Latest news with #LaTomatinaFestival
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Time of India
Love lost or not, they're off to find themselves: Travel cos' unique itineraries for Gen Z & millennials
New Delhi: Nursing a broken heart, and want to travel solo but not entirely? Travel companies offer ' break-up holidays ' that will put you in touch with like-minded travellers who are similarly single. There are also options like the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara-inspired La Tomatina Festival trip or pub crawls in Madrid to uplift your spirits. Literally. With roughly 65% of India's population under the age of 35 years, travel services providers are charting out new and unusual itineraries for the Gen Z digital natives and millennials who want more than mere sightseeing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Victoria Principal Is Almost 75, See Her Now Reportingly Undo "They need stories, visuals, feelings and moments to share," said Govind Gaur, chief executive of WanderOn . Live Events His company offers itineraries ranging from break-up getaways to holidays in places that offer material for OTT-style travel reels. These include fossil hunting in the high-altitude village of Langza in Spiti Valley, nights spent under star-lit skies by the Chandratal Lake in Himachal and a trip to the musical hamlet of Kongthong in Meghalaya where people communicate via tunes. Leisure travel has picked up after Covid, with young people being key drivers of the trend as they seek to explore new places and experience. While remote work has made it possible to travel without taking leave from work, social media is boosting the appeal of travel and often influencing the decision on travel destinations. Young India's millennials and Gen Z are power-driving India's travel story, said Neeraj Singh Dev, executive vice president and head of ecommerce and domestic and short haul holidays at Thomas Cook (India). The company has designed packages around concerts and pop culture references, seeing the strong influence of OTT content and global events. "We incorporate street food trails, themed cafes, filming locations, and fan experiences like wearing Hanbok at Gyeongbokgung Palace or visiting BTS landmarks into our itineraries," said Dev. Travel companies are keeping the starting price for such packages attractive to serve as a hook. For instance, Thomas Cook's Krabi-Phuket five nights/six days tour starts at ₹52,500 per person on twin share, including airfare. The Langkawi-Kuala Lumpur package starts at ₹55,220, with add-on options like scuba diving, ATV rides and nightlife experiences. The hospitality industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with millennials and Gen Z travellers expected to represent 83% of hotel guests by 2030, said MP Bezbaruah, secretary general at the Hotel Association of India. Hotels are responding by curating eco-friendly initiatives, wellness retreats, and culinary experiences, while also adopting and integrating technology to meet customers' personalized needs and convenience. Some newer hotel concepts include check-ins at the bar, extended breakfast timings or even all-day breakfast options, and experiences such as drunches and bar marathons. Data from SOTC Travel show a drop in the average age of its customers by nearly 10 years since the pandemic, said SD Nandakumar, president and country head for holidays and corporate tours. While the company's packages now have inclusions like super-car racing at autodromes or circuits in Dubai-Abu Dhabi, sake and soju sampling in Japan and bar-hopping in Ibiza with many takers, the pilgrimage-darshans portfolio is also witnessing strong demand from millennials and Gen Zs, especially for the Char Dham Yatra and spiritual circuits like Ayodhya, Prayagraj and Dwarka, he said.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Is La Tomatina really about tomatoes? How did it all begin?
In the popular Hindi movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, or even in the Mickey Mouse cartoon episode Al Rojo Vivo, you must have stumbled upon a peculiar festival celebrated all the way over in Spain using tomatoes. Believed to have originated in the 1940s, this festival is called La Tomatina, literally translated to 'the tomato'! How did it all start? La Tomatina Festival began on the last Wednesday of August, 1945, when some young people gathered in the town square to watch the Giants and Big-Heads figures parade. During the festivities, one participant's big head fell off, which made the participant fly into a fit of rage, and he began hitting everything in his path. There was a market stall of vegetables that fell victim to the rage of the crowd, as people started pelting each other with tomatoes until the local forces ended the fruit battle. The following year, some young people staged a pre-planned fight and brought their tomatoes. Although the local forces broke it up, this marked the start of an annual tradition. Thousands of people followed in the boys' footsteps over the years. Did you know? The citric acid in the tomatoes helps with the cleaning process, so some of the town's surfaces are cleaner after being rinsed than they were before the event. What happens? The day before the fight, there will be a paella (a popular Spanish rice dish) cooking contest near the town square, fireworks, and various music bands and parades through the medieval city centre. The first event before the tomato battle is the Palo Jabón. The game is centred on a long greased pole with a piece of ham at the top. The goal is for participants to climb the pole and drop the ham, which requires them to climb on top of one another. When the ham falls, the tomato battle begins. The tomato fight typically lasts an hour and leaves the town square covered in tomato debris. Fire trucks then hose down the streets, and participants often use hoses provided by locals to remove tomatoes from their bodies. Some participants also use the Los Peñones pool to wash.
News18
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Tomato Mayhem Hits Hyderabad: Relive Your ZNMD Dreams At Toma Terra
Remember the iconic tomato-throwing scene from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD)? The one where friends come together, immersed in laughter and chaos, enjoying the festive spirit of Spain's La Tomatina Festival? Well, the magic of that moment is about to come alive in India, as Hyderabad gears up to host its tomato festival. Called Toma Terra, this exciting event will take place on May 11 and promises to bring the same vibrant energy to the heart of Telangana, making you relive those iconic ZNMD vibes.
