India Beckons wishes its readers a very Happy Gudi Padwa!
Gudi Padwa (the first day after the new moon day or amavasya in the month of Chaitra) is celebrated as the New Year day in Maharashtra, while it also is commemorated in different parts of the country as Ugadi (Telugu...
The spring celebration of Holi sees many parts of India erupt in colour but perhaps the best place to witness it in all its glory is Mathura, home to Vrindavan and Barsana. Here, the festival can last for two weeks. Thousands of tourists descend on the region for a...
In India, the Mahashivratri, which comes on Krishna Chaturdashi of the month of Phalguna, is celebrated by Hindus each year with great pomp and revelry. This year, it is falling on the 4th March. It is the most important of Hindu festivals, which is said to be the convergence...
Kumbh mela, by far India’s most revered and sacred festival, is now also inscribed by the UNESCO as the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Tens of millions of devotees attend the purna kumbh mela that takes place every 12 years in Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik-Triyambakeshwar and Ujjain. Apart from this,...
As soon as the New Year dawns, the people of Tamil Nadu get ready for their annual celebration of Pongal – a great harvest festival, celebrated by one and all. Pongal is the first day of the month of Sankaranti, on the Makar Sankaranti day that falls on January...
Jaipur usually tops the list of best places to visit in Rajasthan, and for good reason. The Pink City is colourful, historic, packed with culture, and BECKONS travellers from all parts of the world. But while most people travel to take in iconic sites like Amer Fort and Hawa...
Festivals are usually a time to rejuvenate, to let go and wash off the negativities and to make way for the new year and for a new beginning. It’s a time to reflect and a time for soul cleaning. It’s about shedding the old skin of darkness and ignorance...
Today is the second day of the festivities of Diwali, which began with Dhanteras celebrations yesterday. The second day is known as Narak Chaturdashi - also known as the Narak Nivaran Chaturdashi or Roop Chaudas and more popularly among people as Chhoti Diwali. Almost all the traditional pujas that...
The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is an annual event that takes place in February each year in India. It is held in the Hindu month of Magh, three days prior to the full moon. In 2018, during this period, without having any prior knowledge of it, luckily, we were in...
