Another good news for food lovers residing in New Delhi. The end of much awaited appetizing weekend is over. The organizers Aditi Kapoor and Ruchi Sibal, in association with NDMC, bang this season with most delicious festival Palate Mini Fest 2015.

This foodie fest will feature some of Delhi’s most favored eateries who will come with their lip-smacking tastes of Apple pies, cupcakes, ice-creams, authentic gelatos and waffles and prepare delicious opportunities to Indian food market.

There are more than 15 leading cafes, 30 shops and live performances that highlight this 3 days gourmet festival that begins today at Nehru Park till 15 March 2015.

The three-day event spread over the weekend at Nehru Park is a miniature version of the civic body’s debut Palate Festival, a grand affair held last November and will showcase food from leading cafes and delis, say organizers.

“There was a lot of demand and it seems people just couldn’t wait for an entire year to please their taste buds. Since, it was not possible to organize another food festival on such a huge scale in this short span of time, we decided to come up with this mini fest,” says Ms. Kapoor.

“This is also, like the Palate, an all-encompassing festival that will invite people to come out in the sun and indulge in a plethora of delicacies. But, desserts will certainly be the main attraction,” says Ms. Bansal.

“Mini Palate has been conceived keeping in mind Delhi’s pleasant climate during this time of the year” she adds.

Welcome to the delicious and foodie weekend again!

Celebrated with the full swing in the first week of December, Hornbill Festival is one of the most renowned festivals of north east India and Nagaland’s biggest annual festival. As the name suggests, the festival named after a bird Hornbill famous for its huge bills. In addition to this, Hornbill is adored by the Nagas (folks of Nagaland) and it can be seen in their tribal dances and songs.

Where is Hornbill festival celebrated?

Hornbill festival is celebrated at an ancient village named Kisama Heritage Village, situated nearly 10 kilometers from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland.

When is the Hornbill Festival?

The festival is usually on every year from December 1-7. However, from 2013 it was extended for a few extra days. It now concludes on December 10.

How is the Hornbill Festival Celebrated?

The Festival is attended by all of Nagaland’s major tribes. It features traditional arts, dances, folk songs, and games. All this takes place amidst immaculate replicas of tribal hutments, complete with wood carvings and hollow log drum instruments, which are beat in haunting symphony at the end of the day. There are plenty of handicraft stalls, food stalls, and heady rice beer to indulge in as well.

In the evenings after sundown, the main attraction is the Hornbill National Rock Concert. Bands from all over the country come to compete. This is followed by a night market in town. However, the hottest event (literally!) at the festival is undoubtedly the Naga chilli eating competition!

Travel Tips

• The Hornbill Festival is one of the top tourist draws in Nagaland, so if you’re planning to attend, do book accommodations well in advance.
• There’s a very handy Information Center next to the festival venue, which provides brochures listing the events at the festival and other attractions in Nagaland.
• Entry permits are no longer necessary for foreigners visiting Nagaland. However, foreigners will need to register themselves with the Foreigner’s Registration Office (District Superintendent of Police) within 24 hours of entry into the state. Indian tourists need an Innner Line Permit. This is available from any Nagaland House, or Government of Nagaland office. Download application form.
• Kohima doesn’t have an airport. The nearest one is in Dimapur, with flights to and from Kolkata and Guwahati. From Dimapur it’s a two hour drive to Kohima. Or, if you’re in a hurry, a 30 minute helicopter ride.

Vasant Panchami also known as Saraswati Puja or the Basant Festival of Kites is a Hindu festival that highlights the arriving of spring season and mark the end of winter season. Celebrated every year across India on 5th day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magha, that falls during January – February. Vasant Panchami is dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, arts, music and culture.

Significance:

This auspicious day observes the birth of goddess Saraswati . Hindu folks celebrate this day with great ardor in temples, homes and even schools and colleges to receive and enhance one’s knowledge and consciousness. The beloved white color of goddess Saraswati has a special significance on this day. Statues of the goddess are adorned in white dresses and are worshiped by devotees dressing white garments. The goddess is offered sweets which are given away as ‘prasad’ to all people attending the ritual worship. The day is also meant to usher new beginnings in the life of infants. Traditionally children were taught to write their first word on this day. It is considered a blessed beginning of learning with the Goddess of Knowledge worshiped as the presiding deity on this day.

Also, Kite flying is associated with the festival of Basant Panchami. Especially in Punjab, the kite flying tradition has been given great importance.

Welcome celebration to springtime

With the start of spring season, fresh and gentle breeze replaces the haunting cold and there’s a touch of rejuvenation in the air. These leaves and blossoms appear in the trees with the promise of new life and hope. Vasant Panchami also announces the arrival of another big springtime event in the Hindu calendar – Holi, the festival of colors.

There are many origins of Lohri: all forming part of folklore. However, the main theme of Lohri is the belief that Lohri is the cultural celebration of the winter solstice. Lohri is meant to be celebrated on the shortest day of the year. A key feature of Lohri is the bonfire. Lighting of the fire has been common in winter solstice festivals throughout time and the world: it signifies the return of longer days. The bonfire is an ancient tradition, forming a key part of Lohri traditions.

Significances:

In Punjab, wheat is the main winter crop, which is sown in October and harvested in March or April. In January, the fields come up with the promise of a golden harvest, and farmers celebrate Lohri during this rest period before the cutting and gathering of crops.

It holds a special significance to the folks of Punjab. They keep busy in making preparations for Lohri. They come out of their homes and celebrate the harvesting of the Rabi (winter) crops and give in to relaxing and enjoying the traditional folk songs and dances. A few days before the festival, the children tend to assemble woods and eatables like peanuts, nuts,  til (sesame) seeds, or sweets like jaggery, gajak, rewri, etc.

Mythologies

It is considered that a Punbaji dacoit named Dulla Bhatti who used to rob the rich to help the poor had once helped two miserable village girls “Sundari” and “Mundari” by getting them married off like his own daughters. In the trouble moment, he helped the girls by convincing  the grooms and their families to marry the girls in a forest and presented them sugar in form of ritual.

Song & Dance

Bhangra dance by men begins after the offering to the bonfire. Dancing continues till late night with new groups joining in amid the beat of drums. Traditionally, women do not join Bhangra. They hold a separate bonfire in their courtyard orbiting it with the graceful gidda dance.

A Celebration of Fertility

Lohri brings fertility and the joy of life, and in the event of the birth of a male child or a marriage in the family, it assumes a larger significance wherein the host family arranges for a feast and merry-making with the traditional bhangra dance along with rhythm instruments, like the dhol and the gidda. The first Lohri of a new bride or a newborn baby is considered extremely important.

Thanksgiving & Get-together!

Nowadays, Lohri brings in an opportunity for people in the community to take a break from their busy schedule and get together to share each other’s company. In other parts of India, Lohri almost coincides with the festivals of Pongal, Makar Sankranti, and Uttarayan all of which communicate the same message of oneness and celebrates the spirit of brotherhood, while thanking the Almighty for a bountiful life on earth.