Mount Abu's Hogmanay beckons

MOUNT ABU: The only hill resort between Vibrant Gujarat and Incredible Rajasthan is magnetic Mount Abu, known the world over as a celestial oasis! With its sub zero illusions, it becomes an invigorating destination in the month of December.
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year (Gregorian calendar) in the Scottish manner.It is, however, normally only the start of a celebration which lasts through the night until the morning of New Year's Day.
In ancient times, both Druids and Romans hung sprigs of mistletoe in their homes and places of celebration to bring good fortune, peace and love. Mount Abu too has its own edition of Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year celebration where the revelry lasts through the night until the morning of New Year's day. From December 29 to 31, Mount Abu, the Abode of Gods, flies flags all over the place to announce its winter festival, its Hogmanay.
It is the festival for merriment, music, fun and frolic and to showcase the rich heritage of loaded cultural repertoire. It indeed is an electrifying ode to festivity and friendship! 'Padharo Mhara Desh' is truly reflected in its totality, proving the Japanese proverb, "One kind word can warm three winter months".
A rainbow of events await visitors - both local and overseas! Fun, frolic and festivity come alive in the offerings by Rajasthan Tourism and Mount Abu municipality making it an important date in the International Tourism Almanac. The procession, participated by the colourfully dressed citizens, begins from the RTDC Hotel Shikhar and ends at the Nakki Lake Chowk.
The splendor of the festival is enhanced with the enthralling performances of the folk artistes of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. One can enjoy the glittering view of fireworks displayed at the end of the three day of the festival. The festival offers the visitors an insight into the diversity and sumptuousness of Rajasthan's tradition, art, culture and legendary hospitality. The classical and folk singers display their talent and mesmerize the visitors. One can enjoy the dance performances that include variety of Daph, Ghoomar and Gair. These are mainly the various forms of folk dances.
However, cultural programs are not the only attraction of the Winter Festival in Mount Abu. It also features various forms of sports events. The visit to the festival will allow one to enjoy the excitement of rowing competitions. In fact, part of religion of India, cricket, too finds place in this traditional celebration.
To make the celebratory occasion truly vibrant in its truest sense, colours of 'mehndi' and 'rangolis' mingle with the festive strains of 'shehnai' and the Army band, while the masters of chisel and the brush create yet another repository of masterpieces and the wordsmiths create vignettes of love, hope, joy, pain and angst. It is a true rendezvous of tradition and modernity in totality!
The fabulous hill station offers unforgettable exotica for which Buson, the Haiku master, would have rightly said, "Lighting one candle/from another/- winter night," and the world would sing hand in hand Robert Burn's Auld Lang Syne.