Ashwa Poojan

According to the Hindu traditions, the horse has the very important religious significance; they are the symbol of the loyalty, self respect and the power. At the time of wars they not only become the warrior’s lone supporters but also sometimes are not only scope and hope for the survival. This day acts as the medium to show our gratitude and honor towards the noble breed of horses to which we owe so much. The arms (Shastra) which were used during the war also worshipped on this day.
Navratri is one of most auspicious times in the Hindu calendar. The festival of Navratri lasts for the 9 days and nights and hence it is known as the Navratri. This festival is dedicated to the worship of our Hindu mythology of the goddess Durga the consort of Shiva. According to our mythology, It is the ‘The Mother”, the “Woman’ who is the source of the power, energy, vigour and for its onward transmission. Maa Durga (Mother) representing the Power (Shakti) is depicted in the nine forms or avatars on each nine different days during the month of the Ashvin (September/ October). The mother goddess is worshipped to imbibe the strength, courage, power and spirituality. It is celebrated with the full vigour in Rajasthan, the land of the Rajputs.

Ninth day of the Navratri is known as the Navami, the culminating day of the nine-day festival. On the Navmi, the Rajputs everywhere recognize the various aspects on which their dependence and survival necessary lies. It is not surprising that one cannot separate the Rajput from his horse and the reliance and dependence of the Rajput on the horse can in no way be undermined.

It is not just in the India but the whole world over that many household has survived because of the unflinching and the faithful service rendered by the horse to man. It is therefore appropriate that one day in the year be especially dedicated in the recognition of the usefulness of the horse and its contribution to the survival of the Rajput community. Commemorating the bond, the interdependence and the partnership of horse and Rajput for centuries, Ashwa Poojan is really the grand finale to the Navratri festivities, invoking both, the power of Durga and Ashwa.

The horses participating in poojan belong to an internationally recognized breed known as ‘Marwari’. This name is reflective of their area of origin, which is now the part of present state of Rajasthan. The salient characteristics of the breed are that they are extremely sure-footed on hard rocky terrain and are at equal ease in the sands of the desert.

As a part of Living Heritage, the celebration of the Ashwa Poojan is testimony to the traditional reverential acknowledgement of the empathy between the Rajput and his Horse, continued since the ancient time, practiced and followed till this day. The House of Mewar salutes this legendary association by perpetuating the tradition of worshipping the horse, attempts to preserve the intangible cultural heritage of Eternal Mewar.

Source:
http://www.eternalmewar.in/ashwa-poojan/

Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival, Nederland, Colorado

Frozen Dead Guy Days, this strange festival is celebrated each and every year on the 1st full weekend in the March. This strange festival began in 2002 to celebrate the winter and the frozen corpse of the Bredo Morstel that was kept in the cryogenically frozen in the shack in town.

Bredo Morstel was the Norwegian citizen. Upon his death, his grandson Trygve brought his body to United States, using the dry ice to preserve the body until it arrived at cryonics facility in California where it remained stored in liquid nitrogen from 1990 to 1993.

The Frozen Dead Guy Days are celebrated during the cold of winter, when snow, ice, and chilly air can be incorporated into the festivities. Some of the most popular events include coffin racing, costume polar plunging (jumping into icy water in full costume), snow sculpture contests, Ice Queen & Grandpa look alike costume contests, a frozen T-shirt contest (contestants race to thaw and wear a T-shirt that has been frozen in a block of ice), and a dance called the “Blue Ball”.

The community experiences the new burst of life with the festival’s creative contests, icy events including the coffin racing, polar plunging, frozen salmon tossing basically if it is fun and can be done in the cold, it goes!

People come from around the world every year in the month of March to experience the legacy of Grandpa Bredo – even representatives of cryonics organizations who want share the science behind this unique story.

Many businesses come out to promote themselves at the event, selling beer and themed foods like “frozen dead guy ice cream,” and some contest winners may even get helicopter tours from one Colorado Company.

Frozen Dead Guy Days is one of the oddest festivals that exist– which is also why it is considered by many to be one of the most fun.

Resources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/18/us/18frozen.html?_r=0

Calle Ocho Festival, Miami, Florida, USA

Little Havana or the Calle Ocho is characterized by the robust street life, excellent restaurants, music and other cultural activities, mom and pop enterprises, political passion, and great warmth amongst its residents.

At the time of this festival, the street in the Miami is overtaken by the Latinos of all the different shapes, sizes and the backgrounds to celebrate the legendary Calle Ocho festival.
Little Havana host its annual Calle Ocho street festival (the part of the overall Carnaval Miami celebration), it is one of the largest in the world with over one million visitors attending the Calle Ocho alone. It is the free street festival with the Caribbean carnival feel sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of the Little Havana.

Calle Ocho is where different ethnic communities wear colours or the flags representing pride in their heritage. Flags from the Colombia to the Nicaragua to the Puerto Rico to the Costa Rica and even the Ireland flood the streets. Foods from different countries are usually sold, and popular music like reggaeton, salsa, bachata and merengue can be heard through the festival.

From the last 35 years, Carnival Miamo has made it possible for the members of the Kiwanis Club of the Little Havana to accomplish the service programs in the community. The club started in the 1975 by the small group of the high school, to grow and became the major service non-profit organization.
Little Havana is the neighbourhood of Miami, Florida, United States. Home to many Cuban immigrant residents, as well as many residents from Central and South America, Little Havana is named after Havana, the capital and largest city in Cuba.

Little Havana is noted as the centre of the social, cultural and the political activity in the Miami. Its festivals including the Calle Ocho Festival, Cultural Fridays/ Viernes Culturales, the three kings Parade and the others, have been televised to millions of the people every year on the different continents. It is also known for its landmarks including the Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street/ Tamiami Trail) and its walk of Fame (for famous artists and the Latin personalities including the Celia Cruz, Willy Chirino and Gloria Estefan), the Cuban Memorial Boulevard, Plaza de la Cubanidad, Domino Park, the Tower Theater, Jose Marti Park, the Firestone/Walgreens Building, St. John Bosco Catholic Church, Municipio de Santiago de Cuba and others. It is undoubtedly the best known neighbourhood for the Cuban exiles in the world.

The Little Havana Merchants Association (LHMA) is an organization of the local businesses that promotes responsible growth in neighbourhood. Other key organizations in the neighbourhood include the Calle Ocho Chamber of Commerce, Little Havana Change makers, and Viernes Culturales/Cultural Fridays, Inc. The co-founder of LHMA publishes Little Havana Guide, the guide (with maps) to the neighbourhood and online magazine (in English). Local activists have also published a site called Little Havana Inc to monitor development in the area.