Winter is the season for some of the biggest festivals around art, music, dance, films, books and all things culture. Travel for these must-attend fests and then stay on to explore the beautiful destinations that play host to them.
Text & Photos | SATARUPA PAUL
There’s a nip in the air and the promise that everybody’s favourite season, winter, is round the corner. Winter is coming, and it is time for celebrations. A long line-up of religious festivals accompanied by an even longer one of cultural events, means you get an added excuse to pack your bags. Travel to destinations near and far that are home to some of the biggest festivals in the season’s culture calendar. Choose from our list of must-attend events, immerse yourself into culture, and stay for the offerings of the land.
PHUKET KING’S CUP REGATTA
It was in 1987 that sailors of the Royal Varuna inaugurated the first ever Royal Regatta, in honour of His Majesty the King’s 60th birthday. Since then, the stunning azure waters of the Andaman Sea around Phuket hold the yachting event every year, which has become the biggest sailing race in Asia and attracts some of the world’s best yachtsmen and women and their expensive boats. The attraction for visitors isn’t just the spectacle of seeing Phuket’s popular Kata Beach swarming with yachts, but also the possibility of sailing in one, if you’ve any sailing experience, as many of these boats are under-crewed. Later, join in the prize-giving ceremonies and the parties held especially for the occasion, with musicians, local and international bands, Thai dance performances and firework displays.
Where: Phuket, Thailand
When: December 1 to 8
DHARAMSALA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Imagine misty mountains, whistling pines, winding streets, prayer flags rustling in the breeze, the gong of a monastery sounding in the distance, steam rising from hot momos at a street-side cart… That’s Upper Dharamsala for you — the beautiful setting for the
widely-attended Dharamsala International Film Festival, abbreviated as DIFF. Conceived in 2012 by film-makers and long-time Dharamsala residents Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam as a platform for good alternative cinema for the local community, DIFF has
today become one of India’s leading independent film festivals. The seventh edition this November will see screenings of short films, children’s films and feature narratives, including that of Village Rockstars, India’s official entry to the Oscars this year.
Where: Upper Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh
When: November 1 to 4
MAHINDRA KABIRA FESTIVAL
Varanasi is timeless; so is music. Put them together into a two-day festival, dedicate it to a celebration of the 15th century mystic poet, Kabir and you’ve an experience that’s guaranteed to stir your soul and invigorate the music lover in you. After hosting renowned artistes such as Shubha Mudgal and neo-fusion rock band Kabir Café, the festival, now in its third edition, will feature a morning music performance by Hindustani classical singer Vidya Rao, afternoon literature session by mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik, and an evening music showcase by the award-winning singer and composer Sonam Kalra of Sufi Gospel Project fame, all playing out on the ghats of the Ganga. The line-up of artistes will be further enriched by leading exponents of the Benares gharana and
folk traditions, Sufiyana and ghazal singers, and pakhawaj and tabla players. Curated walks of the old city and samplings of the delectable local cuisine are also on the cards.
Where: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
When: November 16-18
KOCHI MUZIRIS BIENNALE
Once one of the most important centres for the spice trade, the land of swaying palms and serene backwaters is today the venue for the most anticipated event of the Indian art scene — the Kochi Muziris Biennale. Held along the lines of the Venice Biennale, this international exhibition of contemporary art is the biggest such festival in Asia. Set in venues across Kochi, from galleries and public spaces to heritage buildings and disused structures, the Biennale sees Indian and international artists exhibiting artworks across a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, film, installation, new media and performance art. The festival "seeks to invoke the cosmopolitan spirit of the modern metropolis of Kochi" and the pre-colonial traditions of the mythical ancient city of Muziris that was buried after a massive flood in the 14th century.
Where: Kochi, Kerala
When: Begins December 12
JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Often described as the ‘greatest literary show on Earth’, the Jaipur Literature Festival held in the royal city of Jaipur, has transformed into a global phenomenon over the past decade. After hosting nearly 2,000 speakers and over a million book-lovers from across the world, the 12th edition of the festival will bring together Nobel laureates, alongside Sahitya Akademi, Man Booker Prize and Jnanpith award winners as well as popular authors from across India and the world. The final line-up is yet to be announced, but bookworms are excited about the news that acclaimed English author of award-winning reads such as The Sandman and American Gods, Neil Gaiman has confirmed his attendance! The beautiful venue of the heritage space of Hotel Diggi Palace will surely be brimming with his fans this season.
Where: Jaipur, Rajasthan
When: January 24-28
First published in November 2018 issue of Go Getter magazine (GoAir.in)
Comments