Kutch and Bavnath festival inquiries

kinginexile

Hello, everyone, and Happy Holidays. I plan to be in Gujarat by January's end. Can someone confirm to me that the date for the Kutch festival in Bhuj will be 28Jan to Feb 1st, and I am still unsure about the the Bavnath festival in Junagadh (feb 14-17, or ?). So, if you can tell me about this or point me to the correct Gujarat site to get the info, I will appreciate.

Herve

mineja

i wanna visit Junagadh as well ,coz the Bhavanath festival and Mahashivratri.
http://www.colorsofgujarat.com/gujar...festivals.html

Pintz

Yes Herve...the dates are confirmed. The Bhuj festival is on 27th Jan to the 1st of Feb while the Bhavnath is on the 16th of Feb - Mahashivratri falls on this day. While in Junagadh, visit the small hamlet of Maaldharis who live there in the jungle! They are very hospitable people and will welcome you ... though pls do not offer them any money for their hospitality. Stay just for an hour or two and enjoy their tea while you hear the lions roar somewhere in the vicinity.

Also, visit the Somnath temple at Veraval and the pristine beaches of Diu. And if you are a nature buff and are looking at spending some time between the two festivals - take a trip to the North of Bhuj... to Khavda. On the way, you can stop by at the Rudramata Dam for the fantastic array of migratory birds and at Khavda, you can get to see some fine pottery and traditional hand-embroidery! It's about 5 hrs from Bhuj and through the arid desert. If you are lucky, you may get to see herds of wild camels or wild ass!

By the way, another popular fair is the Palitana fair on the 1st of March!

If you need any more details, just PM me!

SANJAY_DEL

Rajasthan Festivals Calendar 2007:

http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/a...lender2016.htm

kinginexile

Pintz, a great thanks to you. I am taking notes down, now from a cafe net in Thailand, and arriving in Mumbai on the 23rd of the month. Right on time!

very gratefully,

Herve

mineja

well,look at the answehr what i´ve got from a hotel manager in Junagadh

----i´we would like to inform you that in February
when you want to visit Junagadh town, it might be MahaShivratri
festival,
but this festival date is never fixed due to its always start with
lunar
calendar, hope if we will get the perfect date before few days of
festival
we will inform you again .

It will be kind of you, if you call us from your last destination from
where you will board to Junagadh, So we can Book a room for You.----

kinginexile

The Relief hotel Manager has sent this, just now, in my box. heyhey, looks like my own homework was well done!!!
------------------------------------------------------

There is always confusion about this fair among tourists, let us make
out
this confusion clear.

Mahashivratri: The day which is called Mahashivratri is on 16th Feb,
but
basically this Festival start before 4 days at the foot of Mount
Girnar,
and a huge fair takes place there, this festival is proceed for totally
5
days, and the last date means on 16th Feb, which is called
“Mahashivratri”
day ends up at late night, which is the main day.

There is mix information about the starting day of this Festival.
Few people say it may be start on 11th of Feb (According to Hindu
calendar) the Flag Day, opening day of Mahashivratri Festival,and ends
up
on 16th Feb. or may be start from 13th Feb and ends up on 16th Feb, but
one is sure about the Mahashivratri day it is on 16th Feb.

Therefore if you want to visit this fair it will be batter to visit
Junagadh town between 13th to 16th Feb.

Check out this site:
http://www.mahashivratri.org/when-is-shivaratri.html

Pintz

Dear Herve,

If you need some respite on the way while traveling to Junagadh, you are most welcome to visit me in Rajkot. Do let me know if Rajkot is on yr list...

Welcome to Gujarat!
Pintz

kinginexile

Most gracious of you, Pintz. I shall not forget your offer if the chance passes by. Mightily happy that the relied hotel has booked me from the 13th to 17th, and if anyone on this forum was there at that time, maybe we will meet. Justaskk for that french-accented american called Herve!

mineja

i´m coming from diu for mahashivratri on 15th of feb.probably we will meet in relief hotel and i´m sure i can recognize u,coz not too much foreigners around there

kinginexile

Hello, so here is the latest News for this thread. Nada for the tribal festival in Bhuj, against all infos, net, official Gujarat sites, and Pintz! No problem, that's the ups and downs of traveling. Apparently the festival has been nixed, and anything hapenning of the sort in Bhuj is around September.

Nevertheless, Bhuj was a fine destination, loved the old palace, much melancholy/atmosphere about it, due to the eartquake damages in 2001, and the famed hall of mirrors is opened again. I m not too keen on folksy cottage arts villages, but really dug friendly Mandavi and its boat building craftmen, as well as the bazaar streets. Really wonderful.

Anjar has a great bustling market, guides quote it on Monday, but I went 2 other days nd that was plenty bsy for me (and the camera). Many tribal women in full garb with kids in tow. The Kutch deserves many more days, and except for the cottage industry vilages, too few tourists to create a jaded welcome from the locals.

Places to stay in town is thnks to the no nonsense ever helpful Mr Jedhi, at his GANGARAM hotel (cal imperatively ahead, to reserve, 02832-224321/222948). Others met while in Bhuj cited the City GH as well.

Now in Jaisalmer, where I decided to go for the music festival happening this week. No castigating judgement on my part, but way way too commercial inside and around its primary attraction, the fort, to create any authentic experience. Still, a friendly bunch all around.

Still going to Junagadh on the 13th. Thanks for your time, reading this.

Herve

buddha780

Hi all,
Want to travel to junagadh from delhi. looking at arriving on the 13th. want to shoot on camera the event focusing specially on the naga sadhus which is a continuation of the series i started in the ardhkumbh mela this year. would love to get some inputs on budget hotels nearest to the temple and travel info if u have on this place.
hope to c u there.

kinginexile

Hi, B780

Hotel relief phone # is easy to find on the net, but they may be full by now. Otherwise, check J. sections in the rough guide or LP, which I do not carry with me.

I did not get if you will be in J. further than the 13th. remember that the main Day of the festival is 16th. I will be glad to meet you, if you made it, but just an hint, try to arrive in town with a reservation. This is a big event and people flock to it.

buddha780

Hi kinginexile,
thanks for the tip. have been trying to search for hotels near girnar but nothing on net or in rough guide in terms of budget hotels. Also amazingly havent come across a single account of personal experience or the shivaratri celebrations on the net.
I plan to reach on 13th night and leave on 17th morning.
if u get any info pl forward. hope to c u there. my mobile no. is
+91 9810361780.

mineja

heading to diu tonight.from ahmedabad by overnite bus.probabably will show up for maha shivratri in junagadh on 15th.see u there.