Many of the Ladakh festivals take place in winter which is a relatively idle time for the majority of the locals, but the Thak Thok (pronounced Tak Tak) festival takes place in the on the 20-29 of the ninth Tibetan month (around the 11th / 12th August).
Thak Thok means ‘top of the rocks’ and is 4-km up the valley from Chemrey on a lumpy outcrop of eroded rocks, and the small Gompa (fortified place or monastery of learning) here is the sole representative in Ladakh of the ancient Nyingmapa order. The wonderful monasteries are fanstastic centres of Buddhist art, literature and culture and Thak Thok has many new temples adorned with gleaming new Buddha’s and garish modern murals and has a sacred meditation cave at the centre. Many of the festivals take the form of dance dramas (including the secret masked dance) and take place in the gompa courtyards that are meant to revitalise the spirit of the people.
Read more...
Posted by Guest Author on Fri 3rd August 2007 at 09:13 PM, Filed in Europe, August
Contributed by Jill Bowen
Each year the Isle of White is host to the White Air Extreme Sports Festival. This year (2007) it takes place on August 27th-September 2nd.
It’s one of the biggest water and land based extreme sports festival in Europe. What started nine years ago as a Wind and Surf based event due to the attraction of the Islands superb conditions, beaches, and of course waves, has rapidly expanded into one of the most prestigious International festivals on the calendar.
Over 40 countries now compete, with 500 competitors – world champions in 18 action sports, taking part on the beach, urban areas and land. Live music is catered for on a stage with 50 groups, there are many different sports you can try out for yourselves.
Read more...
Posted by Jill Bowen on Sun 29th July 2007 at 03:41 PM, Filed in August
A West Virginia mountaintop (Camp Washington Carver, at Clifftop in Fayette County) plays host to a five-day gathering of musicians and friends in this fun filled informal event.
Starting on 1st August and ending 5th August with most events starting at 11 am, it’s a paradise for lovers of traditional mountain music.
Over 3,000 musicians and string band lovers from around the world descend here for the fiddle and banjo contests, workshops, square dancing, camping and a ‘hymn-sing’. Over 20 countries and around 40 US states have been represented at the festival over the years. Known simply as ‘Clifftop’ throughout the music world it centres round what is called ‘old time music, which is the fiddle based sound and pre-dates blue-grass. Most visitors return after their first visit and bring friends and families to enjoy the fresh mountain air and the non-stop music.
Read more...
Muff? Let’s look that up in the dictionary; a short tube like covering of fur etc. into which both hands are thrust from opposite ends to keep them warm! Now that fooled you…I expect some of you had different connotations for it’s meaning!
Ireland’s Muff festival is held in the town of Muff – yes it really exists! It’s starts on the first Friday of every August and must not be missed, this year it’s 3rd – 6th August. This four four-day event is a public party where laughter is the order or the day…flowing as freely as the Guinness! It’s a tribute to everything barmy, and really has to be seen to be believed.
What are the ‘Muffonian’s’ objectives of this four-day event? To make merry, let their hair down, and to ensure that it’s a definite remedy for anyone with low spirits as it plays stage to a mixture of traditional and extremely silly competitions, parades, parties and the excuse to consume copious amounts of beer.
Read more...
Posted by Jackie Hewett on Fri 20th July 2007 at 03:15 AM, Filed in Europe, August
I never need an excuse to visit the beautiful town / lake of Annecy at the foothills of the Alps. However, on the first Saturday in August (since 1860) the town has celebrated the incorporation of Savoy within France, and since 1950 this celebration has included a wonderful firework display which reflects in the scenic lake waters. It claims to be one of the largest annual firework displays in Europe.
In 2007 the celebration will be held on the 4th August, and the festivities will start with a series of bands playing from 3.00pm. The fireworks start at 21.45pm. The theme for 2007 will be the number 7, which is seen to represent the 7 wonders of the world.
Read more...
