2011 – March 7- March 8

2012 – February 20- February 21

2013 – February 11- February 12

2014 – March 3 – March 4

2015 – February 16 – February 17

By the way, whilst this may give the impression to be ridiculous to be thinking regarding an even in the year 2015, it is far-off from absurd for starting making plans for your stopover to Trinidad and Tobago Carnival a year or else additional in advance. Here the party is particularly popular among the locals, the Trini expatriates, as well as tourists in a similar way, as a result you require getting an untimely start proviso you wish for getting a good hotel or else guest-house room, adhere a Carnival band, as well as a seat on a season flight during Carnival.

The principal components of this Caribbean Carnival are steelpan, calypso, as well as playing mas (often masquerade). All through the momentous capital City of Spain, Trinidad, all of these elements are melodiously structured to shape a ritual pageant of five days that begins with the Contest for King and Queen (on Friday), the Panorama (on Saturday), the Dimanche Gras (on Sunday), the J’Ouvert (on Monday) as well as the Parade of various Bands (on Tuesday). These are the main events and there are countless others that craft an unforgettable epiphany of splendor and dazzling demonstrate of the uncontainable human spirit previous to concluding as well as allowing the hushed first day of the Lent along with the reflection acknowledged as Ash Wednesday to be confessed to realization.

In the present day model in Trinidad for public festivity is the most extensively reproduced festival art form all across the world. Numerous Trinidadian Carnival artists are capable of working 365 days a year and perform all the way through Europe, North America, and Caribbean region. Yet in spite of this achievement, a lot of believes that the best is yet arriving.

However, unlike Christmas, the date of festival isn’t always constant because it depends on the solar calendar (traditionally lunar calendar). The calendar, with 12 animals, assigns an animal to every Chinese year. And it is considered that the year’s traits would be quite similar to the animal. 2010 is the Year of Golden Tiger. And here’s something interesting, the celebration lasts for around 15 days, from New Moon Day to Full Moon, staring from 14th Feb 2010.

The history, customs, and calendar of Chinese civilization is too long to explain in a short article. Hence, let us now focus on the more important aspect of the festival – The Celebration. Unlike many other regional celebrations, Chinese New Year is celebrated all over the world. Here are the top ten destinations, other than China, where this festival is celebrated with remarkable decoration, tremendous enthusiasm, and maximum fun.

1. Singapore

The festival bazaars, sparkling lights, and endless celebration fill up the streets of Singapore. From cuisine to decoration to structures, every minute detail has a Chinese influence. If you aren’t in China, this is the best place to visit Chunjie: year of tiger. Last year, the boulevards were crammed full with people participating in “Parade of Dreams” during the New Year celebration. Along with gorgeous, enthusiastic people, the cultural exposition of fireworks, music, and crafts garnished the festival.

2. Sydney, Australia

With pristine beaches, gorgeous reefs, and amazing wildlife, celebrating Chinese New Year in Australia is a pleasure. This is a place with largest celebration of Lunar New Year, outside Asia, takes place. Last Year over 600,000 people celebrated this festival in Sydney. Major enthusiasts were attracted by Jackie Chan, brand ambassador for year 2009 New Year celebration in Sydney.

This year, with Chinese New Year Twilight Parade and many other special packages for tourists, it is expected to be a huge success. The number of visitors will definitely be more than last year.

3. London, UK

Since past many years, this location is a hotspot for Lunar New Year celebration. The London Chinatown Chinese Association takes care of the celebration in this city. This year, on 21st February 2010, Leicester Square, China Town, and Trafalqar Square are places not to be missed.

The official opening ceremony will be in Trafalqar Square which will be followed by many performances as well as lions, Chinese dragons and other Chinese dances. However, Chinatown will be a place more interesting than any other city in UK. With cultural cuisines, remarkable fireworks, and lion dances, celebration in Chinatown is like that in China. There will be stage performances, parades, and much more.

4. Paris, France

Probably, Chinese New Year celebration is more famous in Paris than in China. At least that’s what is seems when you look at the city streets in the New Year week. Millions of people gather around the city to watch the joyful parade that encompasses multihued dragons, enthusiastic dancers, cheerful musicians, magnificent flags, and powerful Chinese influence. The Chinese bistros are teeming with locals and visitors to savor the food along with music, dance, and film festivals. It is indeed an unforgettable experience.

5. Helsinki, Finland

There is great co-relation and cooperation between Beijing and Helsinki. And it can be clearly seen during the Chinese New Year celebration in this city. Every minute of these 15 days are filled with Chinese elements that compose the New Year in Helsinki. With vibrant embellishment, lively performances, marvelous fireworks, busy Chinese markets, and live transmission of Beijing New Year Celebrations, Helsinki is amongst the best place in world to celebrate this year of tiger.

6. Los Angeles

The Lunar New Year is being celebrated in Los Angeles since last 110 years. More than a celebration, it’s a tradition for this city. The Golden Dragon Parade arranged by The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles attracted around 110,000 last year. Thousands of people around the world wait eagerly to watch the live telecast of this parade. However, watching it and being a part of it is very different.

The parade will start on 20th February 2010 and end on 21st 2010 with a wild celebration. If you are in Los Angeles, missing this event is utter foolishness.

7. Hong Kong

Rather than reading the history and traditions about Chinese New Year celebration, it’s advisable to be a part of Hong Kong celebration. Every tradition, customs, rituals, and superstitions is believed and carried on during this celebration. Exchanging gifts, like Christmas, is another important ritual of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong. However, to savor the real Chinese influence of the festivity, visit the 24 hours temple and the flower market, which is quite unique and soul-revitalizing.

8. San Francisco

Started after Gold Rush period, the South-West Airlines Chinese New year Parade is now a tradition in San Francisco. Hundreds of thousands of tourists come to this city just to witness the magnificence and diversity of this parade. No other city in the world celebrates Lunar New Year with such graceful costumes, fierce lions, mind-numbing firecrackers, stunning floats, and other beautiful decoration. The elegance of this celebration is spiced with the presence of Miss Chinatown, USA, who joins the parade. This parade is the best place to be in 2010.

9. New York City

The city is always gorgeous to be in. However, this gorgeous city becomes unmatched when the streets are submerged by Chinese influence all over. On 14th Feb, 2010, there is Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival in Columbus Park. Whereas, the 11th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival will be held on 21st Feb that will cover Mott Canal, Bayard Streets, Chinatown, and east Broadway.

10. Many Places in UK

UK seems to be hub of Chinese New Year celebration as all its major cities will be seen swaying the Chinese Flag from 14th Feb 2010. Various fun events are organized in Birmingham, Cardiff, and Kent, while Liverpool, Manchester, and Edinburgh will indulge in wild celebrations.

The celebration of Chinese New Year in 2010 will be a mix blend for lovers as they will be a part of Valentine’s Day as well. Many cities around the world are planning and finding ways to merge the celebration and provide people with ultimate fun, pure pleasure, and Chinese roars.

Hmm… museums have a massive fan following and it is also apparent that where else will they get to see such intricate art works except the museums which preserve the ancient works standing from interminable times. But do you know that there are other such locations that even possess artistic creations and are worthwhile a visit. Haven’t I given good news to the art enthusiasts and to those who are bored of museums? Now-a-days, fleeting or transitional art forms have rooted themselves strongly because of their lovely characteristic which affords “now you see it, then you don’t.”

Basically, these artistic forms are generated for an art-enthusiast or a contribution to God in form of prayers or someone creates them for their inner artistic satisfaction. So if you are willing spent time in gazing those antique arty creations, instead of wasting time in long museum queues, go to sneak a preview of these aesthetic and graceful creations that are as unique as the artists that create them.

Sandcastles:

These unique artworks have the instant potent of spell-binding the gazers, however there are some weak creations that can’t confront against the tests of changing time especially when heavy rainy storms pour downwards, strong winds blow to and fro, although no things can overpower the sand castles. These are not the kiddie’s toys that are made up of trash or trench. Instead these are creative endeavors that endure numerous hours or sometimes efforts are put by teams to come out with wonderful creations. However, behind this lies a fact that grimy sand works better than clean sand because of which the sands magnetize to each other better rather than the clean sand.

During Mid-June, the Sand Castle building contest held in Newport Beach, Oregon attracts throngs of masses to participate. But however, the US Open Sandcastle Building Contest will experience waves of expert people which will be hosting its 30th Annual Competition on 8th August, 2010 in Imperial Beach, California. Remember the significant point that these artistic creations won’t last for long, so make it here at appropriate period or just get a glimpse of these artistic creations in videos or photographs.

Sand painting:

In many parts of Asia, the practice of sand art takes place, however Tibet is the most renowned name that predominantly emerges up. The most famous art form is the Sand Mandala. ‘Mandala’ is a Sanskrit term that means essence containing or circle circumference. The creations conjured up by the Buddhist monks are the most spectacular aesthetic forms which is multi-colored almost bequeathing a kaleidoscopic circle view. After which is filled with a series of funnels, bags and scrapers.

The mandalas used are generated from crushed lentils, sand or even rocks and other materials. Mandalas are also present in Hinduism, where they are also well-known as ‘Yantra.’ But in both the above cases, they are essence of religious symbols and are created for devoting to Gods in the form of prayer and they are not meant to be conserved. The person who creates it actually reverences it to God.

Ice Sculpture:

I believe that engraving structures over sand under scorching heat of Sun is nothing when it comes to carving structure on the frozen icy blocks. It’s very tough, and its arrival hails from the pop-culture element, but at the end, the structures that are fabricated are just jaw-dropping beauty. The tools required to create this spectacular beauty consists of a chain saw, drills with varied bits, hand saws, picks and chippers and the most obvious i.e. tongs.  The customary things which are required and comprises of utmost need is the rubber boots and gloves which form de rigueur, however both seem to be unflattering.

Those who want to unveil the glittering beauty of such creations can surely gain some gripping sights in Quebec City during the winter season. And others who are brave and hearty and want to catch big chunks of fun should tour to Harbin in Northeastern China where temperatures are extreme alike that of Siberia that can plunge below 40 degrees. To catch these picturesque and exhilarating structures, catch them during the winters. Backpack your warm clothes Plan your trip there sometime between January and February.

Butter sculpture:

Past the scorching-sandy beaches and solid-ice, let’s check something lukewarm. They are creative and innovative forms of butter sculptures. It is a very old phenomenon where the oldest structure hails back to the Tibetan art form known as ‘.’ AcTormatually, it was built out of various ingredients comprising of butter, flour and colorful dyes as a ritualistic worship to Gods or to be taken in later.

It is an enchanting experience to see how the monks hold the plain cold butter and with the use of their hands grant them impressive religious shapes and structures. The most grandeur is the gigantic yellow-color cow that is sculptured out of authentic and rich Iowa butter. This conventional structure has been created annually since 1910 over a wooden frame and fences of wire at the annual fest of Iowa State Fair that is hosted every August. The massive structure of cow is a splendid creation and came to sight in faraway distances as long as in New York. Apart from it, other structures like The Last Supper was carved out of butter. They also planned to build a Michael Jackson structure out of it, but however before coming into sight, it was cancelled.

Carved vegetables:

Before consuming the dish that is lying on your plate, sometimes you might start dripping water from your mouth, before tasting the food, your tongue determines that the dish is lip-smacking and very tasty, why is it so? Obviously, because the plate is adorned so beautifully that your palate cognizes that the delicacy is scrumptious. Usually, when you step in Japanese or Thai hotel, many delicacies that are offered is not just a culinary art but also artistic creation.

You might have observed the spectacular carvings like radish roses, tiny birds or even water-melon where the inner red pulp is carved beautifully that juts over the outer green layer. The most popular vegetable art can be best seen in United States especially during the mid-October. The carved pumpkin which is popular as Jack O’ Lantern has an ephemeral life which can stretch itself until late November, in spite of the chilling winters.

The striking artistic works over different vegetables can be best sighted on the glittering twilights on the merry fest of Halloween celebrated on 30th October. Abounding lavish parties are cherished by both children and adults where everyone relish the pumpkin slices by chopping it with kitchen instruments or some even with slippery hands getting a hand over the pumpkin. After the joyous party, one will get to notice kitchen implements and pumpkin seeds lying at every corner.

Another, the huge pumpkin festival which is hosted by Keene, New Hampshire is the most splendid and noteworthy attractions where large hordes of masses participate for exhibiting their creations. Here, you can witness numerous creations carved over pumpkin. They experience over 20,000 visitors’ arrival in the fest; unfortunately however they recently couldn’t make to win the title of ‘Most carved Pumpkin’ and lost it over to Camp Sunshine, a summer camp for sick children.

Flower carpets:

These creations are the most pleasant and creates an eye-balls grabbing effect. Generally, they are fabricated out of flowers and flower petals, colored sawdust so that they recline over long areas and are conspicuous from an elongated distance. These types of marvels are usually durable until others sop some watery stuff over them.

One of the outstanding wide-spread arrays will be hosted at the Tapis De Fleurs in Brussels, Belgium on 12th August. Here in Brussels, this idea first hit the brains of E. Stautemans, who is a landscape architect and have basked the glory of creating a huge carpet stretching 164 x 42 meters at Ghent. However the man who has accomplished massive glories prefers the Grand Place in Brussels that is a 77 x 44 meter carpet, which is still majestic.

Other sites that are famous round the globe for creating flower carpets is Corpus Christi. This is a catholic holiday destination that hosts this festival during June. Also, there are varied destinations like Tenerife, Canary Islands; Arundel Cathedral in Arundel, England; and Rome. The symbols created upon them are created as such to adore the religious rituals and when the fest gets over, people crush them beneath their feet.

After a long trip, around various locations of the world, you surely must thank me for the fun I bestowed. But, if you want to fully adore these fun fests, then make it a point to tour in these locations; you will never forget them as they will stay amidst the most cherished memories of the lifetime. Keep your eyes wide open as many such artistic creations may be lying around your vicinity.

The no-littering policy at the Burning Man is stringently adhered to with one not allowed to even carry loose sparkle. With diminutive need of finances, one is supposed to get their supply of edibles and water needed for sustenance.

‘Giving’ is the essential spirit of the Burning Man with one and all who consent to participating in it being expected to wilfully engage in this. The cost of the entry ticket encompasses the crude basics like the enormous common round tent, few power sources, lavatory among others.

With just the contributions from individuals are created unique bars, a clubs, skating ring, with even the flotilla of sewer carts that steer about through the day cleaning out lavatories are operated by willing social helpers. The medical camps and the safekeeping are also undertaken by volunteers. If one is intent to purchase an entry ticket for the coming year, it is mandatory to settle on what one could contribute to this congregation.

One gets to meet people from all walks of life many of them hand over some kind of souvenir to each other that could be as simplistic as a mini salt pouch, toffees, novels, wine and even numerous meals.

Before one enters, a ritualistic procedure that all follow, is rolling over the sand. The visual inside the camp is nothing short of a mock-up of a sci-fi movie set. Every where one can catch glimpses of tattooed people, with dressing austerely not obligatory. Even when clothing is opted for it is mostly in the most vibrant shapes, colors and forms ever imaginable.

There is abundance of music in the air to meet the needs of the party-hearty, but prior to getting jiggy with it, don’t miss out to visit an English, Irish or German origin bars where the drinks are on the house. Frankly the sole things sold here are coffee and ice. One could pay a visit to any of the al-fresco grills, body painting stalls or eateries and avail their services with the only expectation being to maybe hand over the bartender a simplistic tip in the form of a souvenir, help with collecting the refuse, beautifying the portable washrooms or just don attire and help spread a smile.

The highlight of the week is the exhuming of the Man, a be-fitting finale to the festivities where flare flingers often spewing out fire into the darkness of the night.  The smouldering of the Man is a time of silent rumination, a location to bid adieu to old emotional baggage and all that is undesirable. One is overwhelmed with a conspicuous sense of liberation watching the wooden Man being disinterred to ashes, with ashes too would be blown away and nothing would be left once the camp is packed up.

This prominently arty and counter-ethnic annual event attracts scores of people to the Nevada desert lasting for three weeks subsequent to which it vanishes into thin air, departing with no hint of its alleys, mammoth wire-cased effigies, jazz coffee bars and lamp-illuminated roads.

Zilch of its existence lingers on, not a shred of clutter remains, with the blowing wind clearing out even the tyre tracks on the sands. Hitherto, for its pithy subsistence, Black Rock City is metamorphosed into the most sphinx-like cities in America.

In 1986, the mystic service was set off by Larry Harvey who along with a couple of pals blazed a wooden effigy of a man on the Baker Beach, San Francisco as a summer solstice rite. Since then it has amassed greater proportions and progressed to a bigger arena in the Nevada desert where, close to the start of September, the Black Rock City crops up from the dust, with close to fifty thousand land here with their stock of water, additional clothes in case of cold nights, goggles to protect against the sands, a gardening spray canister-being the nearest source of shower, lip cream & vinegar to avert chapping of lips, cracks in the feet, tarpaulin, souvenirs to offer others and the funkiest costume to prance about in.

The connotation of the Burning Man transcends all boundaries encompassing the scorching of all egos, a primeval act of purifying oneself, letting go of all inhibitions and treading grotesque courses along dusty paths. Some undertake this visit for purely sightseeing purposes, while for others it is an existence preference or for some it is quite similar to trying a novel unusual fare.

The camp site spans eight kilometres across and is organised in a horse-shoe shaped manner about the neon-veiled, close to twelve meters high Man effigy. The adjacent region is a primeval lake called the playa, a former military barraging range that effectually transforms into a course to break some speeding world records while soaking in the awesome sunset.

One is simply blown away by the visual extravaganza as squads of magnate artistes unload here with loads of raw materials that they tastefully pull together despite the scorching heat, creating mammoth statues that leave one awestruck.

Globally branded as the wholly inimitable horse race, it is actually definitely more than what is perceived, the grounding for which ensued through the year with 17 town districts or contradas putting their heart, soul and moolah into every perceivable endeavour to attain victory.

As dusk sets in on the day prior to the race, thousands of locals eat out in the elaborately staged extravagant feasts organised by every contrada to practise their definite winning festivities. As the sun sets in on the D-day, the horses are taken to a church to sanctify them prior to the competition.

Following this utterly sombre episode, the city factually goes into a crazed frenzy of sorts, as energized residents congregate at the splendid Piazza del Campo, with fifty thousand citizens gathering at the heart of the square, whilst a fortunate few get to be seated on bleachers and balconies facing the fifteenth century palazzo that borders the outer limits.

As the grand pageantry commences, the subsequent three hours transport the betrothed viewers to the medieval times. Shortly, the jockeys perched atop horses make a grand arrival, with staunch followers from each contrada vociferously supporting their heroes. The horses don the colours and designs of the particular contrada.

Formally, the jockeys take their respective positions behind the rope that indicates the starting point, as each contender is mentally crunching secretive ploys to squash their opponents. Lakhs of eager eyes scrutinise the jockeys every bodily movement and with the lowering of the umpire’s arm, the contenders speed off at death-defying speed, utterly oblivious to the rants of the crowds. In the midst of the hubbub, the least of anybody’s worries is if a jockey is without a horse. Irrespective of the rider being seated or not, the foremost horse to trudge over the finish line is the triumphant one.

The concluding moments of the Palio Il, the genuine horse race, is agonizingly succinct, close to a minute or slightly more. But, there is a whole lot more that has taken place even prior to the horde of frenetic animals ultimately breaking free from the olden cord that demarcates the start line.

This time-honoured widely eminent manifestation is a four day long affair and concludes in the roads, with the people rejoicing the merry event of the jubilant ‘Contrada’ who pay for all jollity.

The festival is a tasteful blend of Hindu and Buddhist ideologies and a dual homage to Skanda and Buddha.  As dusk sets in, the boom of the olden cannons and the lashing sounds of a dozen whips is a pompous call to commence the festivities, as the Perahera or marchers span the streets during the ten day long festivities that get more elaborate and lengthy, with the concluding night being the finest treat to all senses.

As the annual, vibrant Esala Perahera getting to a roaring start, one is simply enthralled by sea of rotary performers and the profoundly featured, ornately decked-up elephants – the icons of fertility and opulence, also called ‘the clouds who walk the Earth’ and are considered crucial symbols to hail in the rainfall for a healthy crop.

The elephants are the real luminaries of this extravaganza, swathed in eye-catching reds and purple coloured capes donning nugget-engraved visors that flow over their head, ears and onto their trunks. A few elephants are seen illuminated with an array of mini lightings with golden tops covering their torso. Some are seen carrying top Buddhist monks and temple VIP’s while others lug pious relics in pagodas.

The sights and sounds one experiences, truly is a live paraphernalia of sorts with locals engaging in stilt walking, fire throwing, percussionists engaged in belting out cacophonous sounds derived from cymbal ringing, ritualistic drum thumping and the cadenced clank of mock sword combats. Avowing to the Hindu deity Skanda, resolute and devout followers take to the streets with spikes lobbed into their backs.

The focal point of the festivities is the Holy Tooth Relic, believed to be the rare few relics of Buddha to endure his last rites that is older than 2,500 years. The tooth was covertly slipped into Sri Lanka from India more than 1,700 years back to guard it against the disparages of an ireful emperor. Since, then, the tightly protected tooth is taken out for a parade annually for public viewing, though its replica is paraded, as the original is believed to be quite valuable.

The Esala Perahera in Kandy is justly the Indian Mardi Gras sans the profligacy, intoxication or scantily clad women folk.