान होता है इसलिए हमे सभी त्यौहार मनाना चाहियदशहरा का पर्व भारत के महत्वपूर्ण पर्वो में से एक है| यह त्यौहार भारत के अलग अलग हिस्से में मनाया जाता है| लेकिन उद्देश्य केवल एक ही है – अच्छाई की बुराई पर जीत|

दशहरा नवरात्री और रामलीला की अंतिम चरण और दीपावली की ख़ुशी का आरंभ माना जाता है| इस दिन स्कूल और अन्य शिक्षण संस्थानों में अवकाश रहता है|

भारत के पूर्वी हिस्से मे, खास तौर पे पश्चिम बंगाल मे, यह पर्व दुर्गा पूजा के रूप मे मनाया जाता है|

नौ दिनो तक पूजा करने के बाद दसवे दिन माता दुर्गा की प्रतिमा को धूमधाम से पानी मे विसर्जीत किया जाता है| ऐसा माना जाता है की दुर्गा की दुर्गा माँ भेंसे रूपी असुर का विनाश करने और लोगों का धर्म मे विश्वाश कायम रखने आती है| पश्चिम बंगाल मे दुर्गा पूजा साल का सबसे बड़ा पर्व माना जाता है|

उत्तर भारत मे यह पर्व रामलीला, जो रामायण पर आधारित एक नाटक है, के अंतिम पड़ाव के रूप मे देखा जाता है| इस दिन असुर रावण, कुंभकर्ण और मेघनाथ के पुतले जलाए जाते है|

एक धारणा के अनुसार इसी दिन भगवान राम ने रावण का वध कर सीता माता को आजाद करवाया था| इसलिए इस त्योहार का दूसरा नाम विजयदशमी भी है| ऐसी धारणा है की इन पुतलो के साथ सारे पाप और कलेश भी जल कर राख़ हो जाते है.

भरत के दक्षिणी हिस्से मे यह त्योहार सरस्वती पूजा के रूप मे भी मनाया जाता है|

यूं तो दशहरा रामलीला और नवरात्रि का समापन माना जाता है, लेकिन यह पर्व दिवाली के आने का संकेत भी देता है| इस तरह त्योहारो की एक श्राखला बन जाती है जो साल के अंत तक चलता है|

दशहरा पर निबंध – Dussehra Essay in Hindi For School Student

हिन्दुओ के अनेक पर्व – त्यौहार है जिनका किसी न किसी रूप मे विशेष महत्व है| इन सभी पर्वो से हमे नवजीवन, उत्साह के साथ – साथ विशेष आनंद भी मिलता है.

दशहरा भी एक ऐसा ही त्यौहार है जो सम्पूर्ण देश मे बड़े ही जोश और उत्साह के साथ मनाया जाता है| ये त्यौहार हर साल दीपावली के 20 दिन पहले सितंबर या अक्तूबर के महीने मे आता है|

आश्विन माह के शुल्क पक्ष के दसवे दिन यह त्यौहार मनाया जाता है| दशहरा को असत्य पर स्त्य की विजय के रूप मे मनाया जाता है| इसलिए इसे विजयदशमी के नाम से भी जाना जाता है| इस दिन भगवान राम ने राक्षक रावण का वध कर माता सीता को उसकी कैद से छुड़ाया था|

देवी दुर्गा ने इसी दिन महिसासुर को मारकर उसके अत्याचार और पापो का अंत किया था| इस दिन जगह – जगह रामलीला का आयोजन किया जाता है| दशहरे का दिन शस्त्रो, वाहनो तथा किताबों की पूजा करते है.

प्राचीन काल मे राजा इसी दिन विजय की प्रार्थना कर युद्ध के लिए निकलते थे|

मराठा रत्न शिवाजी ने भी औरंगजेव के वीरुध इसी दिन प्रस्थान करके हिन्दू धर्म का रक्षण किया था| दशहरा पर्व को मनाने के लिए जगह – जगह बड़े मेलों का आयोजन किया जाता है|

मेले मे तरह – तरह की वस्तुए, चुड़ियों से लेकर खिलौने और कपड़े बेचे जाते है| इस दिन रावण के पुतले जलाए जाते है| कलाकार राम, सीता और लक्ष्मण के रूप धारन करते है और आग के तीर से इन पुतलो को मारते है.

पुतले पटाखो से भरे होते है, उनमे लगे पटाके फटने लगते है और उससे उनका अंत हो जाता है

दशहरा पर निबंध और महत्व पर लिखा गया लेख अगर आपको पसंद आये तो आप इसे फेसबुक, व्हाट्सएप्प, ट्विटर इत्यादि पर जरुर शेयर करे| हम आपके लिए ऐसी नए – नए लेख लेकर आते रहेंग

दशहरा की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं

Deepawali

2020-10-22T17:35:00.011+05:30

Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, usually lasting five days and celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November).One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the

spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". The festival is widely associated with Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity, but regional traditions connect ito Sita and Rama, Vishnu, Krishna, Yama, Yami, Durga, Kali, Dhanvantari, or Vishvakarman.

In the lead-up to Diwali, celebrants will prepare by cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas and rangoli. During the Diwali people wear their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with diyas and rangoli (oil lamps or candles), offer puja (worship) to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth, light fireworks, and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared. Diwali is also a major cultural event for the Hindu and Jain diaspora from the Indian subcontinent.

The five-day long festival originated in the Indian subcontinent and is mentioned in early Sanskrit texts. Diwali is usually celebrated twenty days after the Dashera (Dasara, Dasain) festival, with Dhanteras, or the regional equivalent, marking the first day of the festival when celebrants prepare by cleaning their homes and making decorations on the floor, such as rangoli. The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi, or the regional equivalent which for Hindus in the south of India is Diwali proper. Western, central, eastern and northern Indian communities observe main day of Diwali on the third day, the day of Lakshmi Puja and the darkest night of the traditional month. In some parts of India, the day after Lakshmi Puja is marked with the Govardhan Puja and Balipratipada (Padwa), which is dedicated to the relationship between wife and husband. Some Hindu communities mark the last day as Bhai Dooj or the regional equivalent, which is dedicated to the bond between sister and brother, while other Hindu and Sikh craftsmen communities mark this day as Vishwakarma Puja and observe it by performing maintenance in their work spaces and offering prayers.

Diwali Essay in English or Deepawali Essay

‘Deepawali’, the festival of lights, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of Hindus. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout India and in some other parts of the world. With this festival are associated many lores and legends. It marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana and the homecoming of Lord Rama after an exile of 14 years. As a matter of fact, this festival is the symbol of victory of the forces of virtue over evil.

May the Light of Diya Direct you towards happiness & pleasure in life! Happy Diwali to all of You!

ABOUT DEPAWALI CELEBRATIONcelebration of Diwali essay, On the day of Diwali, there are hectic activities all over the country. People invite their near and dear ones. On this day, sweets are made and distributed among friends and relatives. People indulge in fun and frolic on the day of Diwali.

New clothes are worn by everyone. Children and teenagers dress in their most glittering and dazzling clothes. At night, fireworks and crackers are also let off. The bright flames of the fireworks present an exquisite sight in the dark night.

The festival wears a lovely look. Everyone is well dressed, gay and mirthful. Some celebrate the day in the most enthusiastic manner. At night, the people decorate their houses, with lights, diyas, candles and tube lights. They eat, drink and enjoy the evening with crackers. The cities and towns are immersed in light and sound of the fireworks. Apart from houses, public buildings and government offices are also lit up. It is an enchanting sight to behold.

Significance of Diwali

Hindus worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, on this day. They offer prayers so that Goddess Lakshmi may visit their houses and bestow prosperity.

Deepawali is the festival of the whole country. It is celebrated in every nook and corner of the country. So, this festival also creates a sense of oneness among the people. It becomes a symbol of unity. India has been celebrating this festival for thousands of years and continues to celebrate it even today. All Indians love this festival.

Celebration of Diwali with Family without Crackers

Diwali is my favorite festival of the year and I celebrate it with lots of enthusiasm with my family members and friends. Diwali is called the festival of lights because we celebrate it by lighting lots of diyas and candles. It is a traditional and cultural festival celebrated by each and every Hindu person all over India and abroad. People decorate their houses with lots of candles and small clay oil lamps indicating the victory of good over evil.

Family members spend most of the day time in preparing house (cleaning, decorating, etc) to welcome the festival with a grand evening party. Neighbors, family members, and friends get collected in the evening party and enjoy the party with lots of delicious Indian dishes, dance, music, etc all through the night. Houses look very attractive in whitewash, candle lights, and rangolis. High pitch music and fireworks make the celebration more interesting.

People go to their homes by taking off from their job, offices and other works students also book their train around three months ago to easily go to their home at the Diwali festival because everyone wants to celebrate this festival with their family members in the home town. People generally enjoy the festival by feasting, bursting crackers and enjoying the dance with family and friends.

Diwali Essay | Essay on Diwali for Children and School Students

Diwali Essay in English or Deepawali Essay: ‘Deepawali’, the festival of lights, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of Hindus. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout India and in some other parts of the world. With this festival are associated many lores and legends. It marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana and the homecoming of Lord Rama after an exile of 14 years. As a matter of fact, this festival is the symbol of victory of the forces of virtue over evil.

May the Light of Diya Direct you towards happiness & pleasure in life! Happy Diwali to all of You!

About Diwali Essay Celebrations

celebration of Diwali essay, On the day of Diwali, there are hectic activities all over the country. People invite their near and dear ones. On this day, sweets are made and distributed among friends and relatives. People indulge in fun and frolic on the day of Diwali.

Halloween

2020-10-19T20:11:00.007+05:30

Fall festivals underway at Ditmars Orchard and Vineyard

Halloween is about two weeks away and fall festivities have begun across the area. One place where the fun is in full effect is Ditmars Orchard and Vineyard in Council Bluffs. Plus, how area law enforcement agencies are partnering to provide a safer alternative to Halloween fun for kids.

Halloween fun at home

Tune into “Great Day Live” weekdays from 9 to 10 a.m. on WTSP-TV.

SAINT PETERSBURG, Fla. — Halloween is just around the corner! Lifestyle and crafting expert Adeina Anderson visited GDL to give us tips on how to bring on the boos in our backyard this year. For more great ideas, go to creativelifestyles.tv.

Hosts Kendall Kirkham and Java Ingram bring you the latest in what everyone’s talking about, from trending stories, lifestyle and entertainment news, buzz-worthy, pop culture moments, and all things fun and exciting happening around Tampa Bay.

Whether it’s people making a difference, talented artists and musicians, delicious food, fun activities to do and make with the family, lovable animals, entertaining events and big names coming to town, we’ve got you covered. We hope to bring you a wealth of information to live your best life and start your morning right!

Like us on Facebook at @greatdaylivetampabay or on Instagram at @greatdaylivetampabay.

If you have an interesting segment idea, send an email to

Kendall Kirkham joined “Great Day Live” in November 2017 from Memphis, Tennessee, where she served as morning co-anchor for WMC Action News 5. Prior to her stint in Memphis, Kendall served as co-host of "Tulsa Live" at KOKI in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kendall also worked at KETK in Tyler, Texas, The Dallas Morning News and started her career as an intern for “The Ellen Show” and E! Entertainment.

Kendall has interviewed countless celebrities and notable figures, from Bob Woodward to Arsenio Hall, John Travolta and Paula Deen. She’s hit 9 Gs with the U.S. Airforce Thunderbirds, raised money for various charities in three local “Dancing with the Stars” competitions, and even played a gangster on stage for a traveling Broadway show. Kendall is most proud of her work with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She continues to support the hospital in various capacities today.

Kendall is a proud Texas native. She grew up in the Fort Worth area and graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in Radio/TV/Film.

Kendall is thrilled to join the “Great Day Live” team and is having a ball highlighting this thriving community. She hopes to bring a smile to viewers at home every single day. In her spare time, Kendall enjoys exploring the countless sights, sounds and eats of Tampa Bay with her husband Jason and son Knox.

Java Ingram is a New Orleans native/Texan and is excited to call Florida home! Prior to joining the “Great Day Live” team, Java served as host of a lifestyle-entertainment show in Birmingham, Alabama. She also woke up dark and early, weekday mornings to help drivers make it to their destinations safely as a traffic anchor.

Java started her on-air broadcast career in the birthplace of Elvis Presley, Tupelo, Mississippi. In Tupelo, she served as morning news anchor, producer and reporter.

Javanté is an award-winning journalist, having been recognized by the Associated Press for Best Anchor, Best Reporter and Best Franchise Reporting, just to name a few.

When she's not working, Java is very passionate about giving back to the community, having served on the corporate boards for The Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi, The Civic Ballet Company, The Doniphan Dance Project and the Leadership Council for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama. She has volunteered also with a number of civic organizations.

Deep Feelings of Festivals

2020-10-19T20:09:00.005+05:30

Though fall festivals were squashed, growers raised giant pumpkins anyway

Leaves are falling and the air is getting cooler, but the festivities of fall have been muffled, if not entirely muted.

The wave of fair and festival cancellations caused by the coronavirus pandemic have continued past the summer. There was no Forest Festival in Elkins, no Black Walnut Festival in Spencer and the West Virginia Pumpkin Festival in Milton was canceled.

Over the phone, Cindy Hinkle, the pumpkin festival president, sighed and said, “First time, after 30-some years. It was very sad for us.”

But what happened to the champion, giant-sized pumpkins — the pumpkins that weigh as much as small cars?

Chris Rodebaugh from Lewisburg was the Pumpkin Festival’s 2019 pumpkin champion. He won the festival’s largest pumpkin contest last year with a 1,384-pound pumpkin.

A family dentist, Rodebaugh said he was inspired to try growing his own giant pumpkin after a trip the State Fair of West Virginia.

“I always go,” he said. “I saw one that was 200 or 300 pounds and I thought that was pretty cool.”

He went online and researched what a gardener needed to do to grow that kind of a pumpkin.

“I really fell down the rabbit hole,” he said, laughing.

His first season, Rodebaugh grew a 1,550-pound pumpkin.

“And I thought, ‘Wow, I’m pretty good at this,’” he said.

Justin Conner, last year’s third-place grower from Culloden, said the giant pumpkins are fun to grow.

“My family gets a lot of joy in just watching them grow,” he said.

Conner and Rodebaugh begin their pumpkins in late April or May, which is ahead of when seeds for pie or jack-o’-lantern pumpkins are typically planted in July.

The giant pumpkins face the same sort of pests that trouble the smaller varieties — deer, groundhogs and the ravenous squash vine borer.

Conner uses a fence and pesticides, which helps with the borer. Rodebaugh said he tried hot pepper powder to keep the deer away. That only slowed them down, but he settled on an electric fence.

“That keeps them away just fine,” he said.

After the plants fruit, the pumpkins grow fast, both growers said.

“This year, mine was growing 40 pounds a day at its peak,” Conner said. “You can actually go out and watch it grow. At peak, they’ll grow three, four, five inches a day.”

After the Pumpkin Festival was canceled in July, Conner said he and his family decided to keep growing their monster pumpkin.

At Labor Day, he said they had a real trophy winner.

“It was 980 pounds,” he laughed.

But then things took a turn for the worse. Not long after Labor Day, the area got a bunch of rain. The pumpkin soaked up the water like a sponge and split open.

“By then, it was too late for us to start anything else,” Conner said.

He probably would’ve had a hard time keeping up with growing the pumpkin anyway. In early September, Conner caught COVID-19.

“I had a pretty bad case,” he said. “I was away from work for 38 days.”

Conner only recently returned to work.

Rodebaugh had trouble this year, too. He said the weather worked against him and he really didn’t have his soil fixed. His best pumpkins for this year failed, but he did manage to grow a 955-pound green squash, which is a state record.

“And that’s pretty cool,” he said.

Both growers said they would try again next year.

Conner has already cleared the plot where his family will raise the next monster pumpkin and planted a cover crop for the winter.

“I’m happy about the squash and I have the state record for the biggest carrot, the state record for the tallest sunflower and the biggest sunflower head,” he said. “These are all accolades — hooray, but nothing compares to the pumpkin.

“It’s the Super Bowl.”

For those who didn’t grow their own pumpkins (giant or otherwise), farmers markets — including the Capitol Market in Charleston — are practically overrun with them.

JoAnna Hays at Ed & Ellen’s at the market said people have been buying up a lot of what they put out, particularly the painted pumpkins, which she said are coated to last far longer than a raw pumpkin.

Ron Crihfield of Crihfield Farms said it’s been a bit slower for him, but he’s still selling a lot of produce.

“People are buying some of the carnival-type pumpkins,” he offered.

Crihfield expected pumpkin traffic to pick up and soon.

Shrewd pumpkin pickers will pluck up the best of the lot the first or second weekend in October, the grower said, but last weekend’s rains probably reduced the crowds.

There are still good pumpkins, but they won’t last.

Pumpkins will keep for weeks, as long as you don’t carve into them or drop a gourd hard on the ground. Once the skin of the pumpkin is cut or the flesh bruised, it will begin to rot.

The West Virginia Pumpkin Festival will return to Milton, next year — at least, organizers hope to.

“We started planning for next year just as soon as we had to cancel for this year,” Hinkle said. “We hope to be back a little bigger than before.”

Regular Post on Festivals

2020-10-14T10:51:00.005+05:30

“The Greatness of a Culture can be found in its Festivals”, so, the greatness of a country like India can be examined by sparing a glance at the vivid and vivacious list of festivals in India. Such diverse cultures, culminating such varied festivals and that too under the name of a single country; such is the greatness of Indian culture. The wide spectrum of religions, occupations, and faiths in the country being the prime cause of such diversification, these festivals are celebrated with sheer enthusiasm and devotion.

Festival's Date

2020-10-13T16:24:00.011+05:30

A land of contrast, a treasure trove of many cultures makes India a vibrant destination for its enthusiastic travelers. Fairs and festivals are a never ending culture of India. They are colorful, varied and mark the rich cultural Heritance of the Indian subcontinent. The Indian calendar is marked with festivals throughout the year.

Festival in India 2020

January 2020

Wednesday

New Year

Thursday

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

Sunday

National Youth Day

Sunday

Swami Vivekananda Jayanti

Monday

Lohri

Wednesday

Makar Sankranti

Wednesday

Pongal

Thursday

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti

Friday

Mauni Amavasya

Sunday

Republic Day

Wednesday

Vasant Panchami

Friday

Birthday of Guru Har Rai (Nanakshahi Calendar)

February 2020

Sunday - Monday, 10 Feb

Tu B'Shevat

Sunday

Sant Ravidas Jayanti

Friday

Valentine's Day

Friday

Mahashivratri

Monday - Wednesday, 26 Feb

Losar

March 2020

Sunday

World Womens Day

Sunday

Hazarat Ali's Birthday

Monday - Tuesday, 10 March

Purim

Monday

Chhoti Holi ,Holika Dahan

Tuesday

Holi

Tuesday - Thu, 12 March

Hola Mohalla

Thursday

Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti

Friday

Navroz

Sunday

Mothering Sunday

Monday

Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day)

Wednesday

Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Telugu New Year

Wednesday - Friday, April 03

Chaitra Navratri Begins

April 2020

Wednesday

Bank's Holiday

Thursday

Ram Navami

Sunday

Palm Sunday

Monday

Mahavir Jayanti

Wednesday

Hanuman Jayanti

Wednesday - Thursday, 16 April

Passover

Friday

Good Friday

Monday

Baishakhi

Tuesday

BR Ambedkar Jayanti

April 14, Tuesday - Monday, April 20

Rongali Bihu

Saturday

Birthday of Guru Angad Dev (Nanakshahi calendar)

Saturday

Birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar)

Wednesday

Earth Day

Friday

Ramadan Begins

Sunday

Akshay Tritiya

May 2020

Saturday

Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi calendar)

Thursday

Buddha Purnima

Thursday - Friday, 08 May

Second Passover

SundayMot

Mother's Day

Monday - Tuesday, 12 May

Lag B'Omer

Saturday - Sunday, 24 May

Eid-ul-fitar, Ramadan Ends

Saturday

Birthday of Guru Amar Das (Nanakshahi calendar)

Monday

Maharana Pratap Jayanti

Thursday - Saturday, 30 May

Shavuot

Sunday

World No Tobacco Day

June 2020

Monday

Ganga Dussehra

Friday

Sant Kabirdas Jayanti

Tuesday

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi Calendar)

Sunday

Father's Day

Sunday

International Yoga Day

Tuesday

Rath Yatra

Tuesday - Wednesday, July 01

Hemis Gompa

July 2020

Sunday

Guru Poornima

Sunday

Birthday of Guru Hargobind (Nanakshahi calendar)

Thursday

Birthday of Guru Har Krishan (Nanakshahi calendar)

Thursday

Hariyali Teej

Saturday

Naag Panchami

Sunday

Parent's Day

Monday

Tulsidas Jayanti

Thursday - Friday, 31 July

Eid-ul-Adha

August 2020

Sunday

Friendship Day

Monday

Raksha Bandhan

Tuesday

Shri Krishna Janmasthmi

Wednesday

Dahi Handi

Saturday

Independence Day

Wednesday

Parkash Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Wednesday - Thursday, 20 August

Al-Hijira, Muharram Begins

Friday

Hartalika Teej

Saturday

Ganesh Chaturthi

Monday

Onam

September 2020

Tuesday

Ganesh Visarjan

Wednesday

Ullambana

Saturday

Teacher's Day

Wednesday

Grandparents Day

Wednesday

Vishwakarma Puja

Friday - Sunday, 20 Sep

Rosh Hashanah

Sunday - Monday, 28 Sep

Yom Kippur

Monday

Birthday of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Ji

October 2020
02	Friday	Mahtma Gandhi Jayanti
02	Friday - Friday, 09 Oct	Sukkot
09	Friday	Birthday of Guru Ram Das (Nanakshahi calendar)
10	Saturday	Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah
16	Friday	Boss Day
17	Saturday	Navratri Begins
18	Sunday	Kongali Bihu
22	Thursday - Monday, 26 Oct	Durga Puja Begins
24	Saturday	Mahastami
25	Sunday	Dusshera, Durga Visarjan
28	Wednesday - Thursday, 29 Oct	Milad un-Nabi
31	Saturday	Halloween
31	Saturday	Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti (Birthday)
November 2020
04	Wednesday	Karva Chauth
13	Friday	Dhanteras
14	Saturday	Diwali
14	Saturday	Kali Puja
14	Saturday	Children's Day
15	Sunday	Govardhan Puja
16	Monday	Bhai Dooj
18	Wednesday	Chhath Puja Begins (Nahai Khai)
20	Friday	Chhath Puja Ends (Suryodaya Argh)
24	Tuesday	Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar)
26	Thursday	Thanksgiving Day
30	Monday	Gur Nanak Jayant
30	Saturday	St Andrew's Day
December 2020
08	Tuesday	Feast of the Immaculate Conception
11	Friday - Friday, 18 Dec	Hanukkah
25	Friday	Christmas

List of best festivals and celebrations in 2020

BITS PILANI - Goa Campus

Top 10 colleges with best fests in India

1.Mood Indigo (IIT Bombay)

2. Pulse (AIIMS)

3.Saraang (IIT Madrash)

4. ANTARANG (TECHNO LUCKNOW)

5. Incident (NIT Kanpur)

6. RIVIERA (VIT)

8. Unmaad (IIM Bangalore)

9. Rendezvous (IIT Delhi)

10. Pravega (IISC Bangalore)

Essay on onam festival

1. The Delicious Spread of Onam Sadya

2. The Excitement of Snake Boat Races

3. The Elaborate Floral Rangoli

4. Kasavu Sarees and Traditional Finery

5. The Colourful Street Processions

Diwali and ownward festivals

Diwali 2020: Find out dates of 5-day Diwali festivities, includingDhanteras, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj

Dhanteras 2020

Govardhan Puja

History and Significance:

Happy Navratri

Fyre Festival

Mexico Festival

Durga Puja

Dussehra

The Victory of Good over Evil In Dussehra

Dussehra Celebrations

दशहरा का महत्व हिन्दी मे – Importance of Dussehra in Hindi

दशहरा कब मनाया जाता है – Dussehra Essay In Hindi

दशहरा पर्व की कहानी – दशहरा का महत्व हिंदी में

दशहरे का बदलता रूप – दशहरा पर निबंध हिंदी में😀😀😀😊😊😊😊

दशहरा पर निबंध – Dussehra Essay in Hindi For School Student

दशहरा की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं

Deepawali

Significance of Diwali

Celebration of Diwali with Family without Crackers

About Diwali Essay Celebrations

Halloween

Fall festivals underway at Ditmars Orchard and Vineyard

Halloween fun at home

Deep Feelings of Festivals

Though fall festivals were squashed, growers raised giant pumpkins anyway

Regular Post on Festivals

Festival's Date

Diwali 2020: Find out dates of 5-day Diwali festivities, including
Dhanteras, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj