Experience Tribal Culture at the Lokranjan Festival in Khajuraho

Come December and there are so many cultural festivals in India that it is really hard to pick just one! The Lokranjan Festival in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh is one such not-to-be-missed festival. A tribal and folk dance festival, Lokranjan is organised by the Adivasi Lok Kala Academy along with the state tourist department. In 2013, the festival will be held between December 8^th and 12^th. Tickets for the festival are available from the Madhya Pradesh Tourist Department’s office in Khajuraho. The festival is extremely popular, so be sure to get your tickets in advance.

One of the many beautiful temples in Khajuraho

Celebrating Tribal Dance Forms

One of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, Khajuraho has become famous as the land of Kamasutra due to its medieval Hindu and Jain temples depicting erotic sculptures. But this sleepy town is so much more than that. It hosts the Lokranjan Festival annually, which is a celebration of the various tribal and folk dances of Madhya Pradesh. The festival is a big draw for dance enthusiasts and tourists alike. It is a platform for various tribes from the state to showcase their unique dance forms. The dance takes place amidst the remarkable temples of Khajuraho and juxtaposed with the temple sculptures, it’s truly a treat for the senses. The festival also makes an effort to preserve the Indian cultural heritage and several of its dying art forms. For the five days of the festival, this ancient town comes alive with music and dance.

A temple in Khajuraho depicting erotic sculptures

Where to Stay

If you are visiting Khajuraho, there are several hotels for you to choose from. For a luxurious stay, look no further than The Lalit Temple View. As the name suggests, the hotel is a short walk (1 kilometre) from the temple, which is the venue of the Lokranjan Festival. Hotel Usha Bundela is a good mid-range option, about 1.2 kilometres from the venue. For the budget traveller, Hotel Lakeside is a great place to stay at and is practically next door to the venue. MakeMyTrip offers great last minute deals on hotels so check these out before you book your stay.

Getting There

Khajuraho airport is well-connected and operates direct flights to many parts of the country. The airport is 4.5 kilometres from the temple site. A prepaid taxi will bring you to the venue. If you’re arriving by train, the railway station is about 8 kilometres away and a bus or taxi will get you to the venue. Apart from the temples of Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh has many other attractions to offer. The national parks of Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench make great detours. Bandhavgarh has a large number of big cats and you have a high probability of sighting a tiger here. The national park is 232 kilometres from Khajuraho and easily accessible by road.

Also visit one of the national parks in Madhya Pradesh including Bandhavgarh and Pench

So get ready to witness the unique and fascinating tribal dance forms of Madhya Pradesh at the Lokranjan Festival this year. Book flights and trains to Khajuraho only on MakeMyTrip.com!

Tribes Of India - Part 2

The Gaddi - Dhauladhar
Gaddis live in complete communion with nature. I often see Gaddi men with their sheep on my visits to the foothills of Dhauladhar, i.e. Palampur.  Khanabadosh as they are often called, come winters, they shift down to the lower regions of the Dhauladhar with their flocks and then upwards when the summers arrive.

Gaddis, originally pahaaris by culture, are now a mix of cultures. While some follow their aboriginal traditions, others embraced Islam for the fear of Aurangzeb loomed large during his times. A number of them left the nation to dwell in the higher grounds of Tibet, and later on, descended down to the lovely hills of Chamba.

The easiest way to identify Gaddi people is through a long strand – dori - they have around their wrist. A symbol of Gaddi tribe, it's worn by both men and women. The dori is 25 yards long and is tied around the wrist, two strands at a time.

Changing times, socio-economic norms, and modernity has brought Gaddis in the face of extinction. Disheartening but true, as the area of grazing pastures slowly shrink, more and more youngsters from the tribe are leaving their traditional dhan (wealth) - what they call their flocks of sheep - and moving to greener pastures of the labour market.

A Bishnoi Tribal WomanBishnoi - Jodhpur

While I was in school, I read a story of Bishnois, a tribe of farmers who laid down their lives for the sake of Khejri wood, which was required by the then Maharaja of Jodhpur for the construction of his palace. Even today, the 18^th century cenotaph of the martyrs of the Khejarli massacre stands tall in the village of Khejarli.

This strong tribe is known for its love for trees and animals, and have played an important role in protecting the biodiversity of the areas they dwell in. You'll be able to spot all kinds of wild animals – like deer and antelopes – freely venturing in most Bishnoi-dominated areas in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh.

Now Bishnoi is a famous tribe. The tribe was in news, a few years back, for its protest against the killing of blackbucks. Remember the Salman Khan blackbuck hunting case? Yes, that’s the one!

The people of the Bishnoi Tribe are known for living a simple life. Vegetarians, they pay a lot of attention to their personal hygiene, cleanliness of the surroundings, and their houses. It’s a tribe the whole nation can be proud of.