There is a lot of enthusiastic participation for the festival and the SATTE 2012 would have the best exhibits of travel and tourism across the world. This year, there is another event – The SATTE MUMBAI WEST which is another event to be held at the Leela Kempinski in Mumbai on February 15 and February 16, 2012.

Today SATTE is the leading travel and tourism exhibition in South Asia. It serves the outbound and inbound markets. This annual travel and tourism event would be held in the capital city New Delhi from February 10 to February 12, 2012 and in Mumbai from February 15 to February 16, 2012. The event will showcase thee best exhibits of tourism attractions, destinations, products and services and travel packages.

The festival has been certified by the US Department of Commence and supports all the travel trade associations. This is the leading platform that merges all the tour operators and the travel agents. The domestic and international airlines, resorts, hotels and the state tourism boards, travel product and services, and wholesalers from India and the rest of the world, meet the tour agents and the travel operators.

This year more than 6000 visitors are going to visit the festival. With around 600 companies from around 50 countries participating the festival promises to be very attractive and interesting.

This international event SATTE is going to be the benchmark occasion for the tourism industry. India has been a destination of interest for most of the tourists, and is a must visit affair in the arena of travel and tourism. This is the greatest stage for the Indian traders dealing with hospitality and has put Indian tourism on a pedestal. This is the best networking means for the entire tourism industry.

The fair is committed to showcase the highest quality of buyers, exhibitors, visitors across the entire region and has the best packages that can be availed of by the tourists. SATTE is today one of fastest expos for travel and tourism, and has actually attained quality ranking in Asia. Today it is a very important and influential platform for the best business and networking deals.

The SATTE festival is an occasion for all those interested in knowing and sharing the details of travel and tourism and highlights the best ways everyone could know about this. India the land of festivals, tourism and culture gives this opportunity to bring together all the related facets of tourism, and helps the world to see tourism in a totally different light.

So Come to the Goa Carnival of 2012 and get enchanted by the lovely sights and celebrate this festival which was begun by the legendary king Momo. There is a lot of culture and tradition that strictly belongs to the Goanese which is showcased here very well.

One of the most awaited festivals in Goa; this is usually a festival of around three to four days. The festival this year is on February 18 and will go on till the 21st of February. Enjoy the zest and vigour with which people enjoy this carnival and see the life that is put in to make the celebrations look vibrant. With the most graceful dances and ideal festive fervour, the Goa Carnival comes across as a total jamboree for many who visit this part of the world during this time.

The Goa Carnival was initially a festival which had limited people but today, the festival has crossed borders and managed to attract many people across the world. The beaches in Goa are an added ambience to the whole thing and provide ultimate travel pleasures.

Celebrated before Lent, Carnival is the augment of celebration after the forty days of Lent fasting. It is denoted for the time Jesus Christ is believed to have spent his days in wilderness. The Carnival originated after the people used to binge on meat after the Lent period was over. This necessitated the presence of a proper palace.

The Carnival here in Goa is the most fascinating and the most popular. There are carnivals at Margao, Mapusa, and Vasco etc. But the Goa Carnival takes the cake of travel pleasures. The festival is predominantly Christian but is totally enveloped by an air of harmony and merry making. Dominated totally by a lot of happiness and merry making, the Goa Carnival ambience sets the pulse racing for all festival lovers as they come to see the blend. This time when you are planning a holiday, why don’t you head for Coal and spend a small pleasurable time in the Goa Carnival.

So this time if you are planning a Goa tour, plan it such that you would get a complete mix of the local culture with the Portuguese influence. Mix with the myriad colours the region offers this time and blend with the beauty of the Goa region. With the festivities and the festival reaching a crescendo, the Goa Carnival looks lively with its jazzy music, large extravagant floats and the most vibrant musical shows. With a kind of festive mood as a tourist makes his way which makes the Goa Carnival a great hit amongst people. At the Goa Carnival you would get to see men and women with fancy masks and paint all over their faces and bodies. It is said that the music they play during the Carnival is similar to the ones the Romans used to play and dance.

There would be live performances and players with bagpipers and cymbals and as they walk up the parade, it is an interesting sight to see the whole fragrance of a carnival fare. The performances normally go on all night and the Red and Black dance is a very popular part of the Goa Carnival.

Goa Carnival is an inseparable part of the Goa State and is filled with fun and joy.

This year too the festival plans a lot of activities and events for not only children but  for also adults. So get set and be prepared to see some of the best exponents of art and art forms and the ideal combination of music and dance. Come here and get alive with the lovely rich performances of the best artists across the world and Indian and see the glitter and glamour on the pedestal of the Arts Festival at Kala Ghoda.

More than 40 theatrical presentations and Hindi film music on the steps of the Asiatic Library, the classical Indian dance forms and the shopping stalls that would have a shopaholic completely go berserk would be the mainstay of the festival this year. Since the year 1999, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival has been a great and much awaited event for all lovers of arts and crafts. The Festival is so named after the equestrian statue of Edward VII that used to be there in the Fort area of the city of Mumbai.

The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is a great attraction for all tourists coming to Mumbai during the time of February and has the best collection of all kinds of art and art forms.

Kala Ghoda is a crowd-puller for creative talent. People with Creative bent of mind from all round the country participate and showcase their talent.

For those who are creatively inclined set your days from February 4 to February 12 a little free and attend all the events of your interest to your heart’s content. The festival aims to focus on the development by improving the area and by restoring the faded porticos and the very old buildings. The festival encourages people to have more requests for having people friendly streets and also asks them to focus on improving the amenities that are provided to the Mumbai people.

The main feature of the festival is the pavement shows and the lovely painting exhibitions that attract almost anyone who is even a little inclined in this sphere. The lovely sculptures and the innumerable literary events only add to the interest quotient. Then there are those music concerts which have most of the popular singers showcasing their singing prowess. Then the film buffs could have the best of film screenings here. Dance enthusiasts get to see some of the best Indian dancers and also some of the international ones at times. There are heritage walks which take you around the place and introduce to the finer aspects of the buildings and monuments and heritage of the Mumbai city.

Theatre enthusiasts get to see some very good plays and there are gallery shows which exhibit some of the very best art talents.

So while you are here and are wondering what else could be done, don’t forget to see the urban sellers who come here with their designer goods and also the village artists who come and showcase their traditional work here. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy such a plethora of crafts, arts and traditional display? With the finest sights to display, the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is surely a one stop extravaganza in the area of art and culture.

As the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is named after the black horse you would see the emblem of the black horse in all communications and other related items of the festival.

The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is Mumbai city’s premiere arts festival and is a must see for any tourist.

This year in 2012, the fair begins on February 1 and would go on till February 3. Since the year 1986, the fair has been a popular way of showcasing and exhibiting some of the best goods in leather and also some items of leather for purchase.

ITPO has been in charge of organizing this fair since the last 26 years and it has done so with a lot of success. Today the IILF is very popular across the world and is recognized in the leather trade and industry. Overseas market has seen a lot of such fairs and has seen a number of companies participating in it in a large way. The visitors for this fair has been on the rise over the past few years and the India International Leather Fair today has a lot of things to boast of. The event has been made bi annual as there is a lot of space and area constraint.

The IILF will have a lot of leather products on display ranging from the finished leather goods to the leather garments, auxiliary products, wallets, gloves, belts, portfolios, saddlery, soles, uppers, counters, heels lasts etc. besides you can also see the machinery and equipment related leather products and it is a great presentation of the ideal ways of knowing all about leather and its related items. So get to see the latest styles and the trends and also the best way of exhibiting the fashion and the designs of this century.

Most of the people would be attracted to this on a commercial basis just to see the number of companies, almost more than 400 of them exhibit their wares and products. There are more than 20 foreign countries participating in this fair and more than 100 of the participating companies come from these countries.

This year it would be the 27th such fair and is going to be held in the Chennai Trade Centre at Nandambakkam Chennai. The fair begins at 10 in the morning and closes at 6 in the evening. With the best display of all that you wanted to know about leather, this fair seeks to introduce the concept of leather as a regular use for all those who are interested in carrying accessories and using regular products that these leather companies produce.

It was in the year 1985, that the whole concept of having such a fair started and since then the event has been the ideal forum for showing the absolutely fascinating glamour of the Indian leather industry. Today it is regarded as the largest leather event in the entire sub continent of Asia. It is useful not only for the buyer but also for the seller all through the world. In the year 2011, the show had around 20,000 buyers and this included more than 1600 buyers across the globe.

This year in 2012, similarly there would more than 400 companies from the area of Finished Leather and Components. There would be goods from the leather garment sector and also some of the best accessory companies. The whole display would be over an area of around 10,000 square metres and is the right exposure for all those who want to know all about leather. This is a one stop shop for all the buyers, sellers and purchasers.

So the India Trade Promotion Organization or the ITPO is a great patron of this India International Leather Fair.

Observed on the seventh day of the Shukla Paksha in the Indian calendar, Ratha Saptami is celebrated in the Indian month of Magh. Shukla Paksha is the waxing phase of the moon. Ratha Saptami occupies a lot of significance in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. In the state of Orissa, this festival is celebrated as Magha Saptami. Another name of the festival is the Surya Jayanti.

Devotees normally decorate the ground with a rangoli or a kolam depicting Lord Surya riding a chariot and milk is boiled in earthen vessels. Devotees also take bath using the leaves of the Erukku type and you can see people in Tamil Nadu normally doing this. Thus the rituals for the festival vary from place to place but the fact that it is RAtha Saptami is what is important for all the devotees.

Ratha Saptami is also celebrated by the Goan Hindus too and is revered as a very auspicious festival by them. Here it augments the spring season as also in the southern part of India which gets slightly hotter during this time. In the villages, many rituals are observed and temples also have very special practices. The Mallikarjuna temple is such a place where you can find many intriguing and interesting rituals.

The actual date of Ratha Saptami changes as per the phases of the moon in the lunar calendar of the Hindu months. The other names for Ratha Saptami are Vidhan Saptami, Surya Jayanti, Achala Saptami, Arogya Saptami, and this year Ratha Saptami is going to be celebrated on the 30th January.

It is believed that worshipping the Sun God Surya bestows us with us good prosperity and health. Surya Bhagawan is supposed to be the one who gives good health according to Hindu religion. On this day the devotees chant Surya Ashthottaram, and Aditya Hrudyaam which are very revered prayers most specially chanted on the Ratha Saptami.

Worshipping Surya Bhagavan on Ratha Saptami festival gives us good health and prosperity. Surya Bhagavan is known as the giver of good health as per Hinduism.

The story of Ratha Saptami goes back to the time when there was a King called King Yashovarma who was the ruler of the Kamboj Empire.

It is also revered as the birthday of Lord Surya Narayan who took birth in the house of the Indian sage Kashyapa and Aditi his wife. The Indian epic Mahabharata says about how Bhishma got salvation or got liberated after death on this day of Surya Jayanti. Thus this day is also called Bhishma Ashtami.

This day also marks the marked increase in the regions of the southern part of India and augments the season of spring. Harvest season begins during this time and most of the farmers in India regard this time as a great beginning of the New Year.

Falling on the second day of the other important festival, Vasant Panchami, this festival of Ratha Saptami is a greatly celebrated occassion across India.

Thus Ratha Saptami is a very popular and revered festival in the Indian traditions.

The Kabir Festival is a festival that is held across Indian cities and also internationally. The festivals are held with a common link of screening of the documentary films made by this erstwhile famous director. There are talks, discussions, and debates by many important speakers across the country. Live music concerts and other such perfomances by classical as well as folk singers are the main features of the festival. There are works of local artistes, opinions and views of other artists, fresh ideas by such performers and there are the collaborative efforts of innumerable organizations that are seen here in this festival.

The Kabir Festival, Mumbai tries to introduce Kabir’s message in society and focus on how it is very important to apply these teachings of the great saint today. Even though he has given these teachings much earlier, the principles are well applied in today’s life. By screening his films, we are able to make a connection with the poet and then the discussions that are had later become a more interchange of views and ideas. There are story telling sessions for the young children. So the whole ideal is to understand the message and awareness of Kabir’s principles. The festival is open for all and is usually had on a first come first serve basis.

This year too, the function is going to be held in the month of February. Starting from 17th February, the festival showcases a lot of works of all kinds of artists. On the 17th February from 10 to 12 in the morning, you would have Shabnam Virmani, Bhavari Devi and Namrata Kartik in discussion at the Shishuvan School Auditorium and this is being organized in conjunction with the Shishuvan School at King’s Circle in Mumbai.

The same day between 7 to 9 in the evening a discussion is scheduled between Mooralal Marwada, Namrata Kartik and Shabnam Virmani at the Yeshwant Chavan Auditorium and this is being organized in conjunction with the YBChavan Auditorium and the “Inner Courtyard”.

On the 18th February between 10 to 12 in the morning, there is a Satsang with Folk musicians at the IDC at IIT Bombay in Powai and this is in conjunction with the IDC Department of the IIT Bombay. The same day from 6 to 10 in the evening there is a performance by Prahladji Tipanya Moorlala Marwada, Mukhtiar Ali, Krishna Kumar and Bhawari Devi. The venue is the Gyan Sagar Amphitheatre at Borivali.

On the 19th February there is another performance at the D G Khetan International School from 10 to 12 in the morning. The artists are Prahladji Tipanya and Mukhtiar Ali. They would be performing at 7 to 8 in the Carter Road Amphitheatre too.

Then Krishan Kant Kumar, Bhawari Devi and Mooralala Marwada would be having a performance from 10 to 11.30 in the morning at the Village, at Raghuleela Mall, at Vashi.

Then at 6 in the evening till 10 at night at Carter Road Amphitheatre in Bandra West and in conjunction with other artists there is a performance. You have Prahaladji Tipanya, Mooralala Marwada, Mukhtiar Ali, Krishna Kumar and Bhawari Devi on this day.

There have been lot of celebrations in the city of Kolkata during the month of January over the past few years. While in Kolkata there is lot of pomp and glory here as Indian and Chinese students interact with each other and celebrate  the Chinese New Year with a lot of fanfare. So get to see the Chinese  students humming a popular Indian tune, and the Indian students humming a Chinese tune as the two cultures join and showcase the resultant effect of a beautiful tradition.

Meet the Chinese Consul General in Kolkata and wish all a very happy new year. Relations between the two countries are very strong today and such occasions strengthen the existing relations. 2012 is the Chinese New Year and is the year of the dragon. The mythology of Chinese says that this year is represented by the Dragon. The Chinese communities celebrate the New Year in various ways.

The Chinese Consul General said that with the year being the year of the Dragon, the ties between the two countries is strengthened further. Students have plans of singing the “Real Heroes” sung by the superstar Jackie Chan and it was interesting to see the Indian students rendering the song so well.

India is a land of culture and tradition, and Kolkata is full of life. There was a Chinese tourist who really was quite impressed with the entire show and she felt that the Chinese song that the Indians normally sing makes the night very memorable.

So this year too in Kolkata enjoy the gala shows at the Chinese New Year celebrations in Kolkata and get to see the Chinese dragon dance and also kung fu shows which are a part of the event and just bask in the cultural extravaganza which so form the mainstay of the event. Enjoy the Chinese and Indian cuisine and just be a part of an extravagant event.

The Year of the Dragon is very auspicious for everyone and Dragon one of the 12 Chinese Gods is a sign of strength. China Town in Kolkata dishes out the tradition and culture of China, and Kolkata is a place for absolute exhibition of Chinese art and music.

There are people from across the world who come here just to get a feel of the festival and they just go back with a mixed kitty of cultures of both the countries. It is not often that tourists get a chance to witness the culture of china and India and the fact that there is lot of vibrance and energy gives enough reason for any tourist to enjoy this unique festival.

Festivals like these are very important in China and since both the countries have a lot of harmony , people celebrate this festival in full gusto. So feasts, fireworks, and exchange of gifts become a very important thing. The Chinese New Year actually starts with the lantern festival in China and in Kolkata you can see some of the Chinese houses and families celebrating it.

The Mahalaxmi SARAS Mela is a fair that is organized by the Maharashtra Government and is normally held between the months of December to February. Normally the festival is a reason why the people from all the Indian states come with their handicrafts and art objects. So more than 35 stalls are sponsored and more than 85 artisans come from all parts of India. So get to see the best of handiwork from States like Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, AP, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, HP, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Rajasthan, and Punjab, UP, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Uttarakhand.

This year too the Mahalaxmi SARAS Mela  is going to be celebrated  from January 19 to February 2 . The timings are from 10 a.m to 10 p.m. So get surrounded with the maze of silk, ceramics, textiles, wood craft, fibre products, bamboo materials, terracotta, lace knitting work, puppets, paintings, wall hangings, and chikan embroidery, Jammu shawls and Kashmir beads, batik Salwar suit from Madhya Pradesh and Orissa Patta Chitra Painting, Jharkhand herbal soaps and enjoy this display of the finest works of art from across the country. So just head towards the Bandra Reclamation Ground in Bandra and enjoy the pleasures of this unique crafts extravaganza.

This is a platform for all artisans and craftsmen across the country and is a perfect blend of exchanging ideas and implementing views. There are so many rural entrepreneurs who have good exposure by being given a chance to set up stalls with the help of the government thus enabling the visitors to see a unique collection of the most authentic rural products. This is the place where you would get the most unusual items and where you have the best collection of such articles. This fair or festival becomes important as you wouldn’t get the things you get here in ordinary everyday festivals.

So get enchanted with the most beautiful creations from all over Indian and enjoy the amazingly talented craftsmen showcase their works. While you go around the Mela or fair, you would feel that you have seen full of India and this plethora of arts of India is what would certainly overwhelm you. Sometimes y you would want to spend money on things you don’t need yet you are happy buying them. This is the right place to shop for such things for they add to your travel kitty.

It is NABARD which has been greatly contributing to promoting the welfare and care of these artisans and this annual festival has always had the best artists also visiting this place. The main idea of the Mahalaxmi SARAS mela is to promote the rural talent of Maharashtra. An initiative by the rural department of Maharashtra Government, this endeavor has gone down  well amongst tourists and the craftsmen. A core committee organizes the festival and this 10 day festival also has a media partner.

Over the years, the participants have only been on the increase and the entire set design, management etc has become very professional. This is a place where you will not only get the best Indian crafts but also the most delicious Maharashtra cuisine in the stalls  in the festival..

Started since the year 2006, this pink  city in India, is home to the best literary festival not only in India but across the Asian continent. The main venue of this immensely interesting festival is the Diggi Palace Hotel which showcases a plethora of literary activity.

Held every year in the state of Rajasthan in India in the city of Jaipur, the Jaipur Literature Festival  is held in the month of January. This year in 2012, it starts on January 20 and goes on till January 24. The Hall of Audience is witness to this unique festival and the Diggi gardens opens the doors to the best kind of literary work in this part of the world. Exclusively showcased to celebrate the glamour of International, Rajasthani and Indian type of writing, the festival has its own directors.

The 2012 Jaipur Literature Festival  would start from 20th January and go on till 24th January. This festival is considered to be one of the most important literary events in the region of the Asia Pacific. There are debates, workshops, discussions, poetry, and other such activities here which kindle the interest of the tourists.

So get ready to see those authors, and novelists who you normally see on a gray scale on the paperback. Enjoy the performances by the musicians here and flip through as many books as you wish to.

Bring your photo ID along and register online to avoid last minute glitches.

The Literary Festival 2012 has a lot of mentally stimulating topics like the Bhakti and Sufi traditions, Anna Hazare, vegetarianism, Arab countries’ democratic shift, censorship etc. Get a glimpse of American TV Host Oprah Winfrey and Michael Ondaatje the popular author and bask in the glory of their writings.

There would be a workshop on democracy and the entry fee is Rupees 200 per head. The programme schedule for the four days is as follows :

January 20

Rajasthan Ek Khoj – The Spirit of Rajasthan  Rima Hooja, Vijay Shankar Vyas, Hariram Meena, CP Deval, and moderated by Malarshi Lal.

“The Arab Spring – A winter’s view” Kamin Muhammadi Navdeep Suri, Hisham Matar, Raja Shehadeh, Karima Khalil and Max Rodenbeck conversing with Barkha Dutt.

“Midnight’s Child” Salman Rushdie conversing with Hari Kunzru

“The Truth of Poetry and the Truth of Politics “– Ashok Vajpeyi conversing with Kapil Sibbal.

January 21

“Rediscovering India’s Buddhist heritage” John Keav conversing with Nayanjot Lahiri

“In Search of A story” John Elliot conversing with Chetan Bhagat

“Inglish Amlish,Hinglish – The Chutneyfication of English” Tarun Tejpal, Rita Kothari, Ruchir Joshi, Salman Rushdie, conversing with Ira Pande.

January 22

“O” Oprah Winfrey conversing with Barkha Dutt

“On Pakistan” Fatima Bhutto. Ziaudding Sardar, Ayesha Jalal conversing with Karan Thapar.

“Survival Strategies in the time of the Twitterati ” Suhel Seth, Shashi Tharoor, Chetan Bhagat , conversing with Shoma Chowdhary.

The Magic of Reality Richard Dawkins conversing with Lalla Ward.

January 23

“Adaptations” Tom Stoppard, Annie Proulx, Salman Rushdie chaired by Girish Karnad – Sangeet Ki Duniya ” Yatindra Mishra.

January 24

“Rajneeti” The Craft of Politics Prakash Jha, conversing with Ruchir Joshi. Also accompanying would be Surina Narula.

“Indian Military History” This Missing Links Maj Gen V.K. singh ( retd) Sqn Ldr RTS China ( Retd) C. Dasgupta and Anit Mukherjee conversing with Manoj Joshi.

“Lava The Drama of Words” Asghar Wajahat conversing with Javed Akhtar.

The 2012 Jaipur Literature Festival is thus a great opportunity for all the avid readers.

Find such dance festivals in the district of Bagalkot in the Pattadakal town in  the Mallikarjuna and the Virupaksha temple which are full of activity and energy in the months of January and February every year. Situated around 22 kilometers from Badami, Pattadakal has around ten important temples and this is inclusive of a Jain temple. Four of these temples are in the Nagara style and the remaining are in Dravidian architecture. Today UNESCO has recognized Pattadakal as a World Heritage Site.

Pattadakal was a very important place during the reign of the Chalukyas. They had present day Badami as their capital and this city was the centre of culture and art. There were many coronations and such ceremonies held here in those days.

With such a history behind it, it is no wonder that the Pattadakal Dance Festival is held here in the land of temples, ancient traditions and culture. So come to this hub of history and architecture that is located between Badami and Aihole and enjoy the festivals that are a way of life here in the months of January and February.

Pattadakal is easily accessible as it is reached by road from Aihole and Badami. The nearest railway station is Badami and the Belgaum is the nearest airport. The Pattadakal Dance Festival is a greatly popular annual festival that is held here in the month of January and is organized by the Government of Karnataka. This is a place that has many Shiva temples and the Dance Festival celebrates the importance and the cultural glory of these wonderful temples. So you can find all the famous dancers coming from across the country and taking part in this extravaganza held here in Pattadakal.

A tourist who is touring India during this month, and who is interested to know more about the art and culture of Indian society would surely love to come  to this land and enjoy the beauty and art that exudes here during the Dance Festival.

All those who come here enjoy the cultural ambience here and also get enthralled by the beautiful craft mela which is also a part of the Pattadakal Dance Festival. This festival is also known as the Chalukya Utsav as this region has a lot of Chalukya influe4nce. Temples ofChalukyan architecture are very common here and the sights of the beautiful temples with total antique value and with a lot of ancient tales to tell, is simply enchanting.

With temples like the Sangamesvara temple having carvings which mainly depict dancing themes, the place is a hub of Lord Shiva and his dancing aspects. Hence the fact that the Pattadakal Dance Festival is held here every year is completely justified as this is a place which simply breathes and lives the dance forms and sculptures.

So this year too in 2012, go to Pattadakal and enjoy this dance festival here which is a three day extravaganza and which attracts all the art lovers and dance enthusiasts. With the background of the majestically constructed ancient temples the Pattadakal Dance Festival is a way of bringing the popular artists exhibit their magic here.