FESTIVALS
Being the first festival at the turn of the calendar, Lohri not only marks the end of winter season in northern India but also happens to be the most popular folk festival of the state of Punjab in India. Festivals are of utmost importance because they pump in a fresh leash of energy in our mundane routine. They prompt us to halt, take a break and cherish life. They also put us together effectively, by making us connect with different communities. Seeing a place getting decked-up to celebrate a local festival and then celebrating it with the locals is one of the best ways to gain insight around local history, culture, people and food. No doubt, it makes us more tolerant and appreciative towards different and unique traditions. And most importantly, they foster peace and harmony among humankind. I have travelled to couple of places only and only for their famous festivals and have come back more happy, content and practically more enriched. Thus, I never shy from giving this piece of advice that there is no better time to visit a place than a local festival. In fact, if you visit a place twice, you will feel the difference during festive and non-festive days.
PUNJAB
Home to the holiest of the Sikh shrines, the state of Punjab is ranked 12th favorite when it comes to tourist arrivals. While the capital city Chandigarh garners attention as one of the most aesthetically planned city of India, Amritsar beats all as the everlasting historical heart of the state. Nevertheless, other cities and towns like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda, Pathankot, Hosiarpur promise tranquil splash of green, vast blooming mustard fields, crisscrossing long canals, traditional culture, roots of spirituality, legacy of Gurus and high-spirited locals. Punjab makes a pretty and perfect choice to road trip in.
I remember on the day of the festival, a different kind of vibe had set in. We had wheeled from Amritsar to Hosiarpur and every little village, town or city on the way had a different zing about it. The whole ambiance was electrifying, cheerful, upbeat and friendlier. Golden temple was extremely crowded but hey, that’s the day to be there.