Oktoberfest: World's Biggest Beer Festival At Munich

Life

oi-Anwesha

By Anwesha Barari

Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 10:29

The 178th Oktoberfest in Munich began on the 17th of September this year and will unravel over the next 17 or so days. Wondering what it is and why 'October' is spelt wrong? This is a world famous German beer festival, in fact it is THE largest beer festival in the world with 6 million people rumoured to be attending it this year alone. No wonder they call Munich the 'Beer Paradise'. Oktoberfest' history too is an interesting episode of German glory.

What Will You See At Oktoberfest, Munich...
Mugs and mugs of beer overflowing at the edges and the German 'beer girls' as they call them, serving beer on gigantic trays. Germans do love their beer because they are the only ones who can do a bottoms up with those huge mugs! This German beer festival creates a nostalgic aura around it by bringing back by gone traditions like the merry-go-rounds, carnival rides and the famous horse rides. The horse ride happens on the royal race tracks. It is a spectacle you must not miss. However, you can also be entertained by the most high-tech rides that would make modern amusement parks proud.

Folk Element of Oktoberfest At Munich...
If you are bitten by the culture bug then find things here that are much more interesting, even compared to beer. The music at Oktoberfest is an attraction for viewers on its own accord. You will hear the best of German folk music here. As a matter of fact, the festival begins with the traditional tap dance and then the first beers are poured out! The dancers in German carnival costumes can be seen through out the festival breaking into dances at various occasions. Cultural shows are held at auditoriums that have seating capacity of more than ten thousand people!

History Of Oktoberfest:
Munich was the capital of the Bavarian empire that is 2 centuries old. The first crown prince of the nascent kingdom, later famous as King Ludwig I was bound in holy matrimony with Princess Therese on 12th October. The Oktoberfest was celebrated in honour of their wedding for the first time in 1810. So the rich history of the Oktoberfest is more than 200 years old now. From then on it has been repeated every year and down the line transformed into the largest German beer festival that it is today! Several customs like the horse race and cultural programmes have survived intact.

How Much For a Beer?
Both beer and money flows like water in the Oktoberfest at Munich. A beer costs about 9 Euros which is 549 rupees. However, the prices are estimated to rise this year. Total sales of beer and food here must be an astronomical figure and they say that every seller who sets up a tent here goes back with huge profits.

The Oktoberfest at Munich is a festival that is both, a part of European cultural heritage and fun filled entertainment!