How’s your calendar looking this January? We’ve compiled a list of the most happening places to be at this January; rub shoulders with William Dalrymple, go on pilgrimage to (shopping) Mecca, watch a camel beauty pageant (unlike most other beauty pageants, they are looking for ‘least ugly’ rather than ‘most beautiful’!) It’s a new year and there’s so many things to do this month. Here’s what your January calendar should look like :
Set your inner shopaholic free
Since its inception seventeen years ago in 1996, the Dubai Shopping Festival has rightfully earned Dubai the title of “Shopping Mecca”. For one month every year (January 3rd - February 3rd, 2013), the city beckons with fluttering eyelashes and shopaholics from around the globe are drawn like moths to a flame; 3.5 million visitors is not a joke. With very little or no customs duties, the discounts go as high as 75% on a whole range of products including gold, jewellery, watches, electronics, carpets, textiles, perfumes, handicrafts and garments of major brands.
Although shopping is the core, over the years the festival has become a multi-cultural extravaganza offering unparalleled experiences to visitors and residents alike. There’s the global village, fashion week, desert safaris, food, sport, sound & light and of course, fireworks!
Sing and dance with the Gods at the ‘Margazhi Season’
The Tamil month of Margazhi (mid December - mid January) is when the Gods awaken. The roots of all South Indian classical art form lie in bhakti, ‘devotion’ and this is brought out in celebration during this time with carnatic vocals, classical dance and traditional instruments. Hosted by the Music Academy since its first annual conference in 1929, the December Season in Chennai is the biggest of its kind in India and abroad. Get mesmerized by the famed Bharatnatyam ‘nrityas’ and the mridangam beats of some of the best performers alive. And treat yourself to some amazing filter coffee and idli-sambhar while you’re there!
Did you know there was more than one type of kite?
The Malaysian wau-balang kites, Indonesian llayang-llayanghave kites, Japanese rokkaku fighting kites, giant banner kites from USA, Italian sculptural kites, Chinese flying dragons, high-speed sport kites, windsocs and spinsocs to hand-painted artistic kites. No, I didn’t just make them all up. Get to Ahmedabad during Uttarayan (January 14th this year), and you can see for yourself.
Although kite flying has always been popular during this time of the year, the Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation went international for the first time in 1989. Since then, International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad attracts countless international visitors and highlights local food (undhyu, surati jamun, jalebis) and culture.
Literati or Glitterati? You decide…
From intimate literary affair to fashionable socialite gala, the Jaipur ‘LitFest’ has come a long way since its inception in 2006 to being the largest literary festival in Asia-Pacific. These days, the festival receives as much flak as it does praise. Get there between the 24th and 28th of January and decide for yourself.
This year will showcase the diversity of writing in Indian languages with over 16 languages represented. Some of the themes include The Buddha in Literature, The Republic of Ideas (a Republic Day focus on ideas of India), Re-imagining the Kama Sutra, Hindi-English Bhai Bhai, Alternative Sexualities, Lok Geet Folk Geet, Bollywood ki Nayi Sanskriti and Bibliodiversity Dialogues.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who’s the (least) ugliest of them all?
If the fest isn’t your thing, then hop on along to nearby Bikaner for a truly unusual sight. The Camel Pageant is held on the first day wherein the camels are paraded in procession with their colourful bridles, bejewelled necks and jingling anklets. There are prizes to be won for best decorated camel, fur cutting design, camel milking, best camel hair cut and best camel dance. Again, these are not a figment of my imagination.
The competition is fierce on the second day, thousands of excited tourists and locals cheering as the camels race. The evening are dedicated to the traditional Rajasthani folk performers in their swirling skirts and lac bangles. Enjoy with tea and other delicacies prepared from camel’s milk. The festivities end with a magnificent display of fireworks that light up the desert sky.
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And this year’s words await another voice
As the newest member of the content team, Shivangi Rajendran comes from the world of professional dancing. With a passion for travel and a flair for writing, the Masters in Mass Communication is just an added advantage. A gypsy at heart, she doesn’t believe in planning and is always ready to pack her bags and leave.
Shivangi – who has written 13 posts on WAH Blog.
