Festivals of India & Bhutan

Fixed Departures 2014/2015

25 years of experience

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The Hornbill Festival, Nagaland

The Hornbill Festival of Nagaland is arguably the biggest festival of the Northeast. In this seven- to ten-day cultural extravaganza, all sixteen of Nagaland’s major tribes come together at Kohima to put on a resplendent show of indigenous dances, songs, cuisine, craft and textile, and games.

A visual feast and every photographer’s dream, the Hornbill Festival is organized every year in December by the Government of Nagaland to promote cultural heritage among the varied tribes of the state. Attracting hundreds of tourists every year, the Hornbill Festival is highly recommended!

Northeast Indian Festivals Head-hunter tribes, native textiles,

and centuries of tradition

1st Dec - 7th/10th Dec, 2014 and 2015

The Hornbill Festival can be done as a tour in its entirety or it can also be combined with a culturally stimulating tour of the other tribes of the Northeast such as the head-hunter tribes of Mon, the Apatanis of Arunachal Pradesh, the weavers of the Mishing tribe, and the dancing monks of the progressive Vaishnavite sect of Majuli.

Please contact us for a tailor-made tour of the tribes of the Northeast.

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Reh and Boori Boot Festival 17 Days Ex Delhi 28th Jan - 13th Feb 2014 28th Jan - 13th Feb 2015 Delhi - Dibrugarh - Roing - Pasighat - Along - Daporijo - Ziro - Eco Camp - Kaziranga National Park - Delhi The Idu Mishmi celebrate Reh – a vibrant six-day festival of bonding and sanctification that involves the sacrifice of buffaloes as an offering to the great mother Nanyi Inyitaya. The Idu Mishmi believe that only with their great mother’s blessings will they be able to forever keep alive the strong bonds of brotherhood that entrench their community. Boori Boot, celebrated by the Hill Miris, is a very popular festival in Arunachal Pradesh as it allows one and all – irrespective of caste, creed, religion - to participate in the celebrations. In this merry festival, people pray for prosperity and protection from evil. In true Arunachali spirit, these festivals feature tribal dance and song, great feasts, and a lot of merry-making!

Sekrenyi Festival 8 Days Ex Delhi 23rd Feb - 2nd Mar 2014 23rd Feb - 2nd Mar 2015 Delhi - Kohima - Touphema - Kaziranga National Park - Delhi The term Sekrenyi literally means ‘sanctification festival’ so it comes as no surprise that this is a festival that is celebrated with great pomp by the Angami tribe of Nagaland. Since this festival takes place at the end of February, the Angamis celebrate the end of harvest by partaking in massive banquets of meat and locally brewed rice beer. Thekra Hie is the most anticipated part of the festival. During Thekra Hie, the youngsters of the village sit together and burst into song and dance, glorifying their traditions and age-old tribal customs. A riot of colour, witness one of India’s lively tribal cultures in action.

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Myokoh Festival 12 Days Ex Delhi 16th Mar - 27th Mar 2014 16th Mar - 27th Mar 2015 Delhi - Nameri National Park - Ziro - Majuli - Kaziranga National Park - Guwahati - Delhi The Myokoh festival, celebrated by the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. As in cultures around the world, spring is symbolic of new beginnings and the Myokoh festival celebrates just that: new beginnings, new friendships, and new hope. This is also the time when prayers are made for better cultivation, protection of grain and livestock, and the wellbeing of the tribe. The Apatanis are noted for the large nose-plugs that their women wear – an age-old custom that is practiced in order to deliberately disfigure a woman’s beauty so that enemy tribes do not claim them as their own when marauding villages.

The Aoleang festival is celebrated by the head-hunter tribe of Konyak in the Mon district of Nagaland. While the Konyaks no longer hunt heads, they do still keep a stash of human skull souvenirs in their homes! The Aoleang festival signifies the beginning of the New Year for the Konyaks and, as with any new year, this festival is celebrated with much gusto and fanfare. The Mopin festival of the Gallong Adi tribe is celebrated chiefly at Along in Arunachal Pradesh. This festival is celebrated to receive universal happiness as well as to drive away evil spirits bearing bad luck and hardship. Tribal dances such as the ‘popir’ dance performed by tribal women, and folk songs lend this festival vibrancy like no other.

Aoleang and Mopin Festival 18 Days Ex Delhi 28th Mar - 14th April 2014 28th Mar - 14th April 2015

Delhi - Dibrugarh - Mon - Along - Mechuka - Daporijo - Ziro - Tezpur - Guwahati

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Moatsu Festival 12 Days Ex Delhi 28th Apr - 9th May 2014 28th Apr - 9th May 2015

Delhi - Jorhat - Mokokchung -

Noklak - Mon - Dibrugarh - Delhi

Moatsu, a three-day post-sowing festival of the Ao tribe of Nagaland, is celebrated in Mokokchung. Mokokchung is not only the cultural heart of the Ao peoples but it is also one of Nagaland’s major economic and political urban centres. Celebrated mainly to seek blessing for a fruitful harvest, the Ao tribespeople go all out during Moatsu and bring out their best rice beer and their meatiest livestock for the festival feast. There is no end to merry-making during Moatsu as people heartily participate in feasting, dancing, singing and games wearing traditional attire.

*Northeast India festival dates are subject to change except for the Hornbill Festival. Please contact us for correct dates closer to time.

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Rajasthan Festivals Sand dunes, bustling bazaars, and a

kaleidoscope of colours

The Desert Festival of Jaisalmer is a polychromatic festival set against shifting dunes and a warm winter sun. Camel rides, tangy chaats, jubilant song and dance, the Desert Festival is not one to miss. Participate in a turban tying competition or compare moustaches with some of the festival’s previous ‘best moustache’ title-holders. This tour also combines some of Rajasthan’s best sights and sounds such as the holy ghats of Pushkar, the ‘Blue City’ of Jodhpur, the ever-luminous Taj Mahal, and the imposing 15th century red sandstone and marble Junagadh Fort.

Jaisalmer Desert Festival 14 Days Ex Delhi 8th Feb - 21st Feb 2014 28th Jan - 10th Feb 2015

Delhi - Shekhawati - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Pushkar - Jaipur - Agra - Delhi

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Holi – Festival of Colour, and Elephant Festival

8 Days Ex Delhi

13th Mar - 20th April 2014 3rd Mar - 10th Mar 2015

Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Delhi

Combine a tour of the famous Golden Triangle with the exuberant festivities of Holi - India’s most joyous festival; and the vibrant Elephant Festival of Jaipur, a colourful display of local culture with folk dances, melodious music, and exciting traditional competitions. Top it off with a memorable photo in front of the Taj Mahal and it is the perfect introduction to India! The Golden Triangle coupled with two fabulous festivals: this tour captures North India at her finest.

Pushkar Camel Fair 10 days Ex Delhi

1st Nov – 10th Nov 2014 17th Nov - 26th Nov 2015

Delhi - Agra - Karauli - Ranthambore National Park - Jaipur - Pushkar

The Pushkar Camel Fair is a glorious kaleidoscope of colour and, of course, camels. Nomadic camel-herders from all over Rajasthan congregate annually at Pushkar to buy and sell livestock amid lively bazaars, and song and dance. Rated as one of the world’s top travel experiences, the Pushkar Camel Fair is a delightful assault to the senses.

If tigers, temples and the Taj sound appealing to you, then this tour combines just that and the exhilarating Pushkar Camel Fair for added measure. A grand tour of North India’s most magical sights and sounds? Definitely!

Hemis Festival

5 Days Ex Delhi

5th July - 9th July 2014 24th June - 28th June 2015

Delhi - Leh - Delhi

The Hemis Festival is one of Ladakh’s most popular festivals. Dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava, this festival celebrates the victory of good over evil. A fascinating display of esoteric Buddhist rituals and masked performers dancing to the rhythm of drums, cymbals and long horns, this festival is a perfect depiction of Ladakhi culture.

The Annual Ladakh Festival

5 Days Ex Delhi

21st Sept - 26th Sept 2014

Delhi - Leh – Delhi The Ladakh Festival is a lively parade of traditional masked dances, folk song, and Ladakhis dressed in their traditional attire. It is a joyous festival where the streets come to life, the bazaars are bustling, and there’s merry-making all around. Besides the festival, Leh is a stunning town set against the rugged Himalayas and dotted with colourful gompas – a must-do on any traveller’s itinerary.

Ladakh Festivals

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Kerala Festival Experience Onam in God’s Own Country: glide gently down backwaters, become an expert in Kerala cuisine, and cheer wildly at the snake boat races

hundred oarsmen - slither swiftly down the lake as fellow onlookers lapse into a frenzy. To simply describe this event as ‘energetic’ is to do it a great injustice!

Abounding in lushness, rich in culture, and never too far away from a cool coconut drink, Kerala truly is God’s Own Country. Drift down narrow canals and wide backwaters on a houseboat; try your hand at mastering the spices and aromas of Kerala’s cuisine; unwind at the secluded beaches of Marari, and enjoy a dramatic performance of Kathakali.

10 Days Ex Delhi

3rd Aug - 12th Aug 2014

Cochin - Munnar - Kumarakom - Alappuzha - Mariari - Cochin

Onam is Kerala’s most popular festival and it is celebrated in literally every single home, street and nook in this verdant state. Typically a harvest festival, Onam is also closely connected to the mythological king Mahabali who - it is believed - rises out of the underworld every year during Onam to watch over his beloved subjects.

During this festival, each household creates rangolis with flowers (a floral carpet), feasts are prepared on banana leaves, and the 400-year old tradition of annual snake boat races commences.

A highlight of this tour, the Alappuzha Snake Boat Race is one of Kerala’s biggest races: witness slender boats - each carrying up to a

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Bhutan Festivals The Himalayas, Tiger’s Nest, and

masked dances

Jambhay Lhakhang Festival

12 Days Ex Paro

1st Nov - 12th Nov 2014 24th Oct - 4th Nov 2015

Paro - Thimpu - Wangdue - Trongsa -

Bumthang - Wangdue - Paro Jambay Lhakhang, in Bumthang, is one of the 108 exquisite Buddhist temples built in the 8th century by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo. It is believed that Guru Rinoche himself visited this temple several times thereby according it a sacred status. The highlights of this festival are an elaborate fire ceremony and a naked dance to purify one’s sins and pray for a good harvest. An explosion of colour with dominant shades of yellow, this is one cheerful festival!

Thimpu Tsechu

10 Days Ex Paro

1st Oct - 10th Oct 2014

20th Sept - 29th Sept 2015

Paro - Thimpu - Wangdue - Trongsa -

Bumthang - Wangdue - Paro The Thimpu Tsechu is one of Bhutan’s biggest annual festivals - a happy blend of colour and culture, monks and citizens alike perform a string of folk dances at the Tashichhodzong, the seat of the government and the monastic order. Essentially a religious festival, the Thimphu Tshechu re-enacts the teachings of Guru Rinpoche, the spiritual master who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. An unmissable experience, this festival is attended by hundreds of people from all over the world!

12 Days Ex Paro

1st Nov - 12th Nov 2014 24th Oct - 4th Nov 2015

Paro - Thimphu -

Wangdue - Trongsa - Bumthang - Wangdue

- Paro

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JTI is a medium-sized travel company specializing in carefully crafted and tailor-made trips to India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

With 25 years of experience in the industry, JTI was established in 1989 by Ashish and Jahnabi Phookan in a tiny back-room in Guwahati with nothing more than one telephone and a thick index of flights. Today, after years of extensive trip-planning, a lot of hard work and dedication, and a great deal of learning along the way:

JTI has expanded into representative offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Cochin, and Madrid;

Co-owns Assam Bengal Navigation - India’s pioneering long-distance river cruising company, the Lonely Planet award-winning Diphlu River Lodge at Kaziranga National Park, and the Bansbari Lodge at Manas National Park;

And won a National Tourism Award.

At JTI, we believe that we are only as good a company as our team is. From Nemo who oversees all operations in every capacity to Babu who can spot exotic birds from the back of his head; from Rupak who leads challenging treks across little-explored valleys to Deka who is always on time to pick you up from the airport, there is always someone to look after you. Ensuring that your entire trip runs like clockwork, from dawn to dusk, day in and day out, come storm or snow, JTI is honoured to be able to do what we do: showing people from all over the world our favourite spots, jealously guarded secrets, and fascinating vignettes of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Come and share the experience.

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G.N.B Road, Chandmari, Guwahati - 781003,

Assam, India

+91 92070 42330 / 31 +91 361 2667871 / 72 / 73

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