Mongmong Festival in Nagaland.

Come September, the extreme eastern state of India – Nagaland would be the perfect place to visit as these agrarian mountain-folk whose lives revolve and depend on agriculture, celebrate the harvest festival – ‘Mongmong’ which in the local ‘Sangtam’ dialect means ‘togetherness forever’. Mongmong is celebrated week-long during the first week of September.

Mongmong Festival celebrates harvest and friendship that has kept these mountain tribes of Nagaland together always. The festival starts off with the village priest (beburu) announcing ‘Zangnyuo Mongmong Nung Eh-Lehe’ or the commencement of the festival with prayers and rituals at midnight.

·        On the first day – which is called ‘Singkithsa’, the oldest person of the area is asked to perform the festival rituals at the well. The villagers spend the day collecting millets, vegetables and firewood from the fields. Livestock (cows, pigs and mithuns) transactions are closed on this day.

·        On the second day, as the gathering of the firewood and the vegetables continues, meat for the festive delicacies is arranged.

·        On the third day which is called ‘MÜSÜYANGTAP’, people worship their three oven stones in belief that these stones represent God (Lijaba). Families eat food only after this worship is done. Local rice beer dancing, tug of war and other merry-making activities take over next.

·        On the fourth day which is called ‘KIKHA-LANGPI’, the Priest and the men-folk spruce up the village by clearing the weeds; clearing the roads and pathways leading to wells and fields and then head to the Priest’s home where a party awaits for all the men who toiled all day in trying to make the village look neat and nice.

·        On the fifth day which is called ‘SHILANG WUBA NYUMONG’, people visit their families and friends in the same village and in the neighbouring villages and exchange drinks and meat as gifts – pretty much like the Muslim custom of ‘Bakrid’.

·        From the sixth day onwards which is called ‘SHILANG WUBA NYUMONG’ the actual harvesting process begins in the fields. People invoke the blessings of God on their crops and their families and pray for a good harvest and good health.

Among a host of others, Nagaland folk songs, Millet harvesting shows, Paddy sowing shows, fire making, tug of war, war dances and archery competitions are showcased during the festivities. Thousands of people from Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh converge for the festival during these days.

It is a mélange of colourful cultural displays of 15 different tribes under one roof. Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimchunger, Kuki and Zeliang being the largest Naga tribes in Nagaland, converge for this harvest festival Mongmong in Kohima – the State Capital of Nagaland.

Kohima is perched atop a ridge at 4200 feet above sea level (same as Kalimpong in WB) with 70% green cover, and is surrounded by lush green mountains and meadows covered endlessly with emerald hued wild grass and wild flowers. The scenic, serene and fresh environs, the salubrious climate and the lovely sunsets would have you anchored to this place for longer than you scheduled. Kohima is perfect for adventure sports such as mountain-treks; para-gliding; rock-climbing and camping. Mix all this with a cultural fiesta and you’ve got yourself a complete holiday package – the best that your money can buy!

The nearest airport to Kohima is in Dimapur in Nagaland at 74 kms northeast of Kohima. Regular flights from Guwahati in Assam and Imphal in Manipur connect Kohima. The nearest railhead to Kohima is in Dimapur. National Highway 39 connects Kohima to Dimapur on the north and Imphal on the south.

If you can’t make it to Kohima for Mongmong festival during the first week of September, then the next best time to visit Nagaland is during the first week of December for the Hornbill Festival.

Peace Out !

Pix courtesy: the hindu, photoblog.nbcnews, northeasttoday, demotix, govisitnagaland.

Monsoon Tourism in India.

Rains pouring on all your holiday plans? Well…. show them who’s boss! Step outside and brave a little wetness this monsoon. And discover wonder in the wetlands of India.

Pondicherry

Pondicherry is Tamil Nadu’s answer to Goa – only quieter, serene and French! Facing the Bay of Bengal on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu State is the lovely 17^th Century French Colony with French Colonial bungalows, Gothic Churches and 45 kms of coastline and beaches. With turquoise-blue waters which are game for sailing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and fishing, Pondicherry is a fantastic place for sunbathing and beach-treks. Of course that would be a challenge in the monsoons but when it rains, Pondicherry transforms into a gorgeous honeymoon resort - seeming secluded and cozy.

Cuddle up with delicious local sea-food, wine and music on the beach or in one of the numerous beach-resorts and watch the tides and the rains slashing down on endless waves of water. Take off your shoes and drop that umbrella and feel the wet sand slip away from under your feet as you try to leave your footprints on the wet sands of the beach.

Monsoon months: November to January.

Get There: Pondicherry has excellent roads and road-network with National Highways 332, 32 & 66 passing through. It’s a great drive to Pondicherry from anywhere. Chennai Airport is the nearest to Pondicherry and Villupuram is the nearest Railway Junction to Pondicherry.

Wayanad

Where better to see the rain than in a rainforest! And which better rainforest than the Wayanad’s! Climb the Western Ghats to 6890 feet to Lakkidi to experience one of India’s highest degrees of rainfall – it’s overwhelming, incessant and borderline fearful. And this is what rain-buffs rush to Wayanad for during the monsoons -to watch the rain in all its fury!

This is not where you take off your shoes and prance about in the rain. You check-in to a forest-resort and sit on the balcony and watch the rain transform the dense forests into a maze of streams and waterfalls. And when the clouds take a break, quickly hop into a jeep and go explore the aftermath in the breathtakingly picturesque green mountains, valleys, lakes, and meadows on long and winding scenic roads in moist and cool weather. IF the skies clear up, put on your walking shoes and trek through the luxuriant forests of Wayanad to see just how the hill wilderness responds to rain. Don’t jump out of your skin if you feel a trickle of droplets down your spine now and then coz that’s how the tall and wet trees respond to rain-buffs! Take a guide and he’ll ensure you return in one piece as abundance of wildlife is another forte of Wayanad - apart from spices.

Monsoon months: June to September.

Get there: 270 kms from Bangalore by road, Wayanad is easily accessible from Ooty and Mysore. Kozhikode has the nearest international Airport and Railway Station at 100kms from Wayanad.

Udaipur

Not so much an outdoorsy person? Love life’s indulgences? Like to be treated like Royalty in the rain? Check-in to Udaipur’s 17^th Century Lake Palace in the middle of the Pichola Lake – hailed as the Venice of the East. Only accessible through royal ferries and boats, the Palace occupies the entire island of 4 acres in the lake and holds mini-ponds and water fountains within. This all-marble Palace has rich, extravagant and Kingly rooms; with ornate and plush interiors; wide arched-balconies; pillared terraces; and the service of the Royal Butlers that will spoil you. Order-in some Rajasthani delicacies and drinks; put your feet up on the velvety futon, and do what Queen Elizabeth, America’s former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy; Viceroy of India – Lord Curzon and Gone with the Wind lead actress – Vivien Leigh did - enjoy. And when it rains, be sure to live in the moment and watch the rain envelope the Palace and shower on the lake. Rated as one of the most romantic destinations of the world, the Udaipur Lake Palace hotel is bound to spice things up for you even in the drenching rain. Feel brave? Step into a royal boat and cruise the lake in the rain and soak up the monsoon ambience of the Lake.

Monsoon months: June to September.

Get there: Within 25 kms radius of the Lake Palace hotel, are the Udaipur Maharana Pratap Airport and Udaipur Railway Station.

ArunachalPradesh

Tired of fluttering with the same kind of ‘birds’? Want to hang out with different kind of ‘animals’ for a change? Want to get out this monsoon? Want to push your limits? Want to go where no one’s been? Five problems – one solution - the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. Perched on the Himalayan foothills at 10, 663 feet, is the home of the flagship wildlife – the rare bird – Laughing-thrush and the Asian Elephant, plus more than 454 species of birds; 15 species of animals and 165 species of butterflies. But what makes Eaglenest unique is that unlike the other Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in India which are closed during the monsoons, Eaglenest can be visited during the Monsoons as well. Camp in the wilderness or homestay with the Tibetic tribespeople on the Mountain slopes and play hide and seek with the wildlife in the rain. Else just stay in Tezpur (160 kms) in Assam and visit Eaglenest during the day. Mountain and nature-treks are must-do here even in the rain. At this altitude you’d be wining and dining with source of the rains.

Monsoon months: July to September.

Get there: Arunachal Pradesh may be the tip of the country but is fairly easy to get to. Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh is the nearest town which connects to Tezpur in Assam.

·         Guwahati > Tezpur > Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary – 4 hours (flight between Guwahati & Tezpur and jeep-ride between Tezpur and Eaglenest).

·         Guwahati > Tezpur > Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary – 5 hours (bus + jeep)

Pix courtesy: thinkingparticle, indiatravelblog, hammockholidays, greengates, kerala.gov, adventurediva, mattconsidine, brummieandwurzel.blogspot, S karthik, vinchel.

Summer Festival in the Nilgiris!

Nilgiris Mountains beckon all the flower, fruit, spice, tea, boat-racing, vintage-cars, horses, dogs, sports, art lovers from all over the country to participate in the 16-day Summer Festival organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu during the second-half of May this year.

The District Capital of Nilgiris District – Ooty – a Hill Station at 7350 feet altitude in Tamil Nadu, is going to play host to the Summer Festival held in May where the Nilgiri Mountain Range is going to display its proud possessions in various shows held at various locales in Ooty and its environs.

 o   Flower Show: More than 150 types of imported and indigenous flowers would be put on display at the Botanical Garden in Ooty. Indian floral arrangements, Japanese floral arrangements, flower rangoli, Bonsai, vegetable carving are some of the many activities and competitions held here. The Flower Show tradition in Ooty has been in practice since 1896. A 2-day Flower Show would also be held at Kodaikanal in which florists from all over the country would participate.

o   Rose Show: More than 3000 types of Roses will bloom this May in Ooty to participate in the prestigious Rose Show which happens every summer.

o   Fruit Show: More than 25000 tourists visit the Sim’s Park in Coonoor to participate or view the tons of fruits on display – organized by the Department of Horticulture which has been in practice for more than 50 years.

o   Vegetable Show: The Nehru Park in Kotagiri is visited by more than15,000 people every summer for the Vegetable Show organized by the Department of Horticulture for 2 days. The Star attraction of this show every year is the depiction of the Map of India using red, yellow and green Capsicums.

o   Spice Show: Department of Horticulture organizes the Spice Show at Gudalur in the Nilgiris each year putting on display the immense wealth of spices that grow in the Nilgiri Mountains.

o   Dog Show: The third oldest Dog Club in India – the ‘South of India Kennel Club’ has been organizing the Dog Shows in Ooty at the Government Arts College Grounds for more than 107 years. You will get to see some of the best looking and well trained canines strut around in this show. The same event shall be held at Kodaikanal as well.

o   Boat Race & Boat Pageantry: The Ooty Lake will dazzle with countless boats which will all muster to participate in this century-old spectacular tradition of boat pageantry and competitions in Ooty. This is a jumbo crowd puller with tourists and natives of Bangalore, Chennai, Kerala and other nearby towns thronging to the Ooty Lake to see this event every summer. The Kodaikanal Hill Station would also host a boat-race organized by its Boats Club this may in its scenic Kodaikanal Lake.

o   Vintage Car Rally in Ooty is an interesting piece of the Annual Nilgiris Summer Festival where many vintage cars will drive around the main town of Ooty to display their antiquities.

o   A Marathon Race would be held in Ooty for the ‘fit and the fast’.

o   The Breeks HADP open-air stadium in Ooty will be the venue for the 9-day Summer Cultural Festival comprising dance, drama and music programs.

o   Hot-air balloon Show: In one of the largest ballooning events of India, scores of hot-air balloons shall fill the skies of Ooty in a colourful and elaborate display of hot-air balloons.

o   Amateur Photo Contest: Ooty is where all the photography-enthusiasts and amateurs get their chance to click and compete for a prize in the Summer Festival.

o   Painting Exhibition: Artists are invited to showcase their creativity in their paintings in the Painting Exhibition in Ooty.

 

o   Heritage Building Trek: You would be given a guided-tour of the great centuries-old Heritage Buildings of Ooty which throw insights into the history of these Mountains and Ooty in particular.

o   Eco-trekking: Where there are verdant mountains, there is eco-trekking and Ooty offers myriad such opportunities to explore and enjoy the natural lush green Mountains, valleys, forests and tea-gardens.

 

o   Catch-a-Fish Event: This amusing event shall be held in Kodaikanal during the last week of May this year.

o   Horse Competition: Kokaikanal which is famous for its horses would hold a competition for Horses this May.

o   Sports Competition: Kodaikanal District Sports Office would conduct sports competitions in hockey, football, volleyball and mini-marathon in Kadaikanal at the Bryant Park.

 You may not be allowed to dance atop the Nilgiri Mountain Railways 'Shahrukh Khan style'…..but you certainly can ride this steam-locomotive-turned-diesel-locomotive – one of the rare and few ‘toy trains’ of India while you climb up the Nilgiri Mountains for an interesting summer this May.