Masked dancers, oracles add zest to Matho Nagrang festival in Leh

October 7th, 2009 SRINAGAR - Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday celebrated the Hindu festival "Karva Chauth" with other married women in New Delhi. "Here you can see women who usually pose a normal look have dressed in bridal attire.

September 19th, 2009 RAJKOT - With the outset of 'Navaratri' starting from Saturday, women of all age groups are practicing the traditional Indian folk dance, 'Garba', with a view to perform during the most celebrated dance festival in Rajkot and Ahmedabad. The nine-day festival observes musical groups getting ready for cultural programmes like the Garba dance across the country.

September 14th, 2009 SHIMLA - A five-day folk dance competition began here on Monday, with dancers from the country and abroad participating. The objective of the festival, which has girls participating from 2400 schools and colleges, is to revive Indian culture and promote women empowerment.

September 6th, 2009 TRICHUR - Performers dressed as tigers and danced in the traditional Pulikali, or tiger dance, here on Saturday marking the end of the annual harvest festival, "Onam". The harvest festival of Onam is the season for staging some of the dying traditional folk dances in the tourist hotspot of Kerala.

September 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday greeted people of the country on the eve of Onam, the harvest festival.

August 14th, 2009 SRINAGAR - A two-day kite festival began in Kashmir in which designer kites of infinite variety have been displayed. The kite festival has been staged annually since 2004 by the state's Department of Tourism.

August 12th, 2009 CHINDWARA - A festival showcasing the tribal art and culture called, Bhujaliya, was organised in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. The festival is celebrated for three days in the culminating days of monsoons.

June 2nd, 2009 SHILLONG - The Indian Panorama Film Festival was recently held in Shillong to the delight for all film lovers. The three-day film festival was organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) in collaboration with the Government of Meghalaya.

May 24th, 2009 SIKKIM - Assam Linzey in Sikkim celebrated Sakewa, a festival to offer tribute to Mother Earth on Saturday. Sakewa is held as a community prayer and during this festival sweets and food grains are offered to Lord Kubera, who is the God of food and wealth.

April 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Actress Neha Dhupia, who has been lately associating herself with closer-to-life characters, will be essaying the role of a back row dancer in her forthcoming film 'Pappu Can't Dance Saala'. 'Neha did a thorough research on back dancers before embarking on the role.

March 30th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Chandigarh organised a six-day 'Arts and Heritage Festival' to promote itself as a tourist destination, with the help of State's Tourism Department. The inaugural event at the festival saw a scintillating performance by Hindustani Music proponent Shubha Mudgal.

March 21st, 2009 LEH - Hundreds of Buddhists in Ladakh recently performed mass prostrations to mark the first sermon by Lord Buddha. Gochak, a tantric Buddhist ritual commonly practised by Tibetan Buddhists, was performed as part of a religious ritual of penance.

March 17th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - To give a boost to arts and culture and present Chandigarh as a tourism hub, the city's administration has organised a six-day Arts and Heritage Festival beginning March 27. The festival will see participation of nearly 500 artists from all over the country besides some proclaimed artists.

March 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - President Pratibha Patil and Vice President Hamid Ansari today greeted the people on the joyous occasion of Holi, which is celebrated all over the country with traditional gaiety and zest. In her message, Patil said, "I extend my greetings and good wishes to everyone.' "Just like the myriad colours of Holi, our nation too is replete with diversity and let us learn to respect and protect the vibrant culture of our nation.

December 24th, 2008 KOLKATA - With the aim of emulating shopping festivals in Dubai and Singapore, the Great Kolkata Shopping Festival has got off to a glittering start. Inaugurating the festival here Wednesday evening, West Bengal Tourism Minister Manabendra Mukherjee said: 'This is the first time any such festival is happening in India.