Annually migratory birds from all over Central Asia make their epic journey to the foothills of Chakrata to Aasan barrage, India’s First Wetland Conservation Reserve. This man-made reservoir plays the perfect host to migratory birds who nest here for the long winter months ahead.

Crossing oceans and landmasses these feathered friends  have for over a decade now, made this pristine lakeside its winter abode from end of October. The chorus of these birds arriving in droves, is a welcome sound and sight for one to behold. . At a closer look, when they glide over the lake,  one will  witness a spectacular riot of colours and buzzing of rarest of rare birds.

Sprawling over one and a half kilometres, Aasan Barrage is a favourite haunt not only for avian lovers but also tired souls looking for a get-away from the hustle-bustle of daily life. Mouli, an Engineer from Bengaluru has been a regular at the lake side, “I live my life in the fast lane. I read about this amazing, serene place and decided to take a break. Its been therapy just sitting here and looking at these beautiful birds.”

Monotonous chirping of birds in the sky and a spring tide of birds gliding over the lake, in such proximity adds charm for bird watchers. Ashok Mitra, from West Bengal, a regular visitor with binoculars strapped around his neck pin-points birds and rattles off names, “Most of all, you get to see Red Crested Pochard, then you see Tufted Pochard, Brahminy ducks in thousands, C. Teal here and there, the rare Greylag, Wigeon or the Pintail Shoveller if you are lucky ! You might get a glimpse of Mallard, Gadwall is you get up-close,” he signs off.

As the sun set’s beyond the ranges, the chirping of the birds rises over the lake. As if, in  symphony they celebrate their home-coming to Aasan Barrage, year after year, to their home away from home.

Dehradun, A kilometer stretch along the Inaamullah, one cannot help but notice close to half a dozen shops selling Election commodities such as flags, banners; batches; scarfs; fliers; flexi-boards and plenty more, you name it, they have it!

Over six thousand candidates will be contesting the upcoming civic body elections in Uttarakhand, and these handful shops are equipped with cloth, bamboo and nothing in plastic, to cater to candidates and their supporters by adding colour to the civic polls.

Thanks to these shops, which mushroom every election season, each nook and corner in far off towns and villages are painted in saffron, green, blues and yellows and whatever else is demanded from them. They rarely say, No!

Talking to Newspost, Balam from Raju Bhai’s store, a third generation shop-owner from Muzzafarnagar who sets up shop in Haridwar and Dehradun each election season, updates us, “for the past forty years and counting we have been setting up shop wherever there have been elections, from MP elections to those of the Gram Panchayat or local civic bodies, we cater to one and all.”

With no time to spare for us, we struggle on to the next shop where we find a Honey Bhai. A dejected Honey who uses his shop as a make shift store for Diwali, Eid tells us, “There is no profit in this work. I experimented with selling election items for the first time and its all been down-hill. I could have made more profit selling crackers this Diwali,” he walks away as a lone customer walks in, and we dont have the heart to keep him away from his two pennies.

Once canvasing comes to an end, people like Raju Bhaiya shut-shop and move to greener pastures (other election bound States) in the country, to add colour to what we call the largest celebration of Democracy.

While the rest of India gears up to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights in a few days from now. In Mussoorie, the grand Savoy Hotel is bringing in the spirit of Christmas,  weeks early with the customary cake mixing ceremony being held in its Grand Ballroom, today.

Keeping its hundred and seventeen year tradition alive the hotel staff; guests along with Author Bill Aitken, Author Ganesh Saili, Actor Pooja Bhatt, Director Mahesh Bhatt, SP Chamoli and other dignitaries from town got together for the customary cake mixing followed by hi-tea.

Christmas is no fun without the traditional cake and making this is no easy task, as those present at the event, found out. Keeping alive the age-old custom of the English, preparations for the delectable Christmas cake begin months in advance, and that is what this head start to the Cake Mixing event at the Savoy was all about.

During the half an hour ceremony, Sabyasachi Dasmahapatra, Executive Chef enthusiastically guided the guests of all ages, to mix an array of twenty five kilograms of ingredients including dry fruits, black currant, apricot, almonds, figs, resins, dates, tutti-frutti soaked in eight and a half litre of spirit such as orange juice, cranberry juice, red wine, dark rum and brandy. The batter will be soaked until the 17th of December when it is set to and be baked, closer to Xmas Day.

For those who haven’t got their hands (wearing gloves, of course) into the traditional cake mixing pot, it is time to gear yourself up to enjoy the fruits of labour and take part in the winter festivities during the holiday season, this December.