The artist’s day out with the dead

An intense week turns out to be even more burdensome if it ends with the death of someone very dear. Though I’m not a linguist, I doubt if there is an equivalent to the Bengali term atmar attiyo in English. No matter what language we speak, in a lifetime, we develop relationships of huge magnitude with people.
Day of the Dead festival, Mexico, remembers the departed. The incidence of death turns even more momentous when the departed is someone who has been adored by one and all — the magnanimity of their heart and spirit is so overpowering that it spares no one of their magical presence. Such people are rare and their departing creates a vacuum in our lives.
After spending a day doing tasks like pestering unwilling doctors to pay a visit to declare the person dead at early hours of the morning, to washing away the sour taste it leaves in your entire being after bargaining over bakshish with the dom to hand over the umbilical ashes, you are completely drained. There is little time left to pray for the departed soul.
At the magical hour of godhuli, we arrived at the riverbank to set the departed soul free on its eternal journey. The amazing golden light that spread across the width of the river’s bosom through the light mist seemed to wash away the boundaries of life and death.

As we stood facing the river, the dancing tidal waves rolled in the yellow light on its wings up till the steps of the ghat. Strangely, I seemed to be deaf to the blazing traffic I negotiated with mourning aloofness, and the chaos of the people inside the crematorium. Instead, a distant memory surfaced from the depths of the waters — the strumming of a Mexican mariachi band heard years ago in Oaxaca on Day of the Dead.
While most cultures shoo away the bodiless, the ancient Aztecs welcomed back souls of the dead, attracting them with the decorations made with orange Mexican marigolds. Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is the most important festival in Mexico even today. It focuses on remembering the departed souls of loved ones in a spirit of celebration.
The three-day long celebration is planned for throughout the year, including gathering of gifts to be offered to the dead. The Mexican graveyards and personal home altars are decorated with gifts, food and drinks, including the muchloved Tequila, to entice the spirits of the dead back to earth.
As the strumming of the Mexican guitar and violin got intense inside my head, I peered into the depths of the river, wanting to reach into its womb. Just then, an image appeared from below the water’s surface. It gradually gained the clarity of a dark face. Was it an immersed Durga, floating away? No. It was far too lively to be that of a pratima’s.
It was the face of the person whose soul we just set free. It had appeared from the dead to smile for one last time.

One of the oldest martial dances of India, Raibenshe is on the verge of extinction in Bengal. State governments have done little to preserve the folk art

One of the oldest martial dances of India, Raibenshe is on the verge of extinction in Bengal. State governments have done little to preserve the folk art

Raibenshe, the popular martial dance of the lathiyals (private militia) who were employed by the zamindars of undivided Bengal to protect their fiefdoms in 19th and early-20th century, is on its deathbed. Practiced by the devotees of Shiva, this art form has no takers now.
Raibenshe, meaning ‘royal bamboo’, is a folk martial dance performed by males only. It was once very popular all over Bengal. Now, it is performed only in Birbhum, Burdwan and some parts of Murshidabad district in the state.
This dance involves vigorous athletic movements of the body and rapid bamboo stick work, called araibansh, from where its name originated.
Performers enact episodes from mythology, that include drawing a bow, throwing a spear, and show speedy swordplay too. The dancers wear nupur (brass anklet) on their right ankle and the martial dance recital is accompanied with dhols (drums) and kanshis (cymbals).
Gurusaday Dutt, the celebrated ICS officer who came across this art in Birbhum in 1930s, first documented it in a book. He collected the bolbani (narration) of Raibenshe from East Bengal, cultural activist Khirul Anam informed.
When Dutt was the district magistrate of Birbhum, he introduced brotochari (an exercise regimen) and Raibenshe among localities here. These were to make the children and youth physically fit and disciplined. An employee of the British government, he used these art forms to strengthen India’s freedom struggle. He believed that without fitness and discipline, one couldn’t achieve anything.
Raibenshe was principally practiced among the lower class of the society. Gradually, they started performing it in functions and festivals to earn money. “In fact, at that time it was a status symbol to have a Raibenshe performance in functions,” Anam said.

Meanwhile, there were many who criticised Raibenshe. For instance, writer Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay wrote: Dadar biye jemon temon/ Didir biye Raibenshe / Aai dhoka-dhok mod khese… (Dada could marry, no matter how/ But a Raibenshe is must in Didi’s marriage/ Come, let’s celebrate.)
Today, a few villagers of Bonogram, Murundi and Charkolgram of Nannor Police Station in Birbhum are practicing this martial dance. “I don’t know how long I would be able to do it,” said Sunil Thunder, a renowned master of Raibenshe who lives in Charkolgram village.
Thunder said, “This martial dance requires immense practice and outstanding body fitness. Younger generation are not willing to go through this regime. There are 108 types of dance format and style in Raibenshe. All are tough,” he said. Above all, this traditional art is suffering due to monetary constraints. State governments have not encouraged and promoted Raibenshe. During practice, many artists get injured and fracture their limbs. But they don’t get treatment due to lack of money.
“I have broken my limbs twice — first my leg and then my hand. My mother tells me to stop doing Raibenshe,” said Bipad Thunder, a Class VII student, who is practicing Raibenshe for the last three years. Thunder informed that a performer earns R300 from a function inside West Bengal and
R600 outside it. District information and cultural officials admit Raibenshe practitioners are facing exis
tential and financial problems due to lack of government initiatives.
“At times, we have given them programmes so that they could earn some money. But I must admit that is not enough,” said Surya Banerjee, sub-divisional information and cultural officer, Bolpur.

Tabo monastery, founded in 996 AD by the ruler Yeshe O’d in Tabo village in the Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh

An escape to a Buddhist monastery 

Tabo monastery, founded in 996 AD by the ruler Yeshe O’d in Tabo village in the Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh, is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in India.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Tabo Monastery in Himachal Pradesh. Located on the banks of Spiti river, a tributary of Sutlej, at an altitude of 3280 metres, it is bordered by steep cliffs. At this remote location, a quite outing can be good for the soul.
There are nine temples in the compound of the monastery, which were built between the late-10th and 17th centuries. There are four beautifully decorated stupas too.
The main temple at Tabo originally consisted of an entry hall that led to the assembly hall. It was considered sacred because of the presence of portraits of Yeshe O’d and his two sons, Nagaraja and Devaraja, on the south wall. This also served as the temple of the protective deity Dorje Chenmo.
The temple now has a new entry hall with paintings dating back to the late-19th and early-20th century. The main deity, the fourfold figure of Vajradhatu-Vairocana, said to be one of the five spiritual sons of Adibuddha, the self-created primordial Buddha, is located at the back of the assembly hall. The larger than life statue - showing him turning the wheel of law - is placed about two metres above the ground level.

After the assembly hall, the temple of Dromton is the largest temple in the complex and contains many wall paintings. The Golden temple, once layered in gold, has outstanding murals covering the walls and ceilings. The Maitreya temple has a carved stone column base containing the figure of a lion. The main icon is a large seated image of Maitreya that is over six metres (20 feet) high.
The Initiation temple is where the initiation to monastic life takes place. The wall facing the door has a huge painting of Vairocana surrounded by eight Bodhisattvas. Mahakala Vajra Bhairava temple, called 'temple of horror’, contains the protective deity of the Gelukpa sect. It contains fierce deities and is only entered after protective meditation.
Religious festivals such as Chakhar, dedicated to peace and happiness, are celebrated usually in September or October with lot of singing and dancing.
Those visiting the monastery can stay at the Sarai building. On the monastery premises, there are several restaurants that serve tourists local delicacies.
The best time to visit Tabo Monastery is between May and October. The nearest bus stand is Kaza, which can be reached from Delhi via Shimla or Manali. Regular buses ply from Delhi to Shimla and Manali. One can also take a train to Chandigarh/Kalka and then a cab to Shimla. Direct flights are available till Shimla and Bhuntar, from where it’s a two-hour ride to Manali.

 

The Nepalese barbecue that will tickle your taste buds MUST EAT IN KATHMANDU

MUST EAT IN KATHMANDU

Sekuwa
Every nation in the world has a specialty barbecue of its own. When travelling, trying ng the local version is a must for the trip to be complete, believes Chef Vikram Ganpule. “The Nepalese version is called sekuwa and gets its flavour from szechuan pepper,” says Ganpule, executive chef, Hyatt Regency Kolkata. His over-three-years stay in the Nepalese capital made him feel “people no longer associate momo with Nepal, though it originated there and is available in a large variety. From pork, beef, chicken to vegetarian, no occasion is complete without momo.” Unlike momo – whose origin is often thought to be northeast India – peopl people outside Nepal are not

fam familiar with sekuwa.

RU RUM-N-BARBECUE The snack is best had with rum according to G Ganpule. “The joints that sell sekuwa also sell alcoho alcohol. Khukhri rum is locally brewed and has a nice taste. In winter, I prefer it with rum, in summers a chilled beer can be had too,”
says Ganpule.

GOAT-SOME AFFAIR Best had in winter, sekuwa is sold widely throughout the year. The chef says most of the joints selling sekuwa use about four to five goats a day. “Fresh boneless chunks of meat is marinated, flavoured with scechuan and a hint of other spices, chilli paste and lemon juice and then barbecued. You’d find one sekuwa joint at every street corner. The road outside airport has lines of eateries called sekuwa joints, but they also sell other stuff,” says Ganpule. It is garnished with onions and lemon juice before being served.

HEALTH QUOTIENT Made of red meat, this starter is not very healthy. “Sekuwa also has more fat than Indian barbecues since they don’t do away with the meat fat like we do. However, this fat adds a delicious juiciness to the kebab. When barbecued, the meat tends to dry up. Thus, keeping the fat allows better cooking. “In the city, we add yoghurt or cheese and at times a little fat, to get the sup-
pleness,” says Ganpule. WHEN IN KATHMANDU... Apart from trying the host of vegetarian and nonvegetarian momos while in Nepal, Ganpule suggests gundak as a musthave sweetmeat. “Made of khoya, this is available in speciality sweetmeat shops and tastes like toffee fudge. You must have it.”

Trek to Beas Kund is an exciting blend of sacred and gorgeous landscapes

Trek to Beas Kund is an exciting blend of sacred and gorgeous landscapes

Famous mountaineer Greg Child said ‘somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb’. Trekking destinations in the mountains and venturing into the unknown have been forever intriguing to outdoor-adventure enthusiasts looking for that ultimate adrenaline rush, as well as for the devoted nature lovers who find it fascinating to witness nature in its true element.
2 Contrary to popular belief, trekking is not something that is beyond most city dwellers with sophisticated and contemporary lifestyles, or for that matter anyone else. Though the trail is generally meant to be challenging, the key is to select a destination with a relatively easier one (or one with a suitable level of difficulty) meant for beginners, to start with. One such trekking destination is Beas Kund. I went on this trek, as a pilot project, with a group of friends in the second week of June.
A place of historical significance (legend has it that sage Vyasa, the author of the great epic Mahabharata, meditated here), I found Beas Kund to be one of the most beautiful places in the Dhauladhar range (literally, the ‘White range’) of the mighty Himalayas. Besides being regarded as sacred, Beas Kund is where the river Beas originates from and offers spectacular views of the nearby-located Shitidhar, Ladakhi, Friendship and Hanuman Tibba peaks. One of the most alluring short treks through the Solang Valley, the trail took us through an expanse of picturesque mountain landscapes, along the banks of the river Beas.

Manali, the beautiful hill station nestled in the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh, was the start of, what turned out to be, a ‘legen-wait-for-it-dary’ trek. Longdistance travellers have an option to break their journey here, and may choose to stay at a hotel in Manali for a day or so before starting the trek. In the morning, we took a cab to Solang to begin the first leg of the journey on foot.
Gradually, ascending from the Solang Valley for around 8 km, we followed the river Beas, many times crossing the stream from one side to the other, and finally reaching Dhundi. This quaint little mountain hamlet had nothing to offer save scenic beauty and resonating silence; Dhundi is another alpine meadow full of wild flowers. Since there are no places to stay or eat, one needs to carry with them good-quality y tents, sleeping bags and mattresses s in their rucksacks, as also all essential sential food items (like vegetables, bles, dals, rice, spices, Maggi, gi, chocolates/energy bars, s, namkeen, glucose, milk k powder, tea bags and muesli to name a few), utensils, cutlery and preferably a lightweight multi-fuel stove for cookking. By evening we had ad pitched our tents and set up camp for overnight stay.
Morning greeted us well. After preparing our meals and interacting with a few locals, we pushed on for Bakarthach, which is a high-altitude meadow and literally means ‘shepherd’s field’. The six-km-long trek took us over loosely held boulders and moraines of a dying glacier at places. We learnt from the locals that these enchanting meadows are popular pastures for the Gaddis – a hardy nomadic tribe of shepherds. Flocks of sheep were all around, grazing peacefully in this pastoral idyll. The sun-and-wind-swept meadows were a feast for our senses.
An early start to the next day and a short climb up the ridge through Bhoj Patra got us to Beas Kund. Bhoj Patra gets its name from the fact that the area has a lot of bhojpatra (birch) trees. We spent quite some time at th the glacial mountain lake of B Beas Kund – sheltered by a dome-shaped stone formation – and later headed back to Bakarthach. It took us another day to descend to Solang, from w where we made our way ba back to Manali in a cab. S Such a holiday experience come comes with a fair share of preparation and informed planning, right from arranging for camping gear and equipment, medical supplies and foodstuff, to navigating and, most importantly, acclimatisation (the golden rule here is to ‘climb high, sleep low’). Alternatively, one can go with an adventure outfit or agency that takes care of all logistics, provides equipment and also offers services of certified guides, cooks and porters.

Freeing herself

HANISHA VASWANI, 31

Senior manager for the digital arm of a PR firm
SATISH BATE/HT H anisha Vaswani has stopped using her car to commute between work and home and has cut down on air travel, opting for trains even over long distances. She shops for clothes only once a year. She does not own a cellphone or computer, using only basic versions of these gadgets provided by her office. Having fine-tuned her purchases over the past year, Vaswani is now trimming her consumption further, buying second-hand books or borrowing from libraries rather than ordering books online. She only buys home furnishings once a year, usually restricting her choices to locally made eco-friendly cane and straw items.

WHY: Vaswani says that, by her late 20s, as the thrill of being able to spend and buy began to fade, she started to feel like she was losing touch with who she was and what was important to her. “So, I decided to return to a simpler, more meaningful life,” she says. “Most of the time you are just keeping up with others’ expectations. After a certain age and designation, people expect you to drive a car, buy things and always take the plane. I didn’t want to be making my decisions based on peer pressure.”
THE IMPACT: “I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off me,” she says. “I am free from always caring about how I am perceived. It is liberating to think that you are being judged purely on your thoughts, ideas and professionalism.”
Vaswani now spends her commute reading on the metro, rather than swearing at the traffic while driving. “I'm even finding more time to talk to my mother on the phone,” she says.

Coming full circle

AJAY CHATURVEDI, 39

Banker-turned-entrepreneur
SANJEEV VERMA/HT A jay Chaturvedi gave up a hefty salary, gourmet dinners, expensive vacations, his BMW and other trappings of success, and returned to India from the US in 2006 to set up HarVa, a rural company which also has the first women-only-run BPO.

Where once he experimented with cuisines at fine-dining restaurants, Chaturvedi has given up alcohol and meat, and turned satvik. He no longer buys branded clothes. Late-night partying has given way to early-morning meditation. He travels to the Himalayas every six months to “switch off and catch my breath”.
WHY: From Dehradun, Chaturvedi grew up in a large joint family that grew its own food and went to the grocery only for milk. When he moved to the US to study and work, he says his life became all about “absorbing the material world”. “I had moulded myself according to others’ expectations... I didn’t know who I was,” he says. “I decided I wanted to do something meaningful. I wanted to keep my eye on my real goal — happiness.”
THE IMPACT: “From an external journey — literally and metaphorically — mine has become an internal one,” he says. He spends his leisure time reading books like the Bhagvad Gita. He's started travelling less for business, more for self-fulfillment, occassionally exchanging notes on Advaita and Judaism with a Jewish scholar in Kedarnath and learning to regulate his breath in Uttarakhand with his guru. “I believe I had to experience all that I did to be where I am now,” he says. Life has come a full circle for Chaturvedi — back home.

Consuming less to create

VIKRAM SOOD, 32

Co-founder of a branding and marketing firm
KALPAK PATHAK/HT Over the past year, Vikram Sood has gradually changed the way he eats, shops, travels and decorates. Every purchase, he says, is now based on a simple question: Is that object a need or a want? For instance, he buys clothes and shoes only as replacements. They are no longer branded; instead, he often gets local tailors and cobblers to make them. The number of times he eats out has dropped from about two a week to two a month. Instead, he now cooks at home, using seasonal produce. Sood also makes his own furniture and light fittings, using recycled materials.

WHY: “In order to have more time to create than consume,” says Sood. “And in order to spend my free time doing better things than eating, drinking and shopping.”
THE IMPACT: Sood says he is now more relaxed and content. He spends two or three hours every day giving back — using his skills to advise charitable organisations on how to become economically sustainable — and yet finds that he has more free time than before because he no longer spends hours on useless banter at pubs and bars. He spends this free time on engaging and creative hobbies such as writing and working with wood. Finally, says Sood, he is now fitter because he is eating healthy, homecooked meals.

Big B performed Maha Aarti at Lalbaugcha Raja

BAPPA TELLS BACHCHAN: PUDHCHYA VARSHI LAUKAR YA

India’s biggest star’s visit to the country’s biggest Ganpati sparked off a crowd frenzy, offering them a double darshan — of their two idols. Big B performed Maha Aarti at Lalbaugcha Raja as part of the Times Utsav Moorti Sanman contest. Here’s what he expressed soon after

    The Ganesh at Lalbaug is perhaps the largest and most visited during the festival of Ganapati. A newspaper quoted that a couple of days back, there were 700,000 that visited the symbol of prosperity, protection, goodwill and tiding. The ‘arti’ at night, around 8.30, is special and hundreds congregate at the location in Parel to be a part of it and witness this most reverent moment. Like all other years in the past, I visited the auspicious moment. Thousands upon thousands of devotees and the grandeur of the divinity. The single-toned concentrated attention to the large figure of Ganesh, by all. No distractions of celebrity and chaos. Just a most pious moment despite the heat and sweat and the difficult breathing conditions crowded within. The blessings, the feet, the flames from the ‘arti’ and that unbreakable faith that encompasses all. There is a sense of purity. Of fulfilment and ‘shanti’. Of brotherly and sisterly community feel, where all gather in one sentiment — children and the elders with devotion on their lips.
    What a wonderful world has been created through religious belief. How beautiful and meaningful the scriptures of the masters of faith — each word written and created through some spiritual learning. How binding this force that believes it. How uniform their acts, how continuous their rituals. How disciplined the followers, concentrated with but one aim, to worship the heavenly bearings of those extra and supernatural bodies that studied and left us with their celestial genius.
    And… how varied today, its interpretations and how violent today, the actions to protect its veracity. The misuse of sentiment and belief; of taking its most potent force and turning it on its head!! This is not what the divine designed, yet it remains with us and divides us.
    I visit the temple, the mosque, the church with similar belief — of sublimating myself before that unknown power and force of each, always in awe of their structure and the godly environment that pervades. The theist human silences itself in its presence, perhaps the only place where it does, without question. Where it seeks, asks, thanks for deliverance. And getting it, returns in stronger belief and devotion, servile in disposition.
    And, if there is someone ‘up there’ reading and listening to us, may it guide us on a path of peace and its sanctity. Of a brotherhood of likeness. Of a combination that propagates togetherness; away from evil thought and deed, from jealousy and discord and from violent thought…

Shankar Mahadevan and Amitabh Bachchan

Big B enters the pandal

During the aarti

‘Tourism & Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development’

‘Tourism & Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development’

Mention Indian Tourism and the Taj Mahal is top of the mind recall, says educationist Bharat Malik. “Last week, a group of environmentalists suggested there was a need to cap the number of tourists visiting the Taj, pointing out that increasing numbers of visitors was causing damage. This brings out the aspect of sustainability – the purpose of a tourist attraction is to be viewed by tourists. If we start restricting the number of visitors, does it make sense – alternately, does damage to the Taj on account of large number of visitors stand true on the question of sustainable development?” he asks.
    Malik points out that a recent court order has meant that core areas of some tiger sanctuaries are off limits for ‘tiger safaris’. “The same question comes up here – how do we enable these tourist attractions to ‘survive’ human interaction, how do we power sustainable development?”
    From Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park where one is witness to wild cats interacting with human habitat, to ancient monuments which suffer from poor maintenance and upkeep, the question is: can tourism also power sustainable development?
    If this year’s theme leads us to learn more about the sustainable energy initiatives in place in the tourism sector, further debate what more should be done and advance the use of sustainable energy in tourism, the answer may just be ‘yes’.

A TASTE OF SCOTLAND

A TASTE OF SCOTLAND

    As an old Scottish saying has it, 'guid gear comes in sma' bouk'(good things come in small packages). And despite its small size, Scotland certainly has many treasures crammed into its compact territory.
    If you desire a taste of Scotland, let Cosmos plan your trip. A fiveday 'A Taste of Scotland' vacation; is a fantastic option for anybody who has time to spare for a wholesome experience of the Scottish highlands and its people. What more, you get to enjoy an escorted tour which takes care of all your hassles. With experienced tour directors, local guides and a varied multi-ethnic group of travellers, you will be guaranteed a travel affair full of insight.
    Edinburgh is one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Experienced tour directors show you around various locales such as the Old Town's picturesque jumble of medieval tenements piled high along the Royal Mile. Its turreted skyline strung between the black, then the
200-year-old "New Town's" neat grid of neoclassical respectability, with all its columns and capitals, porticoes and pediments, the city offers a constantly changing perspective.
    One of the best ways to see the city is on foot and since it is small enough one can easily do it on their own. Head for the famous Rose Street, where in the nineteenth century there were supposedly almost 50 breweries in the vicinity and although most of them have gone, you will find a beer bar serving you some delicious local fish and chips!
    A visit to St. Andrews and your faith in God will be restored with the sight of pilgrims flocking to this the open-air cathedral. The Old Course is still there in its entire hypnotic royal-and-ancient splendour. Explore Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games for over 900 years; then to the Royal Deeside, where the Queen is an annual visitor. Later on, cross over to the battlefield of Culloden Moor with its memories of Bonnie Prince Charlie, and leave via the picturesque Inverness and head for the Highland destination.
    A drive along the "Bonnie Banks" of Loch Lomond with its scenic highlights is the perfect gateway to Glasgow, Scotland's great cultural city. As you discover the largest city in Scotland, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that even though Glasgow may not have Edinburgh's stately good looks, but as the culture capital, it has personality to spare. Thearchitectural legacy of the city was swamped with cuttingedge style bars, world-class restaurants, and a hedonistic club culture that brings out most people's nocturnal instincts.
    Enjoy the history, culture and spectacular landscape of this country as it unfolds before you, with this on-the-go vacation by Cosmos. Cosmos operates every week and prices start at US$ $729 per person on twin share basis. This tour is based on 3-star hotels throughout and included transportation by deluxe coach, extensive sightseeing, all breakfasts and two dinners. For more information on Cosmos vacations visit www.cosmosvacations.in, and to book a vacation, contact india@globusandcosmos.com or call 1800 425 3575.

ARE ‘TOURISM’ AND ‘SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT’ SELF-CONTRADICTORY?

ARE ‘TOURISM’ AND ‘SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT’ SELF-CONTRADICTORY?

ON WORLD TOURISM DAY, KAMLESH PANDYA LOOKS UP THE CHALLENGE OF ‘TOURISM & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY: POWERING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT’

    Atithi Devo Bhava – the guest is like God. Nothing expresses the hidden potential of Indian tourism better than this ancient term, and foreign tourists visiting ‘Incredible India’ have experienced Indian hospitality across locations where nature is fast being over-run by human habitat.
    World Tourism Day (WTD) 2012 is being celebrated on September 27 this year, with the theme, ‘Tourism & Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development’, effectively it invites stakeholders in tourism, from governments to businesses and tourists themselves, to learn more about the sustainable energy initiatives in place in the tourism sector, debate what more should be done and advance the use of sustainable energy in tourism. "Sustainable Tourism is emerging as a popular trend in the tourism industry. It is a process that takes care of tomorrow as well as today, by conserving resources to ensure sustainability of the destination,” says Rajeev Wagle, MD, Kuoni India. Indian travellers are becoming conscious about their contribution towards conserving and preserving the environmental and cultural heritage of the destination visited, says Wagle.
    Speaking about World Tourism Day, Lubna Sheerazi who heads Oman Tourism’s India office, says the purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. “The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals,” she adds.
    “Tourism is leading the way in some of the world’s most innovative sustainable energy initiatives,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai in his official WTD message. “Energy efficient upgrades to aircraft, the shift to renewable fuel for aviation and cruise liners, energy technology solutions in hotels, as well as countless other initiatives are placing tourism at the forefront of the clean energy transformation. These initiatives are crucial for sustainable development,” said the UNWTO Secretary General. These help to cut tourism’s carbon emissions, enable businesses to grow, create jobs and bring modern and affordable energy services to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities – goals in line with the ‘2012 UN International Year of Sustainable Energy for All.’
    The WTD 2012 campaign includes the annual WTD photo competition, the Twitter competition and access to resources on the relationship between tourism and energy. “This year, UNWTO has also inviting travellers to visit the ‘online energy school’, as part of Hotel Energy Solutions, a UNWTOinitiated project designed to help hoteliers cut their carbon emissions and costs,” says Nehal Jani, who runs a London-based travel services agency. “The launch of the WTD campaign came after governments, the private sector, civil society and other groups meeting at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) committed US$ 323 billion to achieving sustainable energy for all by 2030,” he adds.Official WTD celebrations take place on 27 September in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain, and include a Think Tank on the 2012 theme with the participation of top experts and policy makers in the field of tourism and energy. “The Think Tank will be one of hundreds of events taking place around the world in celebration of WTD,” adds.
    Wagle points out how the ‘Incredible India’ and the ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ campaigns were brilliant initiatives which went a long way towards supporting sustainable tourism in India. “It is the best of the two worlds, ancient and modern - both these campaigns made tourists aware of India's rich cultural heritage and also promoted India as a safe tourist destination," he adds.
    A maturing Indian travel market is one more trend that is emerging, says Manoharan Periasamy, Tourism Malaysia Director. “The Indian Outbound Travel Market is expected to increase at a compounded growth rate of over 25 per cent over the period 2010 to 2015. With a population of more than 1.1 billion and GDP growth of more than 8 per cent per
annum, the country offers enormous potential for future growth in outbound travel,” he adds.
    UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai had called on all tourism stakeholders to ‘play their part’ in reaching the United Nations goal of achieving sustainable energy for all by 2030. With growing focus on tourism powering sustainable development, it might just make a paradigm shift in how tourism impacts the environment!

The tourism industry is indeed well placed to drive home the message of ecofriendly tourism. For instance, hotels can use energy saving light bulbs, promote conservation of water in kitchens, bathrooms and use solar energy as much as possible. Let September 27 be the day for the tourism fraternity to initiate concrete goals-oriented plans to contribute towards sustainability.
    - Amal Purandare
    head, India operations, Arzoo.com 

Come 2013, Andheri mandal to make, sell eco-Ganesha

Come 2013, Andheri mandal to make, sell eco-Ganesha

To bring in authentic green Ganesh idols in the adulterated market, the Kranti Mitra Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal (KMSGM) in Andheri has decided to set up a workshop where eco-friendly idols will be made and sold. The workshop will be set up six months before the Ganesh festival next year. “We have decided to call a sculptor from the Konkan region. This will help curb cases of cheating vendors and plaster of Paris (PoP) idols being sold in the disguise of eco-friendly Ganeshas,” a KMSGM member said. KMSGM was the first mandal in city to point out that an idol’s height cannot be used as an excuse to not use environment-friendly material. Konkan artist Pramod Palav has designed a 21-foot-tall Ganpati idol with shaadu maati (clay), and mandal office-bearers claim this idol dissolves within 15 to 20 minutes of immersion.”Making such tall idols with eco-friendly material is not a problem. I have proved this twice. Their safety is also not an issue if they are made carefully. But very few artists can make such idols. Most of them use PoP,” Palav said. When he was in the city three weeks ago to give finishing touches to his idol, Palav visited some workshops to enquire about the material they use. “They showed me idols made of PoP and said these were the eco-friendly models. When I pointed this out, they argued with me,” Palav said. “To fulfil devotees’ demand for eco-friendly idols, mandals are ready to set up workshops.” Inspired by the KMSGM green idol, some of the nearest mandals approached the KMSGM officer bearer for details of the idol and expressed their desire to install similar idols next year. “People need to be more aware of how polluting PoP idols are and actively participate in bringing about a change,” said Sanjay Deotale, the environment minister. According to KMSGM treasurer Abhishek Vyas, they have been approached by six mandals so far. Ganeshotsav is about people’s devotion to god as well as respecting the environment. “It’s not just a short-term benefit, but will also help preserve the environment for the next generation,” said Rajiv Kumar Mittal, secretary of the pollution control board. “It’s important that everyone consciously switches over to environment-friendly celebrations of major festivals.” An artist from central Mumbai, Kedar Dahibaokar said, “This year, I got orders for 15 eco-Ganeshas. People should approach us well before the festival as making eco-friendly idols takes time. When devotees come two or three weeks before the festival, we don’t any choice but to make PoP idols.”

Jumping off planes or diving with sharks and crocs is not about daredevilry; instead, it is a matter of overcoming hidden phobias

FACE YOUR FEARS

Jumping off planes or diving with sharks and crocs is not about daredevilry; instead, it is a matter of overcoming hidden phobias

There comes a time in your life, when you have to choose between turning the page and closing the book. For me, that moment came when I was sitting with my feet dangling outside a plane flying over Cape Town, South Africa in 2010. I was at a height of 9,000 feet and readying to jump out. My hands shook and my only thought was, ‘will I land safely?’ Just that morning, I had switched my phone off to psychologically prepare myself for the jump and avoid taking calls from my mom, who had already asked me to reconsider my decision, several times
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Crocodile cage diving The jump went off well and I didn’t become yet another part of some statistic of adrenaline junkie victims that the world scoffs at. Ever since, I have tried my hand at parasailing, bungee jumping, cage shark/crocodile diving, ostrich riding (laugh at your own peril), white water rafting and more. The most common questions I’ve encountered when I’ve recounted these tales to friends and coworkers are ‘don’t you get scared?’ and ‘was it easy?’

Yes, it was scary and it wasn’t easy. But that’s not the point. Faceless horrors lie waiting in the silent darkness of night. Phobias haunt us day in and out. But it doesn’t take some phenomenal skill to overcome them and attempt adventure sports. Nor is it an act of bravery. There is an element of risk involved, but we live in India — we laugh in the face of danger on a daily basis as we take shortcuts across the railway tracks, drive through knee-deep water in the rains or commute by hanging outside a train compartment.
At least with adventure sports, you have professional help! So just keep a few pointers in mind and then sit back and enjoy the ride.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE IPHONE 5

What the iPhone 5 needed was ONE thing to make it completely stand out. Maybe in the iPhone 5S?

LET’S SET a few ground rules before I start this week’s column.


1. I am not an Apple hater (in fact I have said this publicly – that they are the best technology curators in the world).
2. All this blind brand fan following and behaving like brats and overreacting every time you hear one small thing against your favourite company is getting a little immature.
3. It’s time to pit real technology against real technology and leave emotions, sentimentality and jaundiced prejudice out of the equation. Now that we’ve set the ground rules – let’s hit the main story.

AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION
Unless you were living under a rock or were in a coma, you would know that the iPhone 5 has been announced. But for the first time ever, Apple released an iPhone into a market that was very different from before. Competition is at its highest, other brands are selling in huge numbers, and the iPhone 4S sales numbers took a small hit in the last few months. Now merge that with the fact that the iPhone business contributes more than half of Apple’s revenue and the majority of its profits. Add to it that this would be more or less the first real product without Steve Jobs’ fingerprints on it. The iPhone 5 announcement was a watershed event for Apple. It needed to dazzle, it needed to shock, it needed to get jaws to drop (hard!)
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DID IT?
It didn’t! Don’t get me wrong. The iPhone 5 is a great phone. It ticks everything it needs to. It’s thinner, it’s lighter, it’s got a faster processor, it’s got a bigger screen, it’s improved its optical capabilities, it’s got a future-ready new connector, it takes Siri to the next level, it’s got super fast LTE (Long Term Evolution), it’s got a new unibody design, it’s got better battery life – what it doesn’t have is a killer feature. This is a problem Apple has created for itself. When Apple announces a product – expectations are sky high – we expect Apple to do an Apple on us. To come up with one out-of-the box feature that makes the whole world go – ‘wow, why didn’t we think of that!’ And that’s where the iPhone 5 didn’t deliver.

HEAD TO HEAD
Let’s compare the iPhone with what I think are its closest rivals and see where it stands. (refer to chart below).

HOW THE BIG THREE FARE

As you can see from the chart, the iPhone 5 holds up well to the competition. But within that feel-good statement lies the problem.

A GOOD PROBLEM?
I predict that the Apple will sell more iPhone 5s in the next three months than any phone has ever sold on the planet. So, since when is that a problem? It’s a problem when we can only say that for quarter one and two. iPhone 4S did prove that great competition and fantastic new phones can significantly dent the impregnable iPhone sales numbers too. The iPhone 5 with good (but no killer) features needs to last a FULL 12 months. With almost 15 new supersmart phones coming out in the next three months – this could be a very bumpy ride for this sixth generation mobile device from Apple.

THE MISSING CHARGE
What the iPhone 5 needed was ONE thing to make it completely stand out. For me, that would have been wireless charging. That is the future of charging and in Apple’s hands – the solution would have been elegant, simple and would just work. That would have forced every single manufacturer across the world to bring in wireless charging as a standard and our lives would have changed forever.
Alas, it wasn’t to be. Maybe in the iPhone 5S?

WHEN I WENT DOWN UNDER Now that I’ve discovered the new vibrant, sophisticated, and multicultural Australia, I’m certainly going back

WHEN I WENT DOWN UNDER

Now that I’ve discovered the new vibrant, sophisticated, and multicultural Australia, I’m certainly going back

THERE IS an ad running on most English language TV channels these days promoting the virtues of Australia as a tourist destination. For most of us – with no experience of life Down Under – the ad is something of a revelation: wildlife, beaches, reefs, canyons, massages, fine dining, small planes flying past beautiful locations and spectacular cityscapes. There are no large men in shorts wearing silly hats and drinking beer, no aggressive Australian cricketers and certainly, no hapless Indian students recovering from injuries sustained on the streets of Melbourne.
The truth, I guess, is that there are many Australias. There is the old Australia of caricature: of swagmen, Crocodile Dundee, Sir Les Patterson, the Australian ‘cultural attache’, of Ricky Ponting and his mates sledging rival teams and of the White Australia immigration policy that endured till the Seventies. And there is a new Australia: vibrant, sophisticated, and multi-cultural.
On my first night in Sydney, my driver explained the change to me. He was from Lebanon, he said, and his family had moved to Australia in the Seventies. At first, he explained, it was difficult fitting in. As a schoolboy, he was constantly taunted and subjected to racial slurs. “They called me ‘wog’ or ‘Lebbo,’” he said. “They made fun of everything to do with my culture. When they saw what was in my lunch box, they laughed at me for eating ‘Lebbo’ food.”
But he’s had the last laugh. “Now I see the same guys sitting in fancy Mediterranean restaurants, ordering the food I used to eat for lunch and paying lots and lots of money for it. And I think, ‘that was my lunch, you idiots. That’s the same food you made so much fun of when we were in school. Now you’re paying through your noses for ‘Lebbo’ food!’”

Other ethnic minorities have similar stories to tell. I met people from all over the Third World who had come to Australia as children – once the White Australia policy was lifted – and faced racial abuse. “I used to tell them at school,” said one such person, “that at least my parents and I came here on a jumbo jet. Your ancestors came here in chains as convicts exiled by the English.”
But, in nearly every case, these stories were set in the past. The people who told them had prospered in the New Australia, some had married white Australians and all of them were proud of their Australian identity. They never thought of wherever they had originally come from as ‘home’ and their children were determinedly Australian.
Even the old jokes about convict settlements now seem flat and curiously out of date. Though, there was one moment, while filling out my landing card before arriving in Sydney, that I paused briefly at the question which asked whether I had been convicted of a criminal offence. Was this, I wondered wanly, still a necessary precondition for entry?
But no matter which Australia we talk about, the old White Australia which was essentially a celebration of British working class culture, or the new vibrant, sophisticated, multi-cultural Australia which welcomes the world and is proud of its position at the edge of Asia, there is no getting around one fact: this is an astonishingly beautiful country. It has everything you would ever want to see, from unusual wildlife to the jawdroppingly stunning Great Barrier Reef, to the shimmering Blue Mountains to some of the world’s finest beaches.
What’s even better is that though Australia’s cities are modern, sophisticated First World conglomerations with great international dining, trendy hotels and impressive buildings – the Sydney Opera House must rank as one of the wonders of the modern world – they seem well-planned and aesthetically pleasing. The landscape is left largely untouched and the hideous urban sprawl that characterises much of Asia is nowhere to be seen. I landed at Sydney airport early one morning and was whisked off to the Wolgan Valley Resort, a relatively new hotel set among 4,000 acres of a wildlife sanctuary. The helicopter took me over the Blue Mountains which – much to my surprise – do actually seem enveloped in a shimmering blue haze. Apparently the trees on the densely forested hills are a breed of eucalyptus which emits an oil that turns into a blue gas. (Don’t ask me how. I don’t fully understand it either.)
The Wolgan Valley Resort is small, with around 50 individual villas, each designed to give a residential – rather than hotel-like – feel (to the extent that any villa with its own pool can seem like a residence for most of us) with functioning gas fireplaces, shelves full of books, comfortable chairs and lots of space to hang your clothes.
Because it is less than an hour from Sydney by copter (the most popular means of getting there), the resort has become a favourite weekend getaway. From my perspective however, it was a perfect way to recover from jet lag, to discover the wonders of Australian produce and to be introduced to the country’s unusual wildlife.
I saw a wombat while driving to the villa and then, on various nature drives, I saw scores of kangaroos and wallabies (smaller versions of kangaroos).
However many pictures you’ve seen of kangaroos, nothing actually prepares you for the sight of mobs of them hopping past your jeep or for your first sighting of one with a baby (called a ‘joey’) in her pouch. These are things we read about in school but seeing them up close feels both thrilling and different.
Australians are justly proud of their food and wine so Wolgan Valley follows a policy of sourcing everything within a 180 km radius of the resort. The chef Anston Fivaz is a South African who has worked in London and Dubai, so he transforms local lamb, beef and seafood into sophisticated dishes. The rate is all inclusive and includes as much food as you can eat plus endless glasses of 15 different local wines (all quite drinkable).
I drove through the Blue Mountains, past the famous Three Sisters rock formation to Sydney (about three hours by car) and to The Darling, the city’s newest trendy hotel, done up in a style that can best be described as Ian Schrager-goes-to-Shanghai. The Darling is Sydney’s happening hotel right now: Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire stayed there while filming The Great Gatsby and Slash (formerly of Guns n’ Roses) was in the hotel while I was there. The Darling is part of the Star casino complex which includes a less trendy sister hotel, a high-end arcade (Chanel, Bottega etc.) and a host of fancy restaurants including the first Momofuku (booked solid for weeks) that David Chang has opened outside of New York.
I wrote about Sydney’s dining scene a couple of weeks ago so I won’t say much more except to add that I was disappointed when I ran through the lists of the city’s best restaurants, as rated by local guides and publications, to find so few Indian restaurants represented. Given that I know of so many talented Indian chefs who have emigrated to Australia, I’m a little surprised that they have not caused more of a stir. Sydney is one of Australia’s most famous cities and, after my four days there, among my favourite cities in the world. I saw it in every way possible – on foot, walking through Paddington and lingering at the Saturday market (like the Camden Market in London); by chopper, flying out to its edges; by speedboat, going out to Manly, Balmain and its other gentrified suburbs; and by seaplane, checking out Bondi beach and hovering over the iconic Harbour Bridge.
I did most of the touristy things including a tour of the Opera House (awesome!) and even took a water-taxi (Sydney is a bit like Venice in the way that you can use water routes to get around) to the zoo, which is perched on a cliff, and is designed in a modern, no-cages style that allows you to see uniquely Australian animals including the Tasmanian devil and the platypus up close. The highlight for me though were the koalas about whom I discovered two things: a) they are not bears by species even though they look like soft toy teddy bears and b) all they do is eat and then sleep for 20 hours out of 24 (my kind of guys!).
Sydney is not actually that far from India. If you shop around, the airfare can be lower than the fare to London though the distance is vaster: like IndiaNew York rather than India-Europe. Most airlines will let you break journey in Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or wherever, making it an attractive holiday option. I flew from Sydney to Hamilton Island, which is the airport used by Hayman Island, one of Australia’s most famous resorts. Hayman was built in the 1950s, has gone through various owners, and has been razed to the ground and rebuilt more than once. The current avatar, which has Malaysian-Chinese owners, is the most sophisticated yet. There is a main building with rooms but there are also several Kerry Hill-designed beach villas. Unlike other resorts, these villas are actually on the beach. You walk five steps from your door and your feet are on the sand.
Hayman is a self-contained resort but unlike similar resorts in the Maldives, for instance, it is a real island, complete with hills, vegetation and wild animals. It does not have Maldives or Hawaii-style water bungalows but it does have a proper beach (not a small strip of sand), a lagoon with clear water and opportunities to go cycling or trekking on the island. (Plus it is cheaper than equivalent Maldives resorts where prices are now sky-high).

T he emphasis is on high-end luxury combined with natural beauty. For instance, though airport transfers resemble a cruise in a deluxe yacht, the highlight of each transfer is the number of whales you spot on your way. (I saw two engaged in a courting dance!) The villas themselves are brilliantly designed – possibly the most impressive beach villas I have ever stayed in, with a sense of space, luxury and indoor pools heated to near bathtub temperatures!
I was only there for a full day but I made the most of it, taking a chopper to Whitehaven beach on a nearby island where the sand was like soft white powder and then to the Great Barrier Reef, a formation in the water that is so extraordinary that I don’t think words can do it justice.
Unusually, for a resort that pays Australian salaries and is bound by Australian trade union rules, Hayman has Asian levels of service that easily match anything you might find in Bali or the Maldives. Plus the resort has several restaurants, ranging from molecular-influenced fine dining to Indian curries, cooked by a chef from Delhi, for anyone who wants them.
I left Australia via Brisbane, a city about which I knew little but which seemed bustling and prosperous. The part I stayed in was full of coffee bars and Japanese restaurants but it is hard to generalise on the basis of one night. I did, however, encounter the best and worst of my trip to Australia. The worst was my hotel, the Brisbane Marriott, possibly one of the most terrible hotels I’ve stayed in for many years and a disgrace to Marriott’s reputation, such as it is.
The best, however, was Esquire, a new restaurant where I had dinner. I’ll write about it at length another time but this was easily the best meal I ate in Australia, better even than the great meals that Sydney’s famous chefs had to offer. How fitting that it should have been my last supper in the country.
Last supper? Well, for this trip, anyway. Now that I’ve discovered Australia. I’m certainly going back.

From kitchen to wildlife sanctuary

From kitchen to wildlife sanctuary

All thanks to Manipur’s Lourembam Nanda Singh’s love for animals that a Bengal Slow Loris, counted among India’s most endangered species, could escape to a safe habitat before being turned into a dish. Quick and co-ordinated efforts of the Manipur authorities and the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) also ensured that the animal reached his new home, a widlife sanctuary, safe and healthy. In June, Singh was visiting his in-laws in Thockchom village in Manipur. They gifted him a Slow Loris whose meat is considered a delicacy in the north-eastern region. Singh however refused to kill and eat it. Instead, he sought help of the local villagers and gave it to them. The villagers called the animal rights NGO People for Animals, Manipur, for its rehabilitation which then worked with the government departments. When the animal, named as ‘Nanao’ by villagers, was received by the PFA activists, it was tied with a metallic chain on its abdomen and had wounds on both its forelimbs and was observed to be dehydrated. However, what followed thereafter, was an apt example of the best welfare work that can be achieved with prompt action by authorities – both state and central. Dr Brij Kishor Gupta, a wildlife expert at the Central Zoo Authority, was rushed overnight by the MoEF to Manipur. He was assigned the task of ensuring Nanao’s proper medical treatment and finding a suitable home for him, within its home range in the state itself. “Bengal Slow Loris is an endangered animal and its population in India is also not well documented. His meat is considered a delicacy in the north-eastern region. His medical examination revealed that he was suffering from a parasitic infection. So, we first got medical treatment for him,” Gupta told DNA. “Our main aim was to ensure that the animal goes back to the wild in its natural habitat,” said Gupta, who co-ordinated with the Manipur government’s veterinary officials, wildlife department officials, animal welfare organisations and locals. He then visited three national parks — Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur Zoological Park, Yangoupokpi Wildlife Sanctuary — all located within a distance of about 100km from Imphal to finalise Nanao’s release location. After detailed deliberations, Lokchao in Yangoupokpi Wildlife Sanctuary was finally chosen for releasing Nanao as it had the best habitat conditions needed for his survival. He was finally released in the sanctuary on 6 August last month. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Bengal Slow Loris is a specie whose number is regularly decreasing. In India, it is found mainly in the north eastern states and is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act. In north-eastern India, one of the key causes of its habitat loss is ‘jhum’, a practice whereby hillside forest is burnt in order to create fertile agricultural land. Aside from habitat destruction, the Bengal slow loris has been extensively hunted for its meat and also for use in traditional medicine. MoEF’s additional director general of forests (wildlife) Jagdish Kishwan, who oversaw the work, told DNA, “Our main focus was Slow Loris’s proper rehabilitation. He is doing well in his new habitat. Quick and co-ordinated work among various authorities ensured the safety of the animal.”

Singles unwelcome in Matheran Hotels at the hill station, even the state-owned MTDC, turn away solo travellers, fearing suicides

Singles unwelcome in Matheran

Hotels at the hill station, even the state-owned MTDC, turn away solo travellers, fearing suicides

Matheran, Asia’s tiniest hill station and getaway for stressed-out Mumbaikars, has turned into a dampener for solo travellers. Singles looking for accommodation in any of the numerous resorts and lodges, including state-owned Maharashtra Tourism Department Corporation, are denied accomodation because locals believe solo travellers are more prone to committing suicide in their rooms. The bias against singles is so strong that the local police have around 40 khabris who tip them off the moment they see a single traveller. “Our informers track single travellers the moment they set off from Dasturi Naka (starting point of the hill station),” says an officer from the police station, who did not wish to be named. Assistant police inspector OR Mayekar says: “We try to help single travellers find accommodation after verifying their identity in case someone comes to us for help.” However, DNA found that the rumour may be baseless. On investigation at the local police station, it was learned that in the past five years, not even one such case has been reported from any of the lodges. “I like backpacking alone,” says Raj Nandan, who had to return from the hill station last week after being refused a room. “In over a decade of travelling, I have never seen such discrimination against solo travellers.” A manager at MTDC says that they don’t provide accommodation to single persons on the spot. Only if solo travellers book in advance will they be given a room, he adds. “It’s just that giving (singles) rooms is dangerous.”

Ganesha Temple located in Flushing, Queens is run by the Hindu Temple Society of North America

Temples have been built since ages and many new ones open their doors every year. The number of temples in U.S. has been rising over the past few years. Here is a list of five prominent Hindu temples in the U.S.-

Ganesha Temple

Ganesha Temple located in Flushing, Queens is run by the Hindu Temple Society of North America. It is one of the most renowned and biggest Hindu temples in America and has a member count of around 20,000. Apart from the daily services offered, an active community centre is also run by the temple authorities which conduct formal classes, lectures and programmes, focusing on the practice of religion, philosophy, culture, arts and music. The temple was opened before the general public in the 1970’s and traditional events and religious events hosted here attract people from all over the country. A major part of this magnificent and impressive construction was built in India and then imported to America for reconstruction. Dozens of stone icon of Hindu deities made manually adds to the beauty of the monument.

Shiva Vishnu Temple

Shiva Vishnu Temple is a south Indian style temple situated in Broward County, South Florida. Dr. Ganapati Sthapati, an eminent temple builder and architect from Chennai gave guidelines for the construction of this Dravidian style temple. The construction began in the year 1999 with the help of 12 architects from Mahabalipuram. Two new buildings are there in the temple complex and the front building has two Raja Gopurams (entrance towers) and two Vimana Gopurams (towers) above each of the main Shiva and Vishnu Garbagrahas (Shrines).

The temple is spread across a vast area of 6200 Sq Feet and the architectural style of the shrine belongs to Chola, and Pallava dynasty period (10th century) for Shiva and Parivar shrines, and Vijayanagara dynasty period (12th century) for Venkateshwara and Parivar shrines.

The other deities include Lord Ayyappa, Goddess Saraswathim, Lord Muruga, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Krishna, Lord Ram, Lord Ganapathi and Lord Anjenya.

Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) temple in Aurora

Sri Venkateswara Swami ( Balaji) Temple situated in Aurora is one of the first Hindu temples to be built in the United States. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, a representation of Vishnu and it is constructed on 20 acres of land, which was donated by Indian American families. Lord Balaji, Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiv & Godess Parvathi are the other deities in this temple. Mutaiaistapathy, a famous specialist on Hindu temples worked with an architect from Chicago, Subash Nadkarni for several months for the construction of this beautiful shrine.

"The design of this temple is an excellent blend of ancient shilpa shastras and modern architectural technology," says Sudhir Ghanta, who has been involved with the shrine right from the beginning, reports Rediff. "It also serves as a model for many temples that have come up in recent years and are being built now."

Sri Lakshmi Temple in Ashland

Sri Lakshmi Temple located in Ashland is spread over an area of 12 acres and it was built in the 1980’s.  Rajagopuram of the temple at a height of 50 feet from the ground is an attractive feature of the temple and the construction took two years; with the guidance of Muthiah Sthapathi. Various daily poojas, festivals, shloka classes, culture/Indian-languages classes, etc are conducted by the temple authorities. . Temple includes deities of Sri Maha Ganapati, Sri Mahalakshmi, Sri Venkateswara, SriNataraja ,Sri Subrahmanya, Sri Hariharaputra, Garuda and Navagraha.

Malibu Hindu Temple

Malibu Hindu Temple is located in the city of Calabasas in California and is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. The temple which was built in the year 1981 is owned and operated by the Hindu Temple Society of Southern California. The construction of the shrine is inspired by traditional south Indian style.

Tilak Nagar’s famous Ganesh mandal "Sahyadri Krida Mandal" to have adventure rides, games and parks

Pray and play: A mandal with an amusement park

Tilak Nagar’s famous Ganesh mandal to have adventure rides, games and parks

MUMBAI: Devotees visiting Tilak Nagar’s famous Sahyadri Krida Mandal - known for its covert patronisation by fugitive underworld don Chhota Rajan - will no longer see replicas of world class monuments during the 11 day Ganesh festival.
VIJAYANAND GUPTA/HT Ice Bal Ganesha is maintained at -10° Celsius at a Kurla (West) mall. F

or the first time in 36 years and breaking with age-old tradition, the 32,000 sq ft municipal hall in a corner of the Tilak Nagar ground will be transformed into a children’s amusement park with the Ganesh idol in the sanctum.
Over the past month, more than 100 artisans and twice the number of workers have been engaged in creating Kids World, a home-grown concept in clay, plaster and a wooden plank module.
“Our pandal will be the best fun-filled place in town for children during the festival,” said PG Patil, mandal secretary and former trade union leader. “The amusement park will include everything from a water park, Jurassic Park to rides and games.”
Bollywood art director Prasenjit Kendra is designing the pandal and Murtikar Babi Bandekar has made the idol.

An event management company (e-world) will organise round-the- clock games and competitive events for children.
“Since every child visiting the pandal will be given take away gifts, they [children] will naturally compel their parents to keep visiting us,” Patil said.
Vinod Jisa, the mandal’s official photographer for over a decade, said the decision to discontinue the tradition of creating replicas of world famous monuments was taken during the executive committee meeting last month.
“Why duplicate everything? Let’s do some creative work,” said Jisa adding that though the theme park can be vaguely compared with Disneyland in t he US, it will be very different from Disneyland amusements.




Without revealing the exact budget, organisers have claimed the expenses are being met from collections and donations from more than 20,000 households in Tilak Nagar. “But it should not be more than Rs40-50 lakh,” said Patil. When asked about Rajan’s contribution, Patil said, “It [link between Rajan and the mandal] is all a creation of paperwallahs [the press]. The Nikhalje [Rajan’s] family lives in Tilak Nagar and their members have been visiting the pandals over the years, like other residents. The matter ends here.”

KNOW YOUR MANDAL

In 1977, the Sahyadri Krida Mandal, a small-time sports club in Tilak Nagar started the Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav in Chembur (Tilak Nagar).
In 1980, the mandal decided to shift the venue to the nearby Lokmanya Tilak municipal ground, which added popularity to the festival. Over the years, various art directors such as Sudhakar Manjarekar, Roderick D’souza and Rashid Khan have decorated the sets. However, underworld don Chhota Rajan’s shadow is writ large in every aspect of the Utsav.
Facilities: Prasad and water facility is arranged by the mandal for all devotees.

Peak hours: 3pm to midnight.
Security: The police are asking the organisers to install closed circuit television cameras at the venue, parking spaces and along the roads leading to the venue.
Specialty: Gigantic decoration sets such as replicas of the Lotus Temple, Pune’s historic palace called Shaniwar Wada, Mysore palace and Red fort, Disney Land had been made in the past. Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor spent his childhood here

First-day collections at city mandals shoot up this year

More devotees turn up at city mandals as compared to last year

MUMBAI: Just two days into the Ganesh festival, several city mandals look set to surpass last year’s total collections donated by devotees.

On Wednesday, The Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandal, known to attract the largest crowds and the most generous devotees, saw, for its first-day collection, a rise of Rs 10 lakh from last year’s amount of Rs 75 lakh.
“We are sure the total collection over ten days will be more than last year’s collection of Rs 8 crore during the festival,” said treasurer Ranjendra Lanjwal. Last year, the Lalbaug mandal had collected a total amount of Rs 22 crore through auctions and donations through the year. On Wednesday, the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Seva Mandal at King’s Circle, collected Rs 24.58 lakh through direct donations at the mandal. The overall collection through the mandal’s five-day festival may topple last year’s total collection of Rs 5.18 crore. “The amount received so far has already reached Rs 4.5 crore in cash alone.We are expecting a 10% increase in our total collections this year,” said senior trustee Satish Nayak. Ganesh Galli’s Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal received Rs 3. 22 lakh on the first day along with 30 tolas of gold biscuits apart from other gold and silver offerings. “Last year, we received Rs 2 lakh in cash on the first day, and even the gold offerings were less compared to this year,” said secretary Swapnil Parab. The footfall at several mandals was also bigger. There were almost 70,000 visitors at Azadnagar Sarvajanik Utsav Samitte on Wednesday. “The figure is more than double the number from last year,” said committee spokesperson Uday Salian. Almost 80,000 people visited the Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal mandal on Wednesday alone, while the Lalbaugcha Raja saw a footfall of 15 lakh over the last two days.