An event of profound religious and spiritual significance, the Wai Kru Festival or the Sak Yant Festival claims to bring physical and spiritual protection by way of the many exotic Sak Yant tattoos. What is the Wai Kru Festival? An intense experience and one of the famous festivals in Bangkok, the Wai Kru Festival is also known as the Sak Yant Festival. The Wai Kru Festival is not to be confused with the traditional phrase “Wai Kru” that is part of a ritual where students pay gratitude to their teachers. Tattooing the Devotees Over 10,000 Buddhist devotees gather at the Wat Bang Phra (temple) in Thailand for the Wai Kru Festival. The tattooists or the monks at the temple draw protective tattoos on the devotees with …

Amongst the many landmarks often visited by locals and tourists alike, the famous shopping precinct, Arcade Independence Square has a history that is quite intriguing. A Building with an interesting history The Arcade Independence Square is housed in the former Jawatte Lunatic Asylum along with several other buildings renovated as a part of the Independence Square Redevelopment Programme undertaken by the government at the time. As the years went by… The Jawatta Lunatic Asylum was built under the guidance of the then British Governor, Sir William Gregory in order to replace the existing asylum in Borella. The building consisted of two wings accommodating around 400 patients. Later the occupancy of the building was taken over by several government institutions including the Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation …

Kandy is one of the highly visited holiday destinations in Sri Lanka and you can see tourists out and about on most days of the year, but during the perahera season, literally, every Buddhist from all over Sri Lanka and the world come to Kandy, especially to the Dalada Maligawa. When does it happen? The Esala full moon falls during the first week of July and the Perahera will begin on the last weekend of July and end ten days after. Getting in touch with a few local travel firms, for example, the Connaissance de Ceylan will help you plan your trip in perfection. Beginning The sole motive of this full moon festival is to get the blessings from the deities, for a good harvest in the year ahead. …

Whether they are at home or residing in resorts in Abu Dhabi, those of the Islamic faith will be inclined to observe Ramadan: the Month of Fasting. When is Ramadan? The religious practice of fasting observed by those of the Islamic faith takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It usually lasts for around twenty-nine to thirty days. What Happens during Ramadan?                             During Ramadan, Muslims will fast for majority of the day and break fast in the evening after sunset. Therefore, many resorts such as Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort in the Middle East, as well as others in predominantly Muslim regions, will host ‘Ifthars’, also known …

The religious observances associated with Ramadan are followed by all Muslims worldwide as a testament to their faith. Held during the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, this religious practice involves a month of fasting. The purpose behind this observance is to celebrate when the Quran was first revealed to Muhammad. Those who have heard of this religious observance would very well know of its religious significance. The period of Ramadan is usually around twenty-nine to thirty days, but this may vary based on when the crescent moon is sighted by religious officials. Those who wish to celebrate the festival of Ramadan can also do so by making a trip somewhere abroad. If you wish for a convenient and close by destination, you can always …

The UAE is a great destination for tourist who are interested in learning about the Islamic culture and also exploring the great architecture. The UAE as opposed to the other Middle Eastern nations is more relaxed and welcoming towards tourists. One of the greatest periods to be here would be during the Ramadan month. Even though the city takes a much calmer stride, the after fast activities and the festival itself is great to be a part of. An Abu Dhabi luxury hotel would be a great place to start as most hotels have breaking fast meals and they also organise activities and excursions throughout the city. Hotels such as Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara offer a great Iftar spread which gives guests …