Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati are worshipped in this festival of Gangaur. This festival is specifically meant for women folks. The unmarried women worship Gauri for blessing them with good husband, while married women do so for the welfare, health and longevity of their husbands and cheerful married life. It is believed that after a temporary long sacrament Gauri and Shiva reunited on this day. The small doll like Idols of the Shiva and Gauri are made of wood. These divine male and female entities are called ‘Isar’ and ‘Gangaur’. The festival commences on Holi. The festival runs through many days. Young girls pray for grooms of their choice while married women seek a long life for their husbands. The ladies beautify their hands and feet by temporary decoration by drawing designs with Mehendi.
Celebrate Gangaur Festival in Rajasthan
Archna, Tuesday, June 15, 2010Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati are worshipped in this festival of Gangaur. This festival is specifically meant for women folks. The unmarried women worship Gauri for blessing them with good husband, while married women do so for the welfare, health and longevity of their husbands and cheerful married life. It is believed that after a temporary long sacrament Gauri and Shiva reunited on this day. The small doll like Idols of the Shiva and Gauri are made of wood. These divine male and female entities are called ‘Isar’ and ‘Gangaur’. The festival commences on Holi. The festival runs through many days. Young girls pray for grooms of their choice while married women seek a long life for their husbands. The ladies beautify their hands and feet by temporary decoration by drawing designs with Mehendi.
Indian Culture and Mehndi Importance
Archna, Monday, April 19, 2010Mehndi is the main decorative item in weddings that take place in India. The scale on which it gets used is enormous and apart from the bride, a lot of other females present in the occasion also make heavy use of it. Apart from weddings, there are other festivities where Mehndi is used heavily which include the likes of cultural fests, deity worshipping events and birthdays. In all these events, there is an evident commonality that the usage of mehndi is done quite extensively and unabashedly. People in India take a lot of pride in flaunting this as they believe that mehndi is an integral symbol of celebration and the spirit it represents transcends every cultural notion. It is applied on the hands and the feet and without it both these body parts look very empty.
Menhdi adds a lot of flavor to every occasion celebrated in India and enables the person to bring in the festivity in a very unique and satisfactory way. Mehndi has become a part of the emotion that is attached to every occasion and has become a mascot for celebration in this land of cultural richness. Mehndi ensures that celebrations never seem to be hollow and is influential in making the whole process look very charismatic. Mehndi is one of the most cherished creations of India that has been used since ages and continues to be used as a token of gratitude and joy towards the creators. Its value is unparalleled.
India is the Place for Yoga
Archna, Monday, April 5, 2010Yoga gurus in India have not lost that touch through which millions of minds and bodies have been healed. The way Yoga is taught here in India is incomparable and all other venues do not even come near anywhere India. The methods are kept traditional and customary to retain that ancient touch and the techniques used in Yoga which include all the Asanas are still taught the same way they were practiced back then in the days of yore when Yoga had just originated. The venues are cleaned thoroughly before tents come up and there is a pedestal where the Yoga Guru positions himself for all his disciples too see him. The music that is played in the background seems to be like a divine sound and the Asanas are executed very slowly so that the muscle group towards which it gets directed is stretched and caressed properly.
All the asanas involved in Yoga are taught very meticulously here in India. The Gurus ensure that the postures in which they have to be performed are executed well and the stretch does not become too hard. The asanas are pertinent to solving every ache that exists in the human body. They are meant for the neck, stiff back, for those suffering from chronic back ailments, stiff hamstrings, for strengthening calf and thigh muscles and for the arms as well. The asanas are also meant for enhanced breathing and involved deep breathing exercises apart from addressing other factors like increasing sperm count, clearing the mind of negative thoughts, making a person more sensitive towards things and improvement of thought patterns.
India still remains the most preferred destination of Yoga enthusiasts across the world. The herbals that are given to people after Yoga sessions and the shrubs they are advised to amalgamate with other natural elements for enhanced and long lives are only available in India. The art of living techniques taught here have not even been originated elsewhere in the world, which makes India the sole caterer in this art. Hence, India leads as the most preferred Yoga destination.
Chhattisgarh is Fully Surprise Holiday Destination
Archna, Wednesday, March 17, 2010The Rihand River in the North and Mahanadi River in the east-West range ensure that water bodies make their presence felt. The Central Part is taken care of by the Narmada with Godavari River taking care of the honours in the South. Tourists who love lounging near rivers will find these highly soothing. The state is not a conventional tourist spot. Industrial growth can be seen all around with steel plants like the Bhilai Steel Plant, SEC Railway Zone, NTPC, BALCO and SECL. NMDC resides over Iron Ore and ESSAR has also established a plant over there.
Rural India is exemplified by Chhattisgarh. Village Carts dragged by Water Buffalos are a famous mode of transportation and can be used by tourists for commuting. There are numerous temples with ancient carvings that have emerged as highly popular sites in the state. Ramnami Samaj, Satnami Panth and Kabir Panth are some of the religious sects in this place and are looked up to by visitors as religious places. Chhattisgarh is also known for being a good centre for handicrafts. Kosa Silk, Salwar Suits, Lehengas, Shawls and Achkans are popular attires sold here in the state. Tourists can be seen in huge numbers
The traditional song, dance and theatre routine is displayed with thorough enthusiasm. Dance styles such as the Panthi, Raut and Soowa styles are very popular and have been modelled on the dancing styles of Krishna and Gopis, an integral part of Hindu Mythology. Traditional Folk Music has forms like Bihav, Sohar and Pathoni with every form being adapted on a different occasion. Musical narratives are also put on display through forms like Pandavani, a nationally acknowledged form of music.
Those who would love to explore Rural India and the habitat along with the lifestyle should come to Chhattisgarh and see the splendour in the offing. The local food, huts, villages, mode of transportation and fields make for a good view for the unorthodox who love exploring new places. The state offers everything but in a very conventional style and is categorically meant for the experimental ones who have a thing for visiting new places and experiencing new habitats that they might have never even thought of in life.
Why Visit Tokyo?
Archna, Tuesday, March 9, 2010Sayonara! One of the few Japanese words I learnt by watching a Japanese movie some time ago. Since then, Tokyo, the Capital City of Japan has always been one of the cities in the World by whom I have been quite fascinated with.
There are many reasons why one should visit this beautiful city in East Asia. Tokyo is historically quite wealthy. From being a small fishing village back in 1457, the city has emerged to become one of the most enviable ones in the world and has some very enchanting castles and forts. The Edo Castle, also known as The Imperial Palace is where the Royal Family of Japan resides. The meteoric skyscrapers testify the grand architecture gone behind their making and other sites such as malls and shopping centres display the best that Japan has. Shopping fanatics will drop after they explore all the stores that house everything from traditional Japanese kimonos worn by geisha to western dresses with sleek cuts.
The mainland land portion is thoroughly captivating. There are 26 cities and 8 villages, facts that vindicate the wonderful topography of the city. The National Parks where the best of Fauna is kept include the likes of Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi National Park near Mount Takao, Ogasawara National Park, and the Ueno National Park that has lots of museums in it such as the Tokyo National Museum, National Science Museum, and National Museum for Western Art and Shitamachi Museum. The Tokyo National Museums is home to over 40,000 National and foreign Language Films that get showcased time and again and attract a great deal of interest. Art lovers will simply not have enough of all this.
The Outlying Islands in Tokyo extend up to a coastline of 1850 km. The Izu Islands are a consortium of volcanic islands with the likes of Toshima, Niijima, Shikinejima, Miyakejima, Kozushima, Mikurajima, Aogashima and Hachijojima. The other group of islands is the Ogasawara Islands including the likes of Nishinoshima, Haha-jima, Iwo Jima, Kita Iwo Jima, Chichi-jima and Minami Iwo Jima. A ride in the Shinkansen that goes upto 210km/hr is one of the best experiences one can have in Tokyo as the rail covers the entire city and travels at blazing speed.
Culture and cuisines are unbelievable in Tokyo. Festivals happen all around the year at shrines like Hie Shrine and Asakusa Shrine. Fireworks can be seen during nights at the Sumida River and parks like the Inokashira Park get occupied for picnics. Harajuku is considered to be the fashion hub of style and fashion. Tokyo has the best restaurants in the world for fine wining and dining. Be it the quintessential Sushi, traditional Japanese or even French cuisine, food in this city leaves you craving for more. Even meat dishes are exotic with some of them being rarely served anywhere else.
Tourists will never have enough of Tokyo. The city is always buzzing with life and those who like going out in the night can be assured of safety as Police patrolling is heavy in all boroughs and suburbs. A good two weeks can be spent here in the capital city of Japan exploring everything that will only leave tourists with fond and cherishing memories.
First Search Consultancy for Online Travel Business
Archna, Monday, February 15, 2010The field of online travel business is very competitive and travel operators are doing business from everywhere. A good network ensures that the travel business starts making money quickly and since people are always enthusiastic throughout the year about going on vacations, it becomes easy for these operators to make clients pour in. All one ought to have is a good web presence so that when potential tourists search the web for a credible travel operator who takes care of all travel related formalities, one is easily able to locate the concerned authority on top of the search results. First Search Consultancy helps websites all around the world from various industry verticals in search engine optimization procedures and helps them go up in the search results. Online travel businesses trying to get a foothold will find themselves with a robust web presence because of the optimization services provided by First Search Consultancy.
First Search Consultancy has tailor made optimization service campaigns available for travel portals that will lend them the element of popularity through which they will be able to establish a flourishing business. All the requisite features like content, attractive images, links and the specific keywords that are required of a good travel portal are incorporated by FSC to ensure that the portal is put on the path to success. FSC has handled a lot of travel portals in the past and made all the necessary changes to the website to put them in good stead. Since travel portals are all about exciting, comfortable and affordable tour packages, the service provider ensures that all these features are highlighted properly and are given weight when published online.
Online travel businesses have competitors by the second trying to put their contemporaries out of business through good web presence. It is quite obvious that the better a website ranks, the better are its chances of being approached first than others. First Search Consultancy ensures that these portals get their due through enhanced optimization which will highlight all their services properly and will help them pull in more clients. Online travel businesses are best set with high optimization over the web. The features offered by contemporaries in the package might be same, but a solid web presence is all that is needed to make the difference.
Royal Rajasthan Palace on Wheels
Archna, Friday, January 29, 2010The first stop taken during the Royal Rajasthan Palace on Wheels journey is at Jaipur. The city which is considered to be one of the best planned cities of the world is shown thoroughly with air conditioned coaches being used for escorting guests to Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort. Lunch is held at a five star hotel which is further succeeded by visits to the city palace museum and observatory. The next stop is to Sawai Madhopur where the Ranthambore National Park patiently awaits the arrival of the guests. The wildlife sanctuary covers close to 400 sq. kms and is home to around 300 species of birds. Leaving the city and heading towards the next stop at Chittaurgarh is also a pleasurable journey with the countryside being the perfect host during travel in the day.
The stop at Chittaurgarh is basically exemplified by the visit to the Fort and the gorgeous locales of the city. Udaipur, the next stop is also known as the Lake City and one of the star attractions of Rajasthan. The Jag Niwas aka The Lake Palace is a dream to enter and see along with the Jag Mandir that can be clearly viewed through the blue waters of Lake Pichola. The guests are taken to the city palace after a sumptuous lunch which is finally followed by an exit from the city. Jaisalmer, the home to Thar Desert is the next stop with the hallmark of the city being its yellow sandstone and magnificence. The Havelis and the Mansions are a delight to watch and post lunch, the camel ride towards the scintillating sand dunes start.
Jodhpur is the next stop with its gates and bastions and with the credit of being the second largest city in the state does stand out for a lot of things. The Mehrangarh Fort is the main attraction with lots of palaces inside being Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal and Phool Mahal. The city is very colourful and the true spirit of Rajasthan can be seen. The weekend is a stop-over at Agra where the eternal Taj Mahal can be adored and finally the journey to home. The Royal Rajasthan palace on Wheels trip has been planned very meticulously with all the connotations being taken care of. This arrangement itself makes it a trip worth taking.
First Search Consultancy provides web promotion for your b & b Hotels website
Archna, Tuesday, January 19, 2010B & B websites have always been a fascinating lot to visitors across the world. Travellers keep scouting for these facilities over the web trying to figure out the best deal for them so that they would not be left stranded at the place where they without any place for lodging in the night. The B & B arrangement ensures that not only do these tourists get proper lodging but also are served a home-made meal which does not make them feel as if they are sitting and eating in an alien place where they do not know anyone around.
Websites with this facility are optimized well by first search consultancy that puts in all efforts to take the website right to the top of the search rankings on globally renowned search engines and creates such a place for them where they can simply relax and let the visitors flow in. First search consultancy targets the niche audience that will in all probability avail these services while visiting the place where the hotel is situated. The optimization happens at all the right places and through the right techniques.
Bed and breakfast facility is a very coveted facility that has admirers across the world and many websites have tried to capitalize on this facility. Hotels have launched their websites at the right time stating all the benefits of this facility offered by them and all they need at this point in time is an optimized site which ranks highly on results pages and allows them to advertise as freely as they want it to be. The websites when optimized become visible to every traveller around the globe thinking of visiting that place and accordingly lets him make pre meditated arrangements so that the trip can be planned and lodging can be availed at the right time.
Hotels arranging this facility are being provided highly economical web promotions for their websites which in turn will render such rich results that can simply not be matched. The websites will start attracting the kind of business they should and accordingly help the hotels make money through one of the most cherished and comfortable services available across the world today. The better the promotions are, the more are the chances of the business scaling new heights.
Delhi: The Starting Point of India Tour
Archna, Monday, January 4, 2010There are numerous reaons behind Delhi being the star attraction of the Republic of India. Be it the food, the culture, the lovely ambience or the amicable populace, Delhi Tour has always found admirers galore. What better way to start a tour than visiting the capital city itself? Delhi has always been the focal point of tourists pouring in from all over the world. They may have all the plans in place of swimming and basking in the backwaters of Kerala or surfing and relaxing on the comfortable beaches of Goa or seeing the scintillating deserts of Rajasthan or finally visiting the scenic locales of Kashmir, but the fact remains that the capital city will always have the privilege of being one of the star attractions that India has ever boasted of. Be it the legendary Qutub Minar that towers high above every other monument or the Tughlaqabad Fort that has been the shooting location for many movies, Delhi has its own casting charm that renders it a place above many others. The Old Delhi area of Chandni Chowk has its tales etched in history books that date back to the era of the East India Company. The street food is something that foreign tourists relish and claim to be available only in India and no other country.
Delhi has a very different aura about it. One of the reaons behind the city staking its claim as the heart of India is its unique atmosphere where even unfamiliar people look to be known. The Lotus Temple and the Akshardham temple are two scintillating shrines representing the true culture of India and also the architectural marvel that the nation is. Monuments like the Red Fort and the India Gate boast of the creative genius of those who made it with the former also being designated by the UNESCO as one of its heritage sites. The demography is fabulous and the transportation facilities are exemplary. Since Delhi is in the Northern part of India, one can alo tour the nearby cities of Chandigarh and Guargaon and travel further towards Srinagar and Shimla. There are a lot of highwatys in the cityconnecting to other cities making car travel a superb possibility. Embarking on a tour to India would perhaps be at its best if commenced from Delhi as the capital city is the perfect ambassador of the quintessential diverse Indian hospitality that one will get to experience in other parts.
Christmas Holiday Destination Ideas
Archna, Wednesday, December 16, 2009Christmas bells are ringing, giving welcome signals to another winter holiday season. While the whole world is preparing to get cozy under the warmth of a holiday season, you cannot be left out in solitude. The time is now ideal to plan a holiday in a beautiful location which you have never visited before. India, the magic land of gods and palaces, offers myriad of opportunities for enjoyment and holidaying in winter. The diverse climatic and cultural environment makes it the ideal tourist destination for all categories of tourists.
If you target the North India during Christmas season, you get a good snow feast from the Northern Himalayas and adjoining hill stations spread across the north east of India. The chilly Darjeeling, Dalhousie, Shimla, Kullu, and Manali are a few among the most sought-after hill stations in India during winter. Kashmir, the wonderful garden of India, is another popular tourist place known for the beautiful landscapes and the folks. Kashmir has remained at the top of world tourism map because of this reason.
If you are inclined to know more about the history and culture of India, you may take a trip to some of the popular cities of the ancient kingdoms. The national capital New Delhi, the adjoining cities like Agra, Mathura, and Jaipur Rajasthan tour will carry you through the historic corridors of the majestic palaces built by the ancient Rajputs and Moghuls. The journey through the marble-paved streets will educate you about the culture and values deep rooted in ancient India, and which have been preserved and practiced even in the modern India.
India is blessed to have diverse geography that has created wonderful landscapes across the country. While the snow-clad Himalaya creates a white veil on the northern side, the mighty oceans of the south drape India with the blue saree made of the silky water waves. If you are in a mood to spend your winter holidays with the waves of Arabian Sea, head towards South India and take shelter under the palm grooves of Goa or Kerala. The season is apt to visit Goa because grandiose Christmas celebrations are awaiting you there in the coming days. In Kerala, on the other hand, you will get an opportunity to enjoy a traditional house boat ride in any of the backwaters surrounded by beautiful villages and stunning landscapes.
Don’t miss this opportunity. India is calling you!
