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    Plan for Republic Day weekend: Head to Ethiopia's Timkat Festival or the Carnival Of Venice

    Synopsis

    Indulge in luxury, entertainment, food, sports, music and nightlife.

    ET Bureau
    ET Panache Travel offers you events in Luxury, Entertainment, Food, Sports, Music and Nightlife to experience around the world:

    AUSTRALIAN OPEN
    Where:
    Melbourne, Australia
    When: 15th - 28th January, 2018

    The Australian Open 2018, the tennis calendar's biggest events, offers the perfect outing for a sports lover and music aficionado. In its 106th Edition, it is scheduled to be hosted at Melbourne Park, consisting of a line-up of singles, doubles and mixed doubles. The world's best 100 tennis players will return to compete in a grand slam set up.

    Image article boday


    Women's champion Serena Williams and men's champion Roger Federer will be back to defend the titles they won at the 2017 Australian Open, alongside the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro. Apart from the main tournament, the Australian Open will be staging a weekend of live music, featuring a great line-up of Australian bands, open for a free access. Once the tennis begins, the park becomes a popular spot for the public to watch the action on the big screens. The park's middle terrace, which allows access to live music, is open exclusively to tennis ticket holders.

    Image article boday

    SPORTY VIBES: The glimpse of the previous edition of the Australian Open

    TIMKAT
    Where:
    Ethiopia
    When: 19th January, 2018

    The Timkat Festival, an Orthodox Christian celebration of Epiphany, remembers the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. While Timkat is celebrated across the nation, the best place to attend the event is Lalibela, Gonder or Addis Ababa. The festival kicks starts with a procession, during which the Tabots, models of the Ark of the Covenant, present on every Ethiopian altar are brought in from churches around Gondar. The Tabots are borne in procession, on the head of the priest, parading through the streets. The priests, escorted by drums and worshippers making merry, hold an overnight vigil until dawn. The services the following morning culminate in the priests blessing the waters of the historic Fasilides Bath. In Addis Ababa many tents are pitched in the grassy field at Jan Meda, to the northeast of the city centre.

    Image article boday

    FESTIVE VIBES: Visitors attend a mass at Fasilides Bath during the celebrations

    CARNIVAL OF VENICE
    Where:
    Venice, Italy
    When: 27th January - 13th February, 2018

    The Carnival of Venice marks the ends to the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter. Venice comes alive with parades, concerts, performances and grand balls during this period. The annual carnival kicks off in the district of Rio di Cannaregio with the 'Festa Veneziana on the Water', a spectacular free water show which, each year, attracts thousands of spectators. A water parade with food and wine tours featuring local Venetian specialties is the highlight of the carnival. During this event, colourful boats set sail along the Canal Grande to the folkloristic district of Cannaregio. Then there's the Flight of the Angel. a spectacle that sees a girl dressed in the costume of an angel, fly along a rope from San Marco bell tower to the middle of the square. Furthermore, you can also partake in the competition for the best carnival costume and the best mask.

    Image article boday

    CULTURAL VIBES: The signature gondolas of Venice look lovely during the carnival

    VINTERJAZZ FESTIVAL
    Where:
    Copenhagen, Denmark
    When: 2nd - 25th February, 2018

    Vinterjazz, a music-lover's delight, is a nationwide music festival of Denmark that spans three weeks. It features more than 500 concerts, 100 venues and 25 independent organisers from all across Denmark -from Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense and Esbjerg to the historic jazz capital of Copenhagen. In its 18th edition, Vinterjazz is an opportunity to meet international stars on tour, new Danish award-winning projects and concert themes. The line-up of performer this year includes the Spanish star Jorge Rossy, regular Herbie Hancock guitarist Lionel Loueke, the Scandinavian free jazz ensemble Fire! Orchestra, the New Orleans-bred singer Sasha Masakowski and other acts from international artists such as Justin Kauflin, Walt Weiskopf, Kirk Lightsey, Nancy Harms, Randy Newman, Katie Thiroux, Circuit des Yeux and not least Tyshawn Sorey . one of the most talked-about American jazz composers today.

    Image article boday

    MUSICAL CHAIRS: The past edition of Vinterjazz in progress

    MARDI GRAS
    Where:
    New Orleans
    When: 13 February, 2018

    Mardi Gras in French means Fat Tuesday and its first modern parade was held in '57 by a group called Mystik Krewe of Comus. Back in the day, the masks allowed members to escape society and class constraints, allowing everyone to mingle seamlessly. In present times, they elaborate the spirit of fun. The parades are headed by 'kings' and 'queens' who throw trinkets at the crowd. The costumes depict a theme. Furthermore, there are dances, sports competitions, etc. Its a festival of garish floats and weird appearances where all inhibitions are dropped and you can party like there's no tomorrow.

    Image article boday

    Revellers congregate at the start of the Society of Saint Anne Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans
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