Music festivals have long been associated with the summer and several cities all over the world host raucous summer music festivals as a celebration of the arrival of balmy weather. These music festivals usually feature several big name artists whose presence serves as crowd pullers for these festivals. Apart from music, these festivals also feature several other forms of entertainment to the delight of the hordes who usually buy tickets to these much anticipated festivals months in advance.
England’s Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, which has been in existence since 1970, is often regarded as the mother of all music festivals. The festival is usually held over the last weekend in June on a working 1100 acre farm called the Worthy Farm located at Pilton near Glastonbury in the county of Somerset, England. The Festival is run by a local farmer called Michael Eavis who has nurtured the festival since its inception . This year, the Glastonbury Festival which has already sold out will be held from Wednesday, 24th June to Sunday, 28th June. read more
Summertime around the world is associated with a plethora of events, festivals and other happenings as people like to be out and about rather than cooped up at home like they are during the winter months. Accordingly, several European cities will host major contemporary art exhibitions during the summer of 2009 which are bound to enthrall and delight the hordes.
These art fests usually feature many allied local events and boisterous parties as the entire host city comes together to celebrate its art appreciation event.
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A mosque is a place of worship for the Muslim community. Islam is the world’s second largest religion after Christianity and it is estimated that are more than billion Muslims scattered all over the world.The religion is predominant in Africa and the Middle East and is followed in large parts of Asia and Eastern Europe as well. This monotheistic, Abrahamic religion originated with teachings of Prophet Muhammad, an Arabic religious and political figure who lived in the 7th century. After the death of Prophet Muhammad, the teachings of Islam were spread throughout the world through the various Islamic empires like the Caliphs, Ottomans, and the Mughals.
As Islam spread to different parts of the globe, its promoters established many mosques at various locations.These mosques were built in a variety of styles depending on the region they were built in but they often had similar architectural aspects like minarets and domes. In some cases, even churches, temples and synagogues were converted into Mosques.
Hagia Sophia- Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia functioned as a church during Byzantine times after which it was transformed into a mosque when the Ottomans invaded Turkey. In 1935, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first president of Turkey converted it into a museum. Though all mosques are places of worship they have differing features, while some have educational centers called ‘madrasas’ located within their folds others have welfare centers and hospitals. The Mosque is an integral component of the Muslim community who regard it not only as a place of worship but as meeting place for the community.
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The Derby festival which is traditionally held over the first weekend in June at the Epsom Downs Race course located in Surrey, England is one of the most important events on the annual racing calendar. The Derby stakes (pronounced as “dar-bee”) or the Epsom Derby is a prestigious flat race for thoroughbred horses and ranks up there with other similar races like the Kentucky Derby, the Breeders Cup, the Dubai World Cup and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe amongst others.
This event which is held at Epsom Downs race course is a two day affair which not only features exciting horse racing but much fun and great fashion. This year, the Derby festival is to be held on Friday, 5th June and Saturday, 6th of June. The festival kicks off with the Derby Ball which is held at the Royal Automobile Club in Woodcote Park (Epsom) on the night before the race days. This year, the ball is to be held on Thursday, 4th June. The first day of the festival is always ‘Ladies Day’ and it features the Epsom Oaks race,while the second day of the festival is Derby Day. During the Derby festival, a festive atmosphere prevails at Epsom Downs as nearly 100,000 people gather at the various enclosures to take in the racing as well as the various picnics and barbecues which are held during the event. read more
