GHCL Digest JULY 2018

1) Amarnath Yatra
Fes vals of India – July 2018
The famous Amarnath cave temple, one of the top caves in India, houses a
Shiva lingam made out of ice. It's one of the toughest pilgrimages in India
to visit it. Pilgrims must ba le inclement weather, which makes the track
slippery and dangerous, as well as very high al tude.
When: June 28-August 26, 2018
Where: On Mount Amarnath, around 140 kilometers from Srinagar
in Kashmir. There are two routes to the shrine -- 16 kilometers from Baltal in Ganderbal and the
tradi onal 45 kilometers Pahalgam track in Anantnag district, approximately three to four hours drive from
Srinagar.
2) Beh Deinkhlam
The most important fes val of the Pnar tribe of Meghalaya, Beh Deinkhlam
is celebrated a er agricultural sowing is over. Khlam means plague and beh
dien means to drive away with s cks. Hence, the fes val is held to drive
away and nega ve forces that may affect the crop. The fes vi es take
place over three days, and culminate with procession of chariots and
ceremonial tree trunks (khnongs) to a sacred pool full of water. Another
highlight of the occasion is a football match between locals. The winner is
believed to have a bumper harvest.
When: July 3, 2018.
Where: Jowai, Jain a hills, Meghalaya, Northeast India.
3) Dree fes val
Dree is an agricultural fes val of the Apatani tribe. It's celebrated by
sacrificial offerings and prayers to the gods who protect the crops. Folk
songs, tradi onal dances, and other cultural performances have also
become a part of the modern-day fes vi es. There's even a "Mr Dree"
contest, billed as the ul mate pla orm for men to show their strength,
agility, stamina, and intelligence!
When: July 4-7 each year.
Where: Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India.
4) Puri Rath yatra
The exuberant 12 day Rath Yatra fes val sees Lord Jagannath (a
reincarna on of Lords Vishnu and Krishna), along with and his elder
brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, venture out of their abode in
Puri's Jagannath Temple. The gods are transported on massive towering
chariots. It's Odisha's most popular fes val.
When: July 14-26, 2018.
Where: Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha.
July 2018
9