One for the ladies: Makarsakranti

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January 15, 2019

Dehradun, Makarsakranti heralds the beginning of a year full of fairs and festivals all over India, and has a special reverence in the hill-state of Uttarakhand.

Today, when the young are forgetting the ways of the ancient, here in the heartland of Pauri district, ‘gendi ki kauthik’ celebrated on Makarsakranti, continues to rekindle & refresh the human spirit.

As dawn breaks over the mountains, droves of crowd can be seen from miles away, making their way down the trails to converge at Tyodoh gaad close to Rishikesh. This traditional spot, tucked away into the forest, away from the maddening crowd, has been for decades, the venue for two days of festivities which begin on Makarsakranti.

Close to two thousand hill-folks from over twenty villages, within a 10 km radius of each other, collect at this very spot year after year. This annual fair is meant specially for daughters & daughter-in-laws who haven’t visited their maternal home off late. For young brides like Krishna, this is as close as she can get to home. A year since marriage and she has been counting days to be at the fair, smiling away waving to her friends Krishna tells us, “ I have come to meet my married sisters and friends from adjoining villages, this is our meeting point, I cant wait to sit with them and talk.“

With lines of wisdom stretched across her forehead, Bhuri Devi gets nostalgic, relishing piping-hot savouries off the pan, she says, ‘I make it a point to come to the fair every year to meet my married daughters and a daughter-in-law married in Rishikesh and then return home, where I live with my cattle and sheep.”

For hill-folks here, fairs like these are a welcome break from the mundane life they live. This is one day on the calendar, when men, women and children turn out in their fineries to shop until dusk, eat traditional sweets, meet up with friends and family whom they had met, perhaps last year, same time, same place.

Keeping the Faith @ minus 13 degrees

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Tania Saili

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January 13, 2019

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Dehradun, Continuous heavy snowfall in the upper reaches of Uttarakhand has brought life to grinding halt. At 3,553 metres, in Kedarnath valley, outdoor reconstruction/restoration work has come to a stand-still due to sub zero temperatures and heavy snow.

In the heart of winter, frost, icy cold winds, sleet, hail and snow in the upper reaches brought mercury plummeting down with a complete white-out. Already four feet of fresh snow has carpeted Kedar valley and its surrounding area, with more snowfall predicted for the region.

When most would look for comfort and warmth of their homes, a motley of seventy men are braving it out in Kedar Valley. For the past two days, the team has been cooped up indoors carrying out restoration work. The dedicated team stationed there are praying to Lord Shiva for clear, blue skies and sunshine so that they can complete the exterior restoration work on the temple and its periphery, before the portals reopen for pilgrimage this season.

Captain, Shovan Singh Bisht, Incharge of Wood Stone Construction Company speaks for all when he says, “we have had continuous snowfall since last night. With sub-zero temperatures people stationed here for reconstruction work are facing a lot of difficulties. As it is very cold, water pipes are frozen, we are melting snow to arrange for drinking water.”

Fighting inclement weather, sub zero temperature, scarcity of drinking water, men between the age group of twenty to fifty-five are making sure the dream vision of Prime Minister Modi is fulfilled on war footing, even if it were at the cost of fighting nature’s wrath .

Australian film industry emerges as silent winner as India wins cricket series

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Tania Saili

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January 11, 2019

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Indian cricket team won a historic five-day series in Australia, but given the number of TV Commercials and brand shoots which moved to Oz to film with the cricketers there, Australia’s film industry has emerged as a surprise winner.

Millions of dollars were spent in Australia on TVC commercials, digital content and stills by international and national Indian brands who relocated to Australia to time their filming with the Indian cricketers’ days off.

Sydney based filmmaker Anupam Sharma, who studied in Dehradun’s St Joseph Academy, and moved to Sydney after his 12th in 1986, tells us, “This is nothing new. Since 2004, every cricket tour is accompanied by a deluge of queries from India. This year the brands spent phenomenally high amounts, thanks to the success of the Indian team and more importantly Virat Kohli.”

Anupam Sharma and his company have pioneered film links between Australia and India since 1998 and have undertaken most of the TV commercials and films with cricketers from both the continents since 2003.

Jannine Barnes, who co-produced an Ad for Audi featuring Virat Kohli, with Melbourne Director Dean Coddrington, observed, “It’s not just Australia but Victoria in particular which has benefited from millions of dollars spent on local crew and cast. Anupam, as a producer, has been bringing Indian films and investment to Victoria for over 21 years and it just proves that we have the best film crew and facilities in Victoria.”

Audi produced the first ever ad for India featuring Virat Kohli through Corner Stone, the agency which represents the cricketer. Virat Kohli also filmed for Boost (energy drink) in Sydney, American Tourister and App stills for Premier League commercial in Melbourne, whilst other cricketers filmed for Red Bull along with several other brands.

Anupam Sharma’s company TEMPLE, is the only Australian film production house associated with high profile of Indian projects in Victoria and Australia since 1998.

Ta Chuma makes grand return thanks to Jubin and Tulsi

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Tania Saili

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January 11, 2019

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Mumbai, For the fans of Jubin Nautiyal and Tulsi Kumar, here is a treat to the ears. The melodious duo released their latest Garhwali folk song, Ta Chuma on YouTube yesterday, which within hours broke all former records.

The original ‘Ke Gavan ki Holi’ was composed and sung by Uttarakhand’s legendary singer Narendra Negi in the late 80’s, and won instant popularity by his fans back then as well.

Under the T-series banner Jubin Nautiyal and Tulsi Kumar who happens to be the sister Bhushan Kumar of T-Series fame created the song for a music property called electro folk. The music has been produced by Aditya Dev and the (hindi) interspersed lyrics were given by Kunaal Verma.

The 3:34 minute song on YouTube opens to the tune of the magnificent traditional instrument of the State rannsingha being played along with the foot-tapping beats of the Dhol and Damau in places.

Jubin Nautiyal, a Doon prodigy since the age of 4, in the world of music is no stranger to Garhwali music either. He has lent his soulful voice to many Garhwali songs which have been well received by his growing number of fans at home and abroad as well.

Last year, Garhwali fusion singer Amit Saagar came out with his version of the song. Priyanka Meher, Suresh Wadekar have also come out with their version of the song which have been popular with their fans as well.

Nursing Dental Hygiene Awareness Camp in PEN India School

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newspost

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January 10, 2019

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Doiwala- An awareness camp on dental hygiene and physical cleanliness was organized in PEN India Foundation’s free educational institute, Pen India School. Nursing students of Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU) along with the nursing students of The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, US jointly conducted the awareness camp.

18 students from The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh,US along with 12 nursing students from Swami Rama Himalayan University visited PEN India School. School students welcomed the American nursing students by giving them our national flag. The students of Himalayan College of Nursing imparted awareness on physical cleanliness and eating habits to the students with the help of posters and skit.

The students from The University of Wisconsin, US, also made the school students aware about the importance of dental hygiene through a puppet show and models. They also distributed toothbrush and toothpaste kits along with stationary and fruits to the school students.

Dr Prakash Keshaviah, the Patron of PEN India Foundation, informed the nursing students about the social causes on which the Foundation is working. Mr Anoop Rawat, the chairperson of PEN India Foundation and Mr Santosh Budakoti, the Director of the Foundation, thanked Dr Sanchita Pugazhendi, Principal, Himalayan College of Nursing for organizing the health awareness camp.

During this the nursing college faculty, Atul Chaudhary, Mr Chandan Kumar, Mr John and Mr Navneet along with volunteer teacher Deepalika Negi, Renu Negi, Poonam Naugain etc were present too.

Leopard checks-into a hotel in Mussoorie

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Tania Saili

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January 10, 2019

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Mussoorie, Leopard sighting in the hill-station, that too in the heart of winters is not uncommon. Yet, CCTV footage of a leopard strolling into the empty hotel lobby in Barlowganj end of town, on the evening of 8th of January, has taken everyone by surprise.

The thirty-second clip shows how a leopard walks in through the hotel’s rear-lawn adjoining the oak forest below the property and saunters through the lobby at 6:48 p.m and exits from the hotel reception. The regal animal walks calmly through the lobby without any fear, looking around. Thankfully, there was no loss to life or property, but the video went viral within hours of being shared on the social media.

A few year’s ago an adult feline was caught on a CCTV camera of the Nirankari Bhawan, on the Camel’s Back road. While, last year, pug marks of a leopard were captured on a mobile camera by a resident living in Guru Nanak Fifth Centenary School.

While incidents like these are one off, but come winters and these majestic creatures move from the higher reaches to lower climes in search of food, making these sightings rather common.

If one was to go by history, then there is little to fear, assures author-photographer, Ganesh Saili, “Camel’s Back burial register recorded that a certain Clarence Thomas Wyatt died in January 1949 aged 33 and the cause of death recorded is ‘accidentally mauled by a panther (feline family).’

None-the-less, what is sad to see is how instead of roaming about the forests, wild animals like this one, have to find pleasure in the concrete jungles that have replaced his habitat by us humans, which might in the near future, give rise to man-animal conflict, for no fault of theirs.

Here’s a link to the CCTV video:

Leopard enters hotel lobby in Mussoorie

CCTV footage of a leopard entering a hotel lobby in Barlowganj, Mussoorie last evening

Geplaatst door Newspost op Woensdag 9 januari 2019

Warming the winters in Mussoorie

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Tania Saili

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January 9, 2019

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Mussoorie, At 7000 feet, as the mercury dips in minus, the Municipal Board in Mussoorie continues the tradition of keeping its citizens warm. From December to end of March, residents in town fight the biting cold, even if its for a few hours, around blazing bonfires at its famous landmarks from firewood distributed by the Board.

Sharp 4:30 p.m. a pick-up truck stacked with Jamun, Mango, Silver Oak, Amaltas trees wood out of the Municipal Board campus. Making its way through town, the pick-up commutes 12 kms one-way, unloading 25 quintal fire wood at various locations. Eager shop-keepers and freezing labourers collect the wood and light a bonfire, every evening come rain or sunshine, or sometimes snow.

The newly elected chairman Anuj Gupta, informs us, “It has been Mussoorie’s tradition that in the heart of winter, we make free firewood or alaoo available to all. From a dozen locations in the past we now distribute wood at thirty-two locations. Those who are working late evening or doing business can enjoy the bonfires on the road.”

For most, this is the closest they come to warmth. Daily labour Manchandra speaks for all those collected around the blazing fire at Landour bazaar, “During winter, this fire wood keeps us warm. Not only labourers like me but even tourists look forward to enjoy the heat of the fire.” Bhagwan Singh Ghansola a resident of the town, reiterates the same, “for years now, this alaoo has fought the cold for us. People from all walks of life, every age group will huddle together, exchange stories, eat peanuts around the bonfire, and when the fire begins to die out, we head back home, with warm hands and plenty of stories.”

Traditions such as these makes one realise, that all is not lost in the heart of winter. The warmth of the bonfire, kindles a spark in the hearts and spirits of those gathered around the bonfires, even if it were for an hour.

Coming March, Big-B begins shooting in Uttarakhand

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Tania Saili

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January 8, 2019

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In the month of March, Uttarakhand will play host to Big-B or aka Amitabh Bachchan who begins to shoot in the hill-state for his first bilingual movie.

Renowned Director turned actor, SJ Suryah and Amitabh Bachchan will share the screen for the very fist time for what is Big-B’s first Tamil-Hindi film. Early December, the unit was in the hill-state for a three-day marathon recee of possible locations in and around Dehradun.

Produced by Uttarakhand born Om Prakash Bhatt, South superstar SJ Suryah, Director T Tamilvannan, Sujay Shankarwar met Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on their visit showing their eagerness to shoot in the hill-state.

An elated Om Prakash Bhatt had said , “This is going to be the first time that Bollywood superstar Amitabh ji would act in a South Indian bilingual movie. The shoot will be for a forty day duration at a stretch in my home state Uttarakhand.”

Satish Sharma, who has been promoting the hill state as a film destination for decades now was happy that the unit had zeroed down on Uttarakhand, “A crew of 250 members along with Big B and South superstar SJ Suryah for over a month, is sure to bring a lot of good publicity to the hill-state.”

The State Government, on its part has promised the unit to provide the requisite support system so that the big banner film could consider going ahead with shooting in Uttarakhand. A mega initiative which will definitely promote the hill-state as a shooting destination.

Speaking to Newspost KS Chauhan Deputy Director, Information Department of Uttarakhand said, “It gives us great pleasure to host Big-B and South Superstar SJ Suryah. The unit has finalised parts of Dehradun and Mussoorie for their upcoming first bilingual movie sometime in March. It is an honour for us.”

Money woes for Nepali workers

By

Tania Saili

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January 5, 2019

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Mussoorie: Our daajoo’s from Nepal (elder-brothers) – who down the years have carried heavy loads, luggage, ration and construction materials up and down the narrow lanes of the hill-station and are now an inseparable part of the place’s history.

Our forty deras or dormitories have been home to thousands of them, as generations of labourers from Nepal have poured into these hills to chip in by working as helpers in shop and stores; security guard or labour at construction sites.

For the past one-week lines of worry have creased the foreheads of the Nepali labour up here. Huddled together, in patches of sunshine, they have been engrossed in serious conversation. News has filtered in from their mountain home that the new Indian currency is not being recognized in Nepal. Understandably, it has left them anxious, concerned and perplexed.

To 64 year-old Man Bahadur, Mussoorie has been his second home – a home away from home. With a spring in his step, he had arrived here as a fourteen year old, following in the footsteps of his father. Every year they would return to their village home in Nepal at Dushera loaded with gifts and cash. Today, Man Bahadur is spending his valuable time running from pillar to post exchanging his money for old Indian currency of hundred or better still a fifty rupee note.

A dejected Man Bahadur tells me: “I have to go home in time for my grandson’s birth! I worked extra months to earn some more and now my family tells me, this money is worth nothing!”

Near the Clock tower, I walk into Panna Bahadur, huddled together with his peer group. He has the same thought:“Ever since the Nepal earthquake, we haven’t been able to rebuild our lives. This change in money has hit us the worst, we don’t know what to do with the money we have, where do we go?”

Shop-owners big and small, hoteliers in town are willing to help. Rahul Mittal, an ever helpful shopkeeper in Landour says: “I insist that shoppers pay me in old Indian currency notes so that I can pass it on to the Nepali men who come asking for the same.”

A small gesture, which I am sure, will go a long way in helping our elder brothers from Nepal. Down the ages they have made life in the hills easier for all of the hill station’s residents.

A web-series on Ruskin Bond’s ghost stories

By

Tania Saili

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January 4, 2019

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Mussoorie, Readers of three generations who grew up on a staple diet of Ruskin Bond’s stories are in for a treat. A dozen of ghost stories penned by the author are being made into an upcoming web–series for ZEE5 entitled ‘Parchayee: Ghost Stories by Ruskin Bond.’

Banijay Asia and Opus Communication, based on haunting tales by the author, are producing the web-series. Parchayee promises to have the exact recipe that makes the audience sit on the edge of the chair, as they enjoy the gripping tale of mystery, murder and the unknown, come alive on the screen.

The Wind on Haunted Hill, The Ghost in the Garden, The Overcoat, The Face in the Dark, Wilson’s Bridge and plenty more short-stories by Bond, will be skilfully translated onto the screen by duo-ace Directors VK Prakash and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury.

Recently, Business Head, Manish Aggarwal gave a statement to the media stating, that they were introducing, “a fresh concept with an edgy and mysterious theme for viewers through this.”

Speaking to Newspost Ruskin Bond said, “ I have become net savvy or digitally savvy as they say, learning how web series work, it should be interesting for the audience, I am sure.” Bond also informed the team of how, at present, a unit was shooting in Shimla for his short-story ‘Face In the Dark,’ episode in and around Bishop Cotton School, Shimla where the author spent his initial years schooling.

The first episode of the web-series premiers on January 15, 2019, so do stay tuned in for more!

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