“In India, the calendar of every state is full of only religious events and festivals.” If you think so, you are not absolutely right. Indian states boast of culturally rich dance and music festivals, held in different times of the year. The most celebrated music and dance festivals of India are held at seaside temples, historical sites of architecture ruins and shrines in the cave. The interface between art and history, these festivals are cultural celebrations, ceremonious galas and spectacular events, in the open air atmosphere. Indian Eagle offers an ode to the most famous dance festivals of India.

Soorya Dance Festival, Kerala

Interwoven with the cultural fabric of Kerala, the Soorya Classical Dance Festival is held in the capital city, Thiruvananthapuram, for 10 days every year. The festival is accompanied by some other cultural programs including theatre, photography, painting and seminars. Kathak, Manipuri, Odissi, Kathakali, Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi are some of the celebrated forms of Indian classical dance which are staged by eminent artists, during the festival. Organized by Soorya Stage and Film Society, this dance festival of India continues from October 1 to 10.

Elephanta Dane Festival, Maharashtra

Among the dance and music festivals of India, Elephanta Festival is a cultural pride of Maharashtra. The festival is held in the cave shrine of Lord Shiva on Elephanta Island, a 10 km boat drive from the Gateway of India in Mumbai Harbor. Illumined with the interplay of various lights, the Lord Shiva temple in the caves of Elephanta Island comes alive as a seat of art and culture, in the month of March every year. Since its inception in 1989 by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, Elephanta Dance Festival celebrates the folk dance form of each Indian state.

Khajuraho Dance Festival, Madhya Pradesh

Khajuraho, situated in Madhya Pradesh, holds the cultural traditions of Central India. A small village in Bundalkhand, Khajuraho is famous for its legendary temples where the dance festival is held ceremoniously, in the month of February every year. The festival is a gripping celebration of Indian classical dances, performed in the backdrop of flamboyantly illumined temples – the Chitragupta Temple and the Vishwanatha Temple under the evening sky. Once upon a time the capital of the Chandela Dynasty, Khajuraho is a dedicated chapter in the thousands-year old Indian history.

Konark Dance Festival, Orissa

One of the most spectacular dance and music festivals of India, Konark Dance Festival is held at an open air auditorium in the backdrop of the Sun Temple which is also known as the Black Pagoda. The marvelous architecture of the Konark Sun Temple is shaped like a chariot with wheels drawn by seven horses. On the Chandrabhaga beach of Konark, near the holy city of Puri, the Konark Temple offers a wonderful ambience when lit colorfully during the festival in the month of December. Odissi Dance, an age-old cultural identity of Orissa, is an exclusive highlight of the festival. Other dance performances such as Chau dance, Manipuri, Kathak and Bharathnatyam make it a lavish feast for the eyes.

READ MORE Interesting Facts of Konark Sun Temple

Ellora Ajanta Dance Festival, Maharashtra

Held in the month of January, Ellora Ajanta Dance Festival is an interface between culture and history of India. The historic Ajanta and Ellora caves of Aurangabad are in the spotlight during the festival. Organized by Aurangabad Festival Committee in collaboration with Maharashtra Tourism Development at Soneri Mahal, the festival presents the best of classical and folk dance forms in a blend. The glittering beauty of the festival and the splendid architecture of Soneri Mahal make a rare spectacle to behold with wonder. The regional art and craft of Maharashtra is also exhibited at the festival site.

Mamallapuram Dance Festival, Tamil Nadu

Mamallapuram, a seaside temple town in Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu, prides itself on the popularity of the dance festival. The most important port in the Pallava Dynasty of the 7th and 8th centuries, Mamallapuram is a tourist destination known for its stone temples and monolithic rock sculptures. Arjuna’s Penance, a mammoth architecture with finely carved rock sculptures, serves as venue of the Mamallapuram Dance Festival, in the backdrop of the Bay of Bengal. Lulled by gentle breezes blowing over the sea, the atmosphere of the town is suitable for the festive mood. The festival begins in the last week of December and continues for three weeks in January every year.

Modhera Dance Festival, Gujarat

Gujarat does not lag behind other states of India when it comes to claiming fame for art, culture and history. Modhera Dance Festival, an annual cultural phenomenon in Mehsana district of the state, is held at the Sun Temple, an architectural excellence that belongs to the regime of the Solanki King Bhimdev I. Though lying in ruins, the temple exudes its historical charms when the surrounding is illumined for the festival. Dance and music performances by traditionally clad artists add to the spell of the atmosphere. Modhera Dance Festival is held in the month of January.

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Gleaming diyas, glittering lamps, colorful rangoli, succulent sweets, firecrackers and likes – these all make a composite picture of extravagant Diwali celebration in urban India. But, you will find absolutely different pictures of the festival in the rural backwaters of the country where tribal communities live. Indian Eagle explores the rural interiors of India to collect the striking glimpses of Diwali celebration by the tribal people whose multi-ethnic identity and culture are distinctly defined in contrast to the harmony of various cultures in a cosmopolitan society. Lets see how tribal India celebrates the Festival of Lights…

Diwali celebration is synonymous with simplicity for the tribal communities of Jharkhand. They celebrate the festival of lights, known as “Sohrai”, in a more realistic way associated with the means of sustenance in daily life. This festive occasion marks the harvest of rice, and the worship of cattle is part of the celebration in the tribal villages of the state. Harvest and cattle are the main sources of livelihood for them. The women in countryside decorate the mud walls of their houses (mainly huts) with art murals, which is unique to their culture. Also, domestic animals are adorned for the celebration.

The way of Diwali celebration in the state of Odisha is different from the ways the other states of India celebrate the festival in. The tribal folks of Odisha, on the occasion of Diwali, seek the blessings of their ancestors who are believed to be living somewhere in the heaven after the demise of their mortal bodies on earth. The ritualistic manner of worshiping ancestors is unique to their cultural heritage. “Kaunria Kathi” is one of the rituals that they perform during the festivity. As per the ritual, they burn jute stems to create fire as a signal to summon the ancestors and request for their blessings.

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The people of the Sindhi community in the states of India have developed their own way of Diwali celebration, which is unique to their cultural identity in the social fabric of the country. This regional community of India refers to the celebration of Diwali as “Diyari”. Like most of the other communities, they worship Goddess Lakshmi. They clean silver and gold coins using raw milk during the worship. Once the puja is over, they take gold or silver coins and tap the coins lightly against their teeth while chanting “Lakshmi aayi, danat vaai” (When Lakshmi arrives, poverty departs).

The way the tribal communities in Narmada and Baruch districts of Gujarat celebrate defines their traditions in contrast to the common socio-cultural milieu of the country. The tribal people of these two provinces in Gujarat celebrate the festival of lights as a harbinger of good health. It is a 15-day long festivity for them. Unlike firing of crackers in cities and towns, the burning of herbal wood of different types accompanies the celebration for the tribal folks. The smoke from the burning of herbal wood is believed to keep them healthy. This traditional custom also stands for the philosophy, that is, “hard work brings wealth, and good health is required for hard work.” They light a holy fire and march a procession to take the fire across the villages in a bid to prevent evils from intruding their habitats. They enjoy themselves over various folk dance forms on each of the 15 days of the celebration.

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The tribal habitants in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh are distinctly identified for their different way of Diwali celebration, known as Diyari. The festivity begins ceremoniously with the marriage of crop in fields with an idol of Lord Narayana. It is followed by the ritual of filling households with food grain. The cattle owners in the tribal community of Bastar are honored with liquor on the first day of the celebration. They offer garlands, paddy and khichdi, a kind of porridge with local flavor, to the shepherds. They perform Gotton puja, another integral part of the festivity, to seek divine blessings for the good health and protection of their cattle. The cattle are adorned with garlands, the drums are beaten, and the crop is worshiped as image of Goddess Lakshmi during the 3-day long Diwali celebration.

Thakar is one of the scheduled tribes inhabiting the forest areas of Maharashtra. Their cultural heritage includes various folk dance forms and songs. The way they celebrate Diwali festival stands for their identity in distinction from that of the other tribes in India. They make lamps from the dried parts of a fruit called chibra, and use the stands made from cow-dung to place lamps on. They worship the grain, stored in a cane basket, as the image of Goddess Lakshmi, on the festive day. On this occasion, they perform a folk dance in rhythm with the beats of dhols.

About Travel Beats

This story is brought to you as part of the initiative, “Explore India with Indian Eagle”, aiming to promote what is good and lesser known about India through our overseas Indian community portal, Travel Beats. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of Indian Eagle Travel, a leading air ticketing partner of Indians abroad.

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Water is the elixir of life on earth. Water crisis is a looming threat to many countries including India. Water crisis in India manifests itself through severe drought during summer every year. Drought in India due to atmospheric whims of nature causes crop failure, a major reason why Indian farmers commit suicide. About 600 million people are facing acute water shortage in India, according to the Niti Aayog, an Indian government think-tank. Since necessity is the mother of invention, everyone from schoolchildren to social activists to self-motivated individuals is trying different ways of water conservation to fight water scarcity in India.

Just as every dark cloud has a silver lining, every drought-hit region has an inspirational story of water conservation. We at Travel Beats curated such stories of fight against water crisis from across India so that everyone is inspired to conserve water. 

Little Drops of Water Make a Mighty Ocean

A few thousands of schoolchildren in the state of Maharashtra, where severe water crisis has caused life-taking drought, have set an inspirational example of water conservation. Some 7000 schoolchildren in Pune are saving and conserving leftover water from their bottles in large drums at their schools. The collected leftover water is used instead of fresh water to clean school premises and water plants. Initiated by two Indian entrepreneurs Vedant Goel and Yusuf Soni, this water conservation campaign is one of the promising solutions to water crisis in India. Some Pune schools have kept buckets at their exit points, which students empty their bottles into while leaving for the day.

Where There is a Will There is a Way

Rural women are the most-affected victims of water scarcity in India. They spend 6 to 9 hours a day to transport 30 to 40 liters of water on their heads, ignoring its health consequences like back pain and neck injuries. But a group of 20 women in rural backwaters of Kerala is hell-bent on changing the picture. They have dug more than 100 bore well in a year to tide over water crisis in their villages. Similar is the story of the women in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, who dug a well in just 40 days rather than blaming their fate or nature or god for water shortage in India. When some men came forward to help them, they chose to rewrite the destiny on their own.

Also Read Kerala’s First Gender Park for Gender Equality

Good Human Beings are Gods Incarnate

Image Credit: TheBetterIndia.com

While many people talk about water crisis and drought in India 2016, Ayyappa Masagi from Karnataka has practically found and tried a solution to it and that is water conservation. Born into a poor farmer’s family, he faced water problems in childhood and used to wake up at wee hours to fetch water, which inspired him to find ways of water conservation. A mechanical engineer having 23 years of experience at a multinational corporation, Ayyappa Masagi responded to the call of earth and constructed many lakes for water conservation. He studied and practiced non-irrigation agricultural methods as solutions to water crisis which causes drought, thereby leading to Indian farmer suicides every year. This Water Gandhi of India found a mention in the Limca Book of Records for having created over 600 lakes across rural India.

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Nothing is Useless on Earth

Two final year students of IIT-Bombay have proven it by collecting plastic waste and giving clean drinking water in return. They have built a revolutionary machine which accepts used cans or bottles and dispenses 300 milliliters of drinking water in exchange. Developed by Anurag Meena and Satyendra Meena at IIT-Bombay, this environment-friendly project will not only encourage people to recycle waste but also relieve them of drinking water crisis during summer. Trestor, a Chandigarh based startup, has funded the project to help manufacture these ‘swachh’ machines.

Charity Begins at Home

Like farmers, women are also affected by drought and water crisis in rural India. They walk miles to fetch water from remote sources. A 17-year-old boy in Settisara village of Karnataka has dug a 55-foot-deep well in the backyard of his home for his mother. Since his family couldn’t afford to hire laborers for such an arduous work, Pavan Kumar took advice from a local hydrology expert and dug the well where water could be found. It took him 45 days to make this impossible possible, including a brief period of preparation for his pre-university exams. While clean drinking water is a luxury for millions of rural people, he put an end to water problem for his family.

Humanity is the Best Religion

A church in Delhi came forward to serve free drinking water to those who cannot afford bottles of chilled water this steaming summer. The Mar Gregorious Orthodox Church in Janakpuri has put a food and water vending machine in the neighborhood to save the needy from furious heat. Named Share N Care and stocked with water packets as well as fruits, the machine will be functional throughout this season.

Also Read Indian Chef from Delhi Feeds the Poor in Canada

Service to the Needy is the Best Virtue

Latur in the state of Maharashtra, one of the most-affected regions of drought in India, has one silver lining amidst rainless clouds over its people. Sheikh Mateen Musa, a mathematics teacher, has been giving away free water to the people hit by severe water crisis in Latur for three months. He distributes nearly 10,000 liters of water from his bore well without any condition or compensation every day. His generosity is the elixir of life for around 300 households during water shortage in Latur.

Believe in Actions not Words

Mumbai-based social activist Amla Ruia belongs to this category. She helped the farmers of 100 drought-hit villages in Rajasthan with traditional water harvesting techniques. Her NGO Aakar Charitable Trust got 200 check dams built to save thousands of lives in those Indian villages. Instead of just pondering over why Indian farmers commit suicide, Amla Ruia is practically more inclined towards solving water crisis in India with a sustainable solution for water conservation.

A Little Thought Makes a Big Difference

The thought “How to save extra water that goes waste in the process of watering plants” moved Dr. Anumakonda Jagadeesh from Vellore in Tamil Nadu to find a solution to conserve water. He began using tubes from discarded car or bike tyres instead of pots to prevent evaporation of water from soil. He cut three or four holes into the tube on one side and filled those holes with soil. Used tyre tubes cost cheaper and do not get affected in sunlight. Water is not evaporated from the soil in tubes. Dr. Jagadeesh, a renewable energy expert, has executed many water conservation projects in India.

Sharing is Caring

It’s absolutely true about Abdul Gafarasab Mulla in Yadgir district of Karnataka. Unlike those who store water as the most precious commodity in times of water crisis, he generously distributes water from his bore well to help farmers save their farmlands and livestock from scorching heat. He has left the trench in his farm, which is filled with water from the bore well, open to all. Those grappling with water shortage in neighboring villages as far off as 3 km fetch water from Abdul’s farm to survive this sizzling summer.

Inspiration is not bound to geographic or demographic barriers. Travel Beats, an Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel, publishes inspirational stories, interesting articles, and latest visa, immigration and aviation news. 

Have you got an inspirational story to share? Write to us at share@indianeagle.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Many new tourist attractions in India saw the daylight by the end of 2018 and at the onset of 2019. Of those, India’s tallest Shiva lingam in Kerala and India’s first devotional theme park in Shirdi have already managed to feature on several lists of the best Indian tourist attractions. Other than the Sai Temple, one of the highest-earning temples in India, Shirdi has got a brand new attraction to amaze millions of people. Unlike religious places or pilgrimage sites in India, Sai Teerth Theme Park offers a different experience altogether for both solo pilgrims and family travelers with kids.

We at Travel Beats, a leading portal for Indians abroad by Indian Eagle Travel, offer a sneak peek into Sai Teerth Theme Park in Shirdi and reason why India’s first devotional theme park is a must visit in 2019.

Lanka Dahan at Sai Teerth Devotional Theme Park

Picture Credit: News18.com

India’s first devotional theme Park, Sai Teerth takes visitors on a thrilling ride of multidimensional simulation experience in 5D technology through the screening of a 26-minute film on Hanuman’s Lanka Dahan. Lanka Dahan is a widely popular tale from the epic Ramayana. Lanka Dahan at Sai Teerth Theme Park depicts Lord Hanuman’s flight to Lanka in search of Sita and his act of setting Lanka ablaze, with accentuated, special effects like water, fire and wind. An interface between the best of entertainment and that of technology, the Lanka Dahan Theater at Sai Teerth makes it one of the best new tourist places in India 2019.

Teerth Yatra at Sai Teerth Spiritual Theme Park

Picture Credit: News18.com

One of the best places to visit in Shirdi temple town, the Sai Teerth Theme Park houses a colossal replica of the India known for its pilgrimage sites, in a 40,000-sq-ft indoor complex. Teerth Yatra at India’s first devotional theme Park in Shirdi is a virtual journey in an automated vehicle to some of the most popular holy destinations of India: Kedarnath, Badrinath, Tirupati Tirumala, Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple, Dwarka in Gujarat, Puri Jagannath Temple, Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai, and Pandharpur’s Vithoba Temple.

Teerth Yatra at Sai Teerth is an engaging walk through the age-old Indian temple architecture and the cultural diversity of India from north to south and from east to west.

Dwarkamai at India’s Sai Teerth Theme Park

Picture Credit: News18.com

One of India’s new tourist attractions in 2019, Sai Teerth Theme Park houses an eye-catching replica of the 100-year-old Dwarkamai, a dilapidated mosque where Lord Sai Baba stayed till the end of his life, cured people of ailments, initiated them into spirituality, and preached “God is one.” Dwarkamai at Sai Teerth runs a 10-minute unique show on Lord Sai Baba, using world-class robotics and animatronics. There is a seating arrangement for 250 people to watch the show on Sai Baba at the first-ever devotional theme park in Shirdi, India.

Sabka Malik Ek at Shirdi Devotional Theme Park

Among the new tourist places in India, Shirdi Sai Teerth is the only theme park to feature a huge theater with a cinema screen of 36×72 feet. A custom-made, 60-minute film on Sai Baba’s life, hardships, miracles and teachings is shown here several times a day. Titled ‘Sai Baba – Sabka Malik Ek’, the film is one of the four attractions at Sai Teerth Theme Park in Shirdi. The theatrical experience lingers on the minds of the people even weeks after their visit to India’s first devotional theme park.

One of the best places to visit from Mumbai, Shirdi has good air connectivity with most of the tier I and tier II cities in India. Shirdi is a short flight away from Mumbai CSI Airport, Pune International Airport and Ahmadabad International Airport.

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Among the wandering monks of India, Swami Vivekananda is the first name that comes to the mind. The five years of his life on earth, from 1888 to 1893 was full of travels in search of truth, spirituality and a real India. He traveled as a Parivrajaka along the length and breadth of the country. He won the admiration of kings, felt for the suffering people, motivated the youth for a greater cause, studied many religious scriptures, visited many historic sites, gained knowledge, and visualized the future of India during his itinerary, which made a precious treasure of enlightenment for us. On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s birthday (January 12), we at Travel Beats, an overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, offer a sneak peek into his historic and spiritual travels.

Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in India, was the first destination on his itinerary. In Varanasi, he came across the saints like Trailanga Swami, the authors like Bhudev Mukhopadhyay, and the Vedic scholars like Babu Pramadadas Mitra. From there, he made his way to Rishikesh through Ayodhya, Lucknow, Agra and Vrindavan. He interacted with and took favor from whoever came his way without caring their castes and creeds because he believed in non-duality of the soul. Some of those who were touched by his noble soul became his disciples and got initiated into service to the nation. Among them was Sharat Chandra Gupta, a railway station master in Haridwar, who came to be known as Swami Sadananda. Swamiji fondly called Sharat “the child of my spirit”.

Then, Swamiji spent days at Vaidyanath and Allahabad during his itinerary between 1889 and 1890. From Allahabad, he moved to Ghazipur where he got in touch with Pavhari Bana, a great sage. Pavhari Baba was known for his absolute knowledge of Advaita Vedanta. On meeting the sage, he felt blessed and referred to him as a great soul of bhakti and yoga in a letter to Pramadababu. In the first half of 1890, he took a break for the travel and returned to Baranagar Math in Kolkata (then Calcutta). After a short stay there, he left for a trip to the Himalayas in quest of truth. Swami Akhandananda accompanied him on the trip. After a visit to Nainital, Almora, Dehradun and Srinagar, Swamiji went to the Himalayas. Delhi was his destination by the end of January in 1891.

He visited the historical sites in and around Delhi. Then, his travel to Rajputana in west India began. This phase of the itinerary was so eventful that it constituted a big chapter of his biography. The first stopover in Rajputana was Alwar where he received a cordial welcome from both the Hindus and the Muslims. They were influenced by this wandering monk’s spiritual values and teachings. Swamiji was invited by Mangal Singh, the King of Alwar, who did not believe in the practice of idol worship because of his western outlook. A meeting with Swamiji changed his attitude towards the idol worship by the Hindus.

Swamiji’s Rajasthan travel was full of learning too. He studied Panini’s Ashtadhyayi under the tutelage of a Sanskrit Scholar in Jaipur. He visited the Dargah Sharif in Ajmer. His meeting with Ajit Singh, the King of Khetri in Mount Abu on June 4, 1891, is another important event. Out his interest in spirituality, the King became a follower of Swamiji and supported him in many ways. Swamiji studied Mahabhasya during his stay at Khetri and then, he went to Gujarat.

Limbdi, Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Kutch, Porbander, Dwaraka, Baroda, Palitana and Girnar were among his destinations in Gujarat. The Gujarat travel was full of enlightenment for him. He studied the Jain scriptures there. He got the idea of preaching Vedanta in the Western World from Thakur Saheb Jaswant Singh who he came across in Limbdi. Haridas Viharidas Desai, the Diwan of Junagadh, welcomed him as a respected guest. Impressed by his personality, the Diwan used to discuss on different topics with Swamiji till late at night. Swamiji immersed himself in philosophical studies during his nine-month long stay at Porbander. At Kathiawar in Gujarat, he got to know about the Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Then, he visited Mahabaleshwar and Pune. While traveling by train in Bombay in 1892, Swamiji happened to meet Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a Nationalist in the Freedom Movement of India. They spent a few days together in Pune. He moved to Panaji in Goa from Maharashtra, and studied the Christian theology at a convent in Goa.

In the second half of 1892, he journeyed to Bangalore, his first destination in South India. There, he met the Diwan of Mysore who described him as “a magnetic personality with a divine force”. Swamiji was introduced to Chamaraja Wodeyar, the then King of Mysore and welcomed cordially to the Palace. He was further introduced to the Diwan of Cochin. His travel continued till he reached the southernmost part of India, Kanyakumari, on foot through Trissur, Ernakulam, Trivandrum, and Nagercoil. The meditation on the future of India, at the Kanyakumari Rock, was the culmination of Swamiji’s spiritual journey at the end of 1892.

Having had the vision of an individual India, Swamiji traveled to Madurai, Rameswaram, Pondicherry and Madras (now Chennai) in the beginning of 1893. He met Ramnad Bhaskara Sethupathi, the then King of Madurai, who approached him with an urge to participate in the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Swamiji won the admiration of whoever came in touch with him during the itinerary across Tamil Nadu. Most of them became disciples and responded to his call for renunciation in service to the nation. One of his most ardent disciples in South India was Alasinga Perumal who collected funds for Swamiji’s voyage to Chicago by going from door to door. Swami Vivekananda embarked on the historic voyage to America on May 31, 1893.

Swamiji’s travel continued from America to the rest of the world till the demise of his mortal body on July 4, 1902. However, the journey of this greatest Indian traveler is as ceaseless as the eternal flow of time. It is still on the go through the spread of his message, teachings, values and vision

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When it comes to talent, India stands first. The whole world looks at Indians for the right pool of talent, and time and again they have been proving it.

The new entrant to the world of excellence is 21-year-old Sonal Baberwal from the Indian State of Maharashtra. An engineering graduate in Electronics and Telecommunication from Sipna College of Engineering and Technology in Amravati, Sonal Baberwal became the first to have won the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship awarded by the International Space University (ISU).

The International Space University is a pioneer in the field of space education and is the world’s premier educational institute. It is supported by major space agencies and aerospace organizations from around the world. They have been nurturing graduates from all over the globe for three decades and have graduated more than 4000 students over 100 countries. Founded in Massachusetts, USA, ISU is headquartered in Strasbourg, France.

As part of their mission to bring out the best talent, ISU has started a scholarship program for bright and deserving graduates under the name of Indian American astronaut Dr. Kalpana Chawla, who lost her life in the Columbia Space Shuttle accident on February 1, 2003.

As a token of love and respect to Kalpana Chawla, the panel at ISU has decided to assist three post-graduate students from India who share Kalpana Chawla’s vision of space technology and passion for excellence in science. The first Kalpana Chawla scholarship winner, Sonal Baberwal is a space science enthusiast.

Being the first Kalpana Chawla Scholarship winner, Sonal Baberwal is entitled to the space studies program at the Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland. This scholarship project is aimed at nurturing strong leadership qualities among the best technical expertise. Michael Potter, the main brain behind this scholarship program called it a historic moment, saying, “India will be the vital player on the international arena as it is a front runner in the activities and development of technologies related to space.”

The official announcement from ISU stated, “Scholarship is a commitment for creating building blocks that are necessary for India to maintain its leadership in the global space community and market place.”

The First Kalpana Chawla Scholarship winner, Sonal Baberwal has been intelligent since her childhood. She has done her schooling in Mount Carmel High School and pursued her intermediate studies in Shri RLT College of Science. It is Sonal’s wide interest in an array of fields like Robotics, Pluto, environmental aspects, Space and art that got her in touch with NASA astronaut Nicole Stott and Leena Bokil. And then it was never looking back for this proud winner of the first Kalpana Chawla Scholarship award.

India is eagerly waiting for the announcement of the other two students into the foray of space talent.

Travel Beats is an Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, a leading international travel booking organization. We celebrate the achievements of young Indians across the world and publish the Indian Diaspora news besides sharing updates on air travel, India tourism, US visa and immigration.

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As per the latest report, Shirdi International Airport will start operating in the first week of October 2017. The airport will connect the temple town of Shirdi in Maharashtra with tier I and tier II Indian cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam in air. It will make travel to Shirdi easier for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Shirdi Airport.

Shirdi which is famous for the Saibaba Temple is one of the most popular destinations for road trips from Mumbai. The Mumbai to Shirdi road trip takes five hours, which will be reduced to only 40 minutes by Mumbai to Shirdi flights. Driving to Shirdi from Pune or Mumbai is full of hassles during monsoons, though a joy in summer and winter.

Located 14 kilometers from Shirdi, the airport will change the way pilgrims travel to and from Shirdi. Commissioned in 2010, Shirdi Airport will be operated and managed by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company. The airport is a whopping INR 340 crore project. The Saibaba Sansthan Trust has given INR 45 crore for the construction.

India’s domestic airlines including Alliance Air and Indigo are planning to operate flights to Shirdi Airport from Mumbai and other cities. If the things go as planned, four Mumbai to Shirdi flights will be operated in a day. Daily air traffic of 700 to 800 is expected initially. Devotees from outside of India will be able to catch direct flights to Shirdi from the above-mentioned cities in India.

Spread over a 350-hectare area, Shirdi Airport has already got a terminal building, four watchtowers, an air traffic control tower, a 2.5-km runway, and a wide entrance. The airport will have a second terminal building, one more air traffic controller, and four hangers for private jets at the second phase of construction. The vacant land in and around the airport will be commercialized for luxury hospitality and shopping.

Furthermore, Maharashtra Government has been approached to help operate air-conditioned buses for shuttle services between Shirdi Airport and Saibaba Temple for the ease and convenience of devotees. If it works out, buses will be available just outside the airport terminal. There may be a cloakroom as well as a counter for availing passes and Prasad for the temple, among other facilities being planned for the terminal.

The inauguration of Shirdi Airport will coincide with the 100^th death anniversary of Saibaba in October 2017.

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The first of its kind, Veer Yatra is a noble Indian Military tourism initiative. Launched by a body of ex-servicemen from Indian Army in the state of Maharashtra, Veer Yatra is a walk through the military history of India, which dates back to the year 1857 when Sepoy Mutiny, the first War of Independence, took place.

Veer Yatra, which is a nationwide tour of Indian Military camps, colleges, memorials and museums, began today. The Maharashtra Ex-servicemen Corporation (MESCO) undertook the initiative to revive the glory of Indian Military which has immensely contributed to the world history and played a significant role in many historic wars including the First and Second World Wars.

MESCO’s Indian Military Tourism project is aimed at bridging the gap between the military establishment and civilian population of the country. Veer Yatra is full of opportunities for people to explore and experience the world of Indian armed forces from close quarters, thereby imbibing sense of patriotism or rekindling their love for the country.

War memorials, border posts, naval bases, defense academies, army workshops, army hospitals, army colleges, warfare art centers, war museums, air force stations and military hostels fall under the purview of Indian Military Tourism. Veer Yatra also includes a tour of Indian Army posts on Indo-Pakistan and Indo-China borders. Civilians will be introduced to military operations and army survival techniques too.

Another great purpose of Indian Military Tourism is generating employment for retired servicemen and widows of martyrs through Veer Yatra tours across the country. MESCO’s motto is rehabilitation of physically sound, disciplined and efficient ex-servicemen from Indian armed forces. The heroic stories of Indian Army in precarious terrains, hostile circumstances and extreme atmospheric conditions are worth knowing by the youth of India.

Since British Indian Army was renamed Indian Army post independence in 1947, the military power has been the defense backbone of India in the First Indo-Pakistan / Kashmir War of 1947, the annexation of Hyderabad or Operation Polo of 1948, the annexation of Goa in 1961, medical assistance during the 1950-53 Korean War, the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, the Sino-Indian Conflict of 1967, the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, the 1971 Anti-Naxalite Operation, the Siachen Conflict of 1984, the Kargil War of 1999 and United Nations’ Peacekeeping Missions.

The Indian Military Tourism initiative comprises different tours for different age-groups.

Also Check Visit These Places to Know India’s Freedom Movement History

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Diversity is the only word that best describes the geography, demography, culture and festivals of India. Let a festival come, and you will see the diverse ways of celebration in different parts of the country. Diwali and Holi apart, Makar Sankranti is the festival that Indians celebrate in different names and different fashions. Everything from delicacies to rituals reflects the diversity of India on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, which has different names such as Pongal, Bihu, Uttarayan, and Lohri across the country. Indian Eagle takes on the culinary diversity of Makar Sankranti celebration in India.

Til Ke Ladoo

Til or sesame is one of the main harvests of winter season all over India. Til ke Ladoo is a traditional flavor of Makar Sankranti that most of Indian households are identified with this time. It is made from a mix of til and jaggery. It is said that those who eat til ke ladoos speak sweet words.

Sakkarai Pongal

South India celebrates Pongal Festival on the day of Makar Sankranti. Sweetening mouths and treating guests with Sakkarai Pongal is unique to the way Pongal is celebrated in South Indian states – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Jaggery and rice are the main ingredients of this traditional Indian sweetmeat.

Jaggery Roti

There is another Maharashtrian delicacy prepared and consumed on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. It is Gulachi Poli or Jaggery Roti stuffed with a mix of jaggery and gram flour. It is prepared like flat bread roasted in pure ghee.

Til Chikki

When it comes to celebrating Makar Sankranti with platefuls of sweets, Gujarat has its own variety. Til Chikki (a sweet of sesame seeds, peanuts and jaggery) is the Gujarati version of the Makar Sankranti delicacy.

Kurmure Chikki

Maharashtra has its own traditional sweet delicacies to boast of during Makar Sankranti. Kurmure Chikki is the Makar Sankranti special Maharashtrian dish. This delicacy is a blend of puffed rice and jaggery. It is an auspicious custom for the people of Maharashtra to prepare Kurmure Chikki.

Til Pitha

If the focus is turned to the Makar Sankranti celebration in Northeast India, Assam is present on the traditional culinary map. The Assamese are known for their gastronomic preparation that is Til Pitha, a pancake made of rice and til mixed with jaggery.

Patishapta Pitha

India owes its most delicious Makar Sankranti sweetmeats to Bengalis. Makar Sankranti is known as Pous Sankranti in West Bengal where multiple ingredients including milk, rice, khoya, coconut, date palm jaggery, dried fruits, rose water and rose petals are used to make varieties of Pitha and Patishapta. Puli Pitha is a sweet dumpling dipped in creamy milk syrup, while Patishapta is stuffed with different fillings.

Rewari 

Rewari is a most popular Makar Sankranti dish in Punjab and Rajasthan. Especially Punjabis are much fond of this delicacy. Unlike the Makar Sankranti sweets in the rest of India, Rewari is a hard candy type.

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Winter is the high time of tourism in India not only for festivals and road trips but also for bird watching. India receives the highest number of foreign tourists and migratory birds in winter season spanning from October to March. But, exotic birds outnumber foreign tourist arrivals throughout the season. Millions of migratory birds including Greater Flamingo, Ruff, Common Teal, Black-winged Stilt, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Northern Pintail, Rosy Pelican, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Long-billed Pipit, Black-tailed Godwit and likes fly to the bird sanctuaries of India every winter. Indian Eagle lists the best bird sanctuaries whose diverse geography and natural beauty make bird watching & photography a pursuit of joy in India during winter. Now, go on dating migratory birds across India.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka

One of the best places to see migratory birds in South India during winter, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary consists of six isolated islets on the banks of the Kaveri River in Karnataka. A 16-km drive from Mysore City, the sanctuary is a favorite haunt of exotic migratory birds like Heron, River Tern, White Ibis, Partridge, Spoonbills, Egret and others from Siberia, North America and Australia. A boat ride around the river islets of Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary gives the best glimpses of the migratory birds in winter.

Nal Sarovar Bird Santuary in Gujarat

The largest wetland bird sanctuary in Gujarat, Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is one of the top ten winter holiday destinations for bird lovers in India. Only 64 km away from Ahmedabad, this hotspot of migratory birds consists of a sprawling lake and a large marshy area around the lake. A flock of migratory birds including Flamingos, Pelicans, Coots, Pintails, Spoonbills, Shovellers, small Grebes and Cormorants travel to this sanctuary in autumn and entertain tourists throughout winter as well as spring.

Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary in Odisha

The largest and most beautiful bird-watching place in India, Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary is close to Puri, Odisha. Spread over a huge area of 1100 square kilometers, the lake sanctuary is home to 9 lakh migratory birds in winters, and a natural paradise for bird lovers. The sight of the beautiful birds including Flamingos, Herons and Geese flapping their colorful wings on the crystal-clear surface of Chilka Lake is a delight to the eyes. Each of the islands dotting the lake is a tourist spot. The Birds Island in Chilka Lake is a natural habitat for the largest number of birds.

Karnala Bird Sanctuary in Maharashtra

Don’t miss a visit to Karnala Bird Sanctuary during your road trip on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. A 60-km drive from Mumbai, Karnala Bird Sanctuary is a densely forested habitat of birds, sprawling over an area of 4.8 square kilometers. The beauty of birds is in harmony with the beauty of the lush green landscape in the sanctuary. Karnala Bird Sanctuary is an ideal winter destination for bird watching, trekking and picnicking. It is home to a number of migratory birds including red-breasted Flycatcher, black-headed Cuckoo, blue-headed Rock Thrush, and ashy Minivet from October to April every year. Besides, the musical chirping of songbirds is a symphony of nature during monsoons in Karnala Bird Sanctuary.

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Goa

Goa is the best coastal destination for not only beach holidaymakers but also bird lovers. Located near the Chorao Island in Goa, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is one of the most popular spots to watch migratory birds in winter. Named after the eminent ornithologist, Dr. Salim Ali, the sanctuary consists of mangrove forest trees along the western tip of the island near the Mandovi River. You can best photograph and watch the birds from the watch tower in the sanctuary. Bus and cab transport services to Salim Ali Sanctuary are available in Panaji, the capital of Goa.

Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh

One of the natural habitats for Pelicans in Southeast Asia, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is the best place to be for photographers and bird lovers in Andhra Pradesh during winters. Located in Nellore district, the sanctuary shelters such migratory birds as Spoonbills, White Ibis, Night Herons, Painted Storks and Cormorants. Inhabited by endangered species of flora and fauna, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary has a library, a museum and an auditorium. Pulicat Lake is the nearest tourist attraction here. October to March is the ideal time to visit the sanctuary.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan

Apart from the festivals, palaces and forts of Rajasthan, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the best tourist attractions in the Thar Desert. Home to thousands of rare and endangered species of migratory birds in winter, Bharatpur Sanctuary is a World Heritage Site. Also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, the sanctuary is a fairground of Magpie Robins, Lapwings, Herons, Spoonbills, Water Hens, Egrets and the most famous Sarus Cranes. Siberian Cranes used to visit Bharatpur Sanctuary in winter a few years back. But, this amphibian species has become extinct.

Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat

The list of the best bird sanctuaries in India ends with the Little Rann of Kutch. The southern extension of the Great Rann in Gujarat, this wildlife sanctuary is famous for the Asiatic Wild Ass and migratory birds like Flamingoes. It is the only place to watch out thousands of Flamingos at a time, in India. MacQueen’s Bustard, Demoiselle Cranes, European Roller, Lesser Florican, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Collared Pratincole, Red-necked Phalarope, Cream-colored Courser, Dalmatian Pelican and Sociable Lapwing are among the other seasonal birds which have made the Little Rann of Kutch their home. November to February is the best time to visit the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) for bird watching.

Migratory birds fly to India only in winters and summers. But you can fly to India whenever you wish, especially because we at IndianEagle.com book cheap airline tickets to India from USA throughout the year.

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