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Rongali Festival in Assam, India & my unexpected fame

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SHANNON’S TRAVEL BAG: travel tips for women
Shannon travels to India, part two in a series of articles.

 

My unexpected fame at the Rongali Festival in Assam, India

I have been traveling across North East India for the past 10 days, with my first stop in Guwahati, the largest city in Assam, a major tea region and also home to Kaziranga National Park UNESCO heritage site. I came to Guwahati to attend a special arts & culture festival, Rongali (meaning “colours”), which honours the start of the New Year here.

A combination of a happily hectic travel schedule and limited internet access means I am only now able to post my articles and blogs – from my hotel in Kolkata.

Shannon at Rongoli Festival in Assam, India

(that’s me learning to dance with the Meishing Tribe)

What I discovered is that attending festivals which highlight the arts and culture of a community is a great way for travelers to experience a place and people in a short period of time. In a way, it is like “one-stop-shopping.” On April 17-19th, the Rangoli Festival brought together many of the regional tribes and community members to showcase their dance, music, art, crafts, food and traditional sports. It also featured a number of well-known Bollywood and Assam singers, artists, actresses, fashion designers and many other local celebrities.

Then there was my unexpected fame.

SShannon Skinner dances with tribes at Rangoli Festival covered in India Telegraph

(India Telegraph)

The North East of India is an area that is relatively unexplored — and vast — and many people, particularly those living in smaller communities, are not accustomed to seeing foreigners. I found myself being celebrated and, to surprise, also became a local celebrity. Many wanted their photos taken with me, and even the media were interested, which I found myself, or my photo, in at least 3 major daily newspapers and also doing several TV interviews about my experience at the festival.

Oh, there is also the Assam Tribune:

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=apr0415/city051

A fellow journalist, my friend Tom Peters, who also attended the festival and traveled with me from London to Guwahati, said it best:  India is a place where photos best tell the stories. More to come…

And now I must get to the airport for the next leg of my trip: Delhi!

Special thanks to Vasco Travel, the leaders in travel to India, who provided my guides, ground transportation and accommodation. The team worked tirelessly in perfecting every detail, even calling me daily.

 

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2 weeks ago

Shannon Skinner
I am hosting a tour of India for extraordinary women, in partnership with Sunspots Holidays, this September 2024.Join me as we explore India's stunning architecture, such as the renowned Taj Mahal, royal palaces and ancient forts. Discover Indian culinary delights, cultural places, authentic textiles and learn about everyday way of life of Indians, including yoga, through a female lens.We will explore 5 cities, as well as India's breathtaking desert region, Rajasthan. As well, we are now offering an *optional* tour extension of Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world and the spiritual capital of India, after the completion of our main tour, adding a 6th city to our itinerary.I am excited to share with you the India I fell in love with. Join me!🔸women's tour🔸Sept. 16-27, 2024🔸12 days/11 nights - 5 cities🔸Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Jodphur-Udaipur🔸Optional Varanasi tour extension post-tour (2 days/1 night)🔸small group Presented by: Extraordinary Women TV. Book this exclusive offer now.For details, visit: ShannonSkinner.com.Contact: info@shannonskinner.com. *Tour can only be purchased with Sunspots Holidays (TICO registration 1030981).#shannonskinner #extraordinarywomentv #travel #india #toursforwomen #shannontravels ... See MoreSee Less
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Photos from Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce's post ... See MoreSee Less
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Shannon Skinner
I recently had the opportunity to speak at a travel industry event, “Evolving Tourism Landscape in India,” hosted by the India High Commissioner in Ottawa and India's Consul General in Toronto.I spoke about my northeast India travels and why a Bengal Tiger is calling me back.Photo: Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce (thank you) ... See MoreSee Less
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4 weeks ago

Shannon Skinner
India is one of the most fascinating destinations in the world. Take it from me, a travel writer.This September, I am hosting a guided tour of India for extraordinary women, in partnership with Sunspots Holidays. Join me as we explore India's stunning architecture, such as the renowned Taj Mahal, royal palaces and ancient forts. Discover Indian culinary delights, cultural places, authentic textiles and learn about everyday way of life of Indians, including yoga, through a female lens.We will explore 5 cities, as well as India's breathtaking desert region, Rajasthan.I am excited to share with you the India I fell in love with. Join me!🔸women's tour🔸Sept. 16-27, 2024🔸12 days/11 nights - 5 cities🔸Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Jodphur-Udaipur🔸small group Presented by: Extraordinary Women TV. Book this exclusive offer now.For details, visit: ShannonSkinner.com.Contact: info@shannonskinner.com. *Tour can only be purchased with Sunspots Holidays (TICO registration 1030981).#shannonskinner #extraordinarywomentv #travel #india #toursforwomen #shannontravels ... See MoreSee Less
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