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Student of the Year II begins shoot in Uttarakhand

By
Tania Saili
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The hill-state of Uttarakhand has now become a hotspot for Bollywood filmmakers who prefer the picturesque hill-state for their shooting locale to foreign destinations. Over the years big Bollywood directors such as Karan Johar, Farhan Akhtar, Sharat Katariya, Shree Narayan Singh, Tigmanshu Dhuliya, Ajai Devgan, John Abraham and many more have chosen Uttarakhand and shot extensively in its picturesque locales dotted all over the State.

In the recent past, the film units of Bollywood block busters such as ‘Bunty aur Babli’, ‘Lakshya’, ‘Dum Laga kar Haisha’, ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, ‘Bati gul meter chaalo,’ ‘Kedarnath’, ‘Parmanu’ have been shot in places known for its scenic beauty such as Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Dehradun and other as well. Following this growing trend is Director Puneet Malhotra who is all set to shoot the sequel to Student of the Year in Mussoorie and Dehradun over the next few weeks.

Director Karan Johar’s ‘Student of the Year,’ which was the debutant movie of actor Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan was short on-location in Dehradun’s Forest Institute of India and Kasiga School, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that its sequel’s will be shot in the region as well.

Student of the Year part II, will see emerging action-hero Tiger Shroff shake a leg with Ananya Pandey (daughter of Chunky Pandey) in her debutant movie along with TV actor Tara Tutariya who makes the transition from television to films with this movie.

The film unit had done a detailed recee towards the end of last year and have been in Dehradun for the past one week tying up loose ends before they start shooting extensively in the valley and in-around Mussoorie over the next 4-5 weeks that is said to begin from today.

CM steps in to make sure NCERT books available to all

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newspost
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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Rawat has given strict instructions to all the District Magistrates  of the state to ensure that NCERT books are made available to the students and parents through book sellers and retailers.

The Chief Minister instructed that all the book sellers should be directed that the retailers should provide NCERT books as per needs. Action will be taken against those who don’t provide NCERT books to small book sellers as per their requirement and hoard stocks.

Some book sellers had complained to the Chief Minister that a few book sellers were refusing to provide books in small numbers. Taking this complaint seriously, Chief Minister Mr. Trivendra Singh Rawat gave directions to the District Magistrates to take strict action against the concerned persons in such cases. He said that authentic books should be provided to the students.

Taking back a flavour of Uttarakhand this Chardham season

By
Tania Saili
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0

When one thinks of the mountains, one pictures crystal-clear air, blue skies, snow peak mountains, brooks and streams, but we, at times forget that it’s the people, their art, culture, tradition and cuisine which makes the mountains as special as they are.

This Chardham Yatra season, District Magistrate of Rudraprayag, Mangesh Ghildiyal is attempting to make it a little more special not only for lakhs of pilgrims who make their way to the 8th century Shiva temple situated at a height of 11,755 feet in the inner recesses of Garhwal every Chardham Yatra season, but also for local small time entrepreneurs and their indigenous produce.

The District Magistrate has made it mandatory for shopkeepers being allotted shops along the Kedarnath Shrine from Gaurikund all the way upto the Kedarnath shrine to serve local produce such as juice and squash made from Amla, Malta and Rhododendron (buraas) to refresh and revive tired souls and feet of pilgrims as they begin their pilgrimage on foot.

Further more, the District magistrate has made an appeal to hotels and restaurants that dot the country-side enroute to Kedarnath that they should include a Garhwali cuisine menu for their customers such as roti, gait ki daal, phaada, kadi, jhangoray ki kheer etc so that tourists can get a flavor of what Uttarakhandi food is all about.

The portals of the Kedarnath Shrine will open on the 29th of April this year, and over the next 8-9 months close to ten lakh pilgrims will make their way to the Shrine from both home and abroad. This unique initiative by the district administration will go a long way to ensure that indigenous produce get that much required boost which will in turn bring in money as well as stem migration and for the tourists, they will get a true-taste of the hill-state other than just spiritual memories to take back this Yatra season.

CM distributes ‘State Academic Excellence’ Award

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Mr. Trivendra Singh Rawat distributed the ‘Pandit Deen Dyal Upadhaya State Academic Excellence’ awards at a function held at Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalaya at Nanoorkheda. CM Rawat honoured the toppers of the Uttarakhand board examinations of 2017.  Those students who stood first, second and third respectively in the tenth class examinations were awarded Rs.15,000, Rs. 11,000 and Rs. 8,000 respectively and given a certificate, while those who secured fourth to tenth positions in the state were given Rs.5100 as cash reward and a certificate of merit.

The students of twelfth class who stood first, second and third respectively in 12th class board examinations were given Rs. 21,000, Rs.15,000 and Rs.11,000 respectively with certificate of merit, while those who secured fourth to tenth positions were awarded Rs.5100 and certificate of merit.

Ayesha Class Xth from Vijayanagar of Rudraprayag, Harshvardhan Verma Xth from Jaspur and Ajay Vikram Singh Bisht of Class Xth Badkot, Uttarkashi were honoured by the Chief Minister.  Aditya Ghildyal of Gangnali, Pauri stood first in class twelfth board examinations, Akshdeep Vatsal of Udham Singh Nagar second and Megha of BHEL, Haridwar secured third position.

Chief minister Mr Trivendra Singh Rawat also presented commendation certificates and trophies to three schools for showing good results in the tenth and twelfth class board examinations. I.P. College, Laksar, Rana Partap Inter College, Khatima and Pandit Poornanand Tewari Inter College, Jaspur were presented trophies and commendation certificates for showing good results in tenth class board examinations.

Vivekanand college, Ranikhet,  Inter College, Tehri  and Uttarkashi Inter College were awarded by the Chief Minister with trophies and commendation certificates for showing excellent results in 12thclass board examinations. A total of 52 high schools and 50 Intermediate schools were awarded with commendation certificates.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Mr. Trivendra Singh Rawat said that education is best investment and giving education is the biggest generosity. He congratulated the students who excelled in the board examinations and hoped that these students will make the state proud in future. He said that everyone should contribute to make the state hundred per cent literate.

All the schools in Dehradun will get roof top solar systems: CM

The Chief Minister announced that all the schools will get roof top solar systems. He instructed the education department officials to make two residential schools in which girls and boys from the entire state could get education. He said that arrangements for quality education will be made in these schools with academically qualified staff.

Over a cup of tea @ Tearoom at Alaya, Old Rajpur Road

By
Tania Saili
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Up the narrow by-lanes of Rajpur when the road gets narrower and you think you have seen it all, you chance upon a gem of a café, ‘The Tea Room at Alaya,’ a few month old eatery portrays how an artist’s touch can turn his/her surrounding into a virtual open art gallery.

Perched atop Joshua and Richa Hishey’s ‘The Alaya Design Studio’ their workshop has over the past two years metamorphosised into one of the best joints that Old Rajpur has to offer today.

This twenty-seater café, with its beautiful wooden décor add a touch of timelessness with its windows opening onto the narrow lanes below. The place oozes with good vibes with a view of the lush green hillocks in the backdrop and the Old Rajpur town sprawled below. A team of 4-5 people work under one roof catering to people from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. every night, except Tuesdays. Foreigners; tourists; locals come here from far and wide to taken the flavours of ice tea, kawa, pita bread with hummus and shakes of all kinds.

The brain child of an art graduate from the States Joshua and his wife Richa, who came home to Rajpur in early 2000 and started Alaya Studio way back in 2005 with a handful of unemployed youth from the area. The duo used their expertise in turning their workshop into a perfect setting for a cup of tea and some mouth-watering finger food. Here too Joshua’s wife Richa seems to be his best critic and manager who emphasis on how to improve their new endeavour and keeps adding more to it.

Benhur, the manager for the eatery from Tamil Nadu, happened to be Rajpur when he came upon this chance of putting his Hotel Management degree to use, he tells us, ‘I find the climate lucrative and the setting is perfect for me, I love doing my job.’ And that one can make out, with his ready smile and his love for making shakes and sandwiches.

As evening sets in, Tearoom fills up with a glow from the setting sun, light music in the background along with chitter-chatter over a cup of tea, makes it a must-visit when in Old Rajpur looking for a perfect get-way to just relax and unwind.

Chief Minister approves Rs. 50 lakh for beautification of Santhala Devi  temple

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newspost
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A delegation of Gorakhali Sudhar Sabha met Uttarakhand Chief Minister at his residence . The Chief Minister  congratulated the Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha for successful organization of cleanliness drive in Santhala Devi temple and its neighbouring areas. He further praised the Gorkhali society for their important contribution in the development of the State.

He said that the way in which Gorkahli Society carried out successful cleanliness drive in Santhala Devi Temple and surrounding area, was very inspiring and appreciable. The Chief Minister stressed upon the need to be constantly alert about cleanliness and beautification of religious and tourist places. He said that religious and tourist places are the backbone of our State’s religious, social, cultural and economic system. He said that Prime Minister’s Cleanliness Campaign needs to be strengthened at the grass-root level. The Chief Minister sanctioned an amount of Rs. 50 lakh for beautification of Sathala Devi Temple including two parking spots near it.

Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha President Padam Singh Thapa and other members were present on the occasion.

Online E-auction of mining lots fetch record revenues

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newspost
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The online E-auction for the mining lots via E-tendering was conducted for the first time for the sub-mining lots in hilly areas by government on April 5.  In the first phase, competitive bidding in district Pauri Garhwal tehsil Srinagar, village Ganganali, the revenue received for the base price of Rs 25,28,225 for 3.127 hectare area was Rs 1,8127,219 which is 7.16 per cent more than the base price. The E-auctioning for district Rudraprayag tehsil Rudraprayag, village Sumarpur area 0.10 hectare saw record breaking revenue collection. The revenue received for the base price of Rs 997540 was Rs 22,54,596 which is 22.5 per cent more than the base price.

The E auctioning for 1,695-hectare area in district Uttarkashi tehsil Mori village Pasa, the base price was Rs 18,19,125 and the revenue collected was Rs.18,64,600 which 1.02 percent more than the base price. For E-auctioning of 4.099-hectare area in village Kanari in district Pithoragarh, the base price was Rs 2,16,545 and the revenue collected was Rs 3, 02,023 which is 1.39 per cent more than the base price.

The E-auctioning for 1.496-hectare area at village Rampur Rai Ghati Ahatmal in the district Haridwar, the base price was Rs 23,03,840 and the revenue collected was Rs. 25,68,777 which is 1.1 per cent more than the base price received here.

In second phase of E- auctioning for 2.0 hectare area mining lot  in village Ganganali   at Tehsil Srinagar district Pauri Garhwal the base price was Rs 16,17,000 and the revenue collected was Rs 1,63,96,380 which  10.14 per cent more than the base price. While at village Nagrasu area 0.121 hectare at district Rudprayag the base price was Rs 1,20,715 and revenue received was Rs 69,71,183  which is 5.77 per cent  more than the base price.

The E- auctioning for 1.085 hectare area in village Maatli 03   at district Uttarkashi,  the base price was Rs 3.34,250 and the revenue received was Rs 28,54,118 which is 8.5 times more than the base price.   E-auctioning for village Kanda Majri area 0.546 hectare at Pithoragarh district, the base price was Rs 2,20,500 and the revenue collected was Rs 2,76,702 which is 1.25 times more than base price. In  E Auctioning for village Rampur Rai Ghati Ahtmal area,  1.578 hectare at district Haridwar , the base price was Rs 24,30,120 and the revenue received was Rs 30,25,470 which is 1.24 times more than the base price. Director Mining Vinay Shankar Pandey said that E-auctioning held on Thursday for the area in river Alaknanada in Pauri district, for Bhagirathi in Uttarkashi and for the area in rivers in Rudraprayag district the revenue collected is more than expected. In 10 E-auctions Rs 04,83,67,000  will be earned annually.

Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra: A spiritual journey into Uttarakhand

By
Lucky Singh
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0

Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra is known around the world as the largest inaccessible and difficult path for a pilgrimage which holds significance even today.

According to Historians, Nanda Devi was Goddess of ’Katyuri Rajvansh,’ and is ishtdevi of both Garhwal and Kumaon region and is endearingly called ‘Rajrajeshwari’. People believe that Nanda Devi is the sister of Goddess Parvati, and is worshiped throughout Uttarakhand.

History has it that Nanda Devi was amongst the seven daughters of King Daksh Prajapati who was married to Shiv and to-date is believed to live with her happily with her husband in the Himalayas. Some people believe Nanda to be the reincarnation of Parvati and is also known as Shiva, Sunanda, Subhanda, and Nandini.

 

Raj Jat/NandaJat

The meaning of Raj Jat/Nanda Jat is Raj Rajeshwari Nanda Devi Yatra. Usually, Nanda devi yatra is an annual ritual, but every 12 years the grand Raj yatra is organized. It is believed that in the month of August or what we call ‘Bhadao,’  Nanda Devi takes her leave from her maternal home dressed as a bride and is carried in a palanquin decorated with presents like apparels, ornaments, food grains etc to her husband’s abode in the inner reaches of the Garhwal Himalayas.
On ‘shukla Ashtami’ Nanda bids farewell to her parents’ home i.e. Mayka and makes her way to her husband’s abode. A distance of 250km is covered in this pilgrimage from Nauti to Hemkund and that too on foot. While covering this distance people cross dense forests, snow-covered peaks, and meadows.

While the journey takes you across the most difficult of terrain, from Ridkidhar this Yatra becomes strenuous for both women and children, yet thousands of pilgrims complete this difficult journey.

Importance of Khadu in Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra:

One more important thing to know about Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra is ’Chausinga Khadu’’, khadu or Himalayan ram or four-horned ram is an integral part of this Yatra.

Khadu/Ram is carried on the shoulders by Nautiyal Brahmans until Hemkund. After Hemkund, the Khadu travels on foot. Mythology has it that after the birth of the special Khadu, a lion visits that cowshed until the owner of the ‘Khadu’ voluntarily offers the ram for the Rajjat Yatra.  During the entire journey, the ram/Khadu guides the crowd fearlessly.

It is said that the ram sleeps close to the Nanda Devi palanquin at night to protect it.

 End of Journey:

The Yatra ends in ‘Vaan’ Village. In this village, a temple of God ‘Latu’  or the brother of Nanda Devi is situated, who is said to be worshipped before Nanda Devi.

Latu Temple Gates open on the Rajjat Day and after a special ceremony by Nautiyal Brahmans the doors are closed until the next Yatra. Except for these Brahmans, no one has the right to open the temple gate.

The last Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra was held in 2014, with approximately 290 km covered.  Many tourists from various parts of India and abroad come to partake in the Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra.

Manisha Panwar directs officials for successful organization of ‘Gram Swaraj Abhiyan’

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newspost
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Principal Secretary Panchayati Raj, Manisha Panwar informed that from April 14 to May 5, 2018, ‘Gram Swaraj Abhiyan’ would be carried out in the State. The campaign will begin on April 14 in the form of Social Justice Day, ‘Swachh Bharat Divas’ on April 18, ‘Ujjwala Divas’ on April 20, National Panchayat Raj Divas on April 24, ‘Gram Swaraj Divas’ on 28 April, ‘Ayushman Bharat Divas’ on 30 April, ‘Kisan Kalyan Divas’ on May 2, and ‘Ajeevika Divas’ on May 5.

Presiding over the meeting of concerned departments in the Secretariat, Principal Secretary Manisha Panwar stated that all the concerned departments should immediately provide their action plan to the Additional Secretary, Panchayati Raj, for successful organization of the campaign. She also instructed Nodal Officers to be nominated at State, District and Block Level from the concerned departments. While, in the districts, the Chief Development Officer would nominate a Nodal Officer, at the Block level the District Magistrate would have the authority to nominate any officer as Nodal Officer. Manisha asked concerned  departments to coordinate with District Magistrates.

Principal Secretary Manisha Panwar said,“programs will be organized simultaneously at state, district and block level, so that information about the schemes and their access can reach the beneficiaries. The purpose of this campaign is to achieve social harmony, access to poor rural families, to get feedback on programs being run, doubling the income of farmers, creating livelihood opportunities, and strengthening cleanliness and Panchayati Raj, and to promote public participation.”

To ensure the involvement of masses, involvement of women self-help groups, micro industries, planning and systematic monitoring should be taken care off.

Secretary for Information and Skill Development Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey said that on the occasion of ‘Ajeevika Divas’ (Livelihood Day), a panel discussion on women empowerment and livelihood entrepreneurship, skill development and social development at the state, district and block level should be organized, for which skill vans would tour the districts.

Joint Director of Information Department Ashish Kumar Tripathi was nominated as Nodal Officer for the purpose of meticulous publicity of the event and its documentation as well. The District Information Officers will be responsible for the publicity in the districts.

KiWi: The one-stop-shop for organic food

By
Tania Saili
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2

Dehradun, nestled in the corner of a petrol pump on the busy East Canal Road is what would catch the passers-by eye.  A quaint wooden-hut structure with ‘KiWi’ written in bold green. This KiWi has nothing in common with either the fruit Kiwi or the flightless birds native to New Zealand. KiWi is an innovative outlet, the one-of-its-kind in Dehradun started in October 2017 has grown to become a one-stop-shop for those who are looking for healthy and nutritious food.

‘KiWi’ stands for Ki = Kisan/Farmers; Wi = Window/Opportunity and is the brain child of 29 year old Abhinav Ahluwalia who spent his childhood in the Doon Valley. Today he works with a team of 12-15 young men and women from 9 to 9, 7 days a week promoting a healthy, organic, local and conscious food alternate for his varied customers. Abhinav tells us, “KiWi considers farmers as the backbone of India, and works directly with them at the grass root level to encourage and engage them in organic agriculture.”

Armed with an MBA degree in Rural management from the School of Rural Management Bhubaneshwar, Abhinav has had vast experience of having worked with the best in his field which all came together in setting up KiWi.

Today, the store is a window of opportunity for local farmers to sell their product at better price as well as to get aid and assistance from the Kiwi team when it comes to use of better technique and know-how regarding organic agriculture. On the other hand consumers get to buy fresh and organic fruits, vegetables, pulses, dry fruits, spices, tea, honey, flour, coffee, milk, squash straight from the farm which is processed, cleaned, packed at the facility which is also an ISO 2200 and ISO 9001 certified facility with eco-friendly packaging.

Abhinav adds, “We are also an certified organic processor as per Indian, US and European organic standards. We at Kiwi work to facilitate a direct relationship between the consumer and the farmers, which is beneficial to both.”

After a successful participation at an International Organic Food Exhibition in Germany last year KiWi is now exploring export possibilities as well as working on replicating their success model Pan India as well. We wish the team all the very best in their future endeavour.

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