Philadelphia Probing

 

The project was termed as the 'Montauk Project' and was surrounded by a lot of rumours stating that the US government had been conducting experiments in psychological warfare in Montauk during the mid-1980's. The going narrative leads up to the 1983 movie based on the incident during World war II with a famous covert military operation. 

The Philadelphia Probing, in which the US Navy destroyer escort USS Eldridge was allegedly cloaked in invisibility, occurred on or around October 28, 1943. The warship was briefly rendered invisible and teleported from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Norfolk, Virginia. When the Eldridge reappeared, the bulkhead of the ship was reported as suffering from delusions. Some crew members purportedly vanished altogether. On October 28, 1943, at exactly 17.15 hours, the destroyer warship from the United States Navy, Eldridge, at anchor in the port of Philadelphia, disappeared under a flash of green light. A few minutes later the ship reappeared in the waters in front of Norfolk, 500 kilometres further North. It then once again, disappeared, returning to Philadelphia, in the same exact spot from where it disappeared. 

The experiment was conducted on a naval shipyard, on a quest to discover a way to foil Nazi radar so that they could safely transport supplies to the Allies in Europe, which the Navy has never admitted, but according to conspiracy theories as far back as 1955, it not only succeeded in uncovering how to make the ship invisible to radar but cause the battleship to travel to another place or another time. After the military learnt about the negative effects of the experiment, they shut the project down. For over thirty six years officials have denied this, have denied any experimentation to keep the matters hidden and this hiding has raised certain questions :

Why -

● Were all the men aboard ship who survived the incident have been discharged as mentally unfit?

● Did a scientific researcher on the project meet a mysterious death?

● Were identities hidden, documents lost and amazing connections between UFO, Sightings and Events in the Bermuda Triangle denied?

The probing is still a mystery and lies among many unsolved puzzles of the world...  

-Swagato Chatterjee

Kolkata 

 

Festival of Colours

 

COLOURS!!!!! That’s what flashed your mind at the very first capture of the word HOLI from your eyes....the natural DSLR. Let me elaborate..... it's a lot more than just colours. It has a wonderful history that will give you a topsy-turvy ride through the culture of your soil and many other emotions attached to it...

Holi is celebrated on Full moon day, Purnima for centuries, the Festival of Spring, Colour, Love and triumph of good over evil.

Generally, the celebration of Holi is Started on the night before D Day. Holika Dahan is done on the very day where idols depicting sister, Holika of evil king Hiranyakashipu is burnt in a bonfire. 

The day is a national holiday in India as well as in Nepal and is an auspicious day for a get-together with family spend quality time. Irrespective of their age, children and elders throw colours at each other, friends, family, neighbour's as well as strangers. People use pichkaris or water balloons to play with colours in holi. Some like to play with dry colours (Abir). Personally, I prefer, Abir as the colours stay for a longer period. It's a wonderful scene to witness multi-coloured faces all around. It seems suddenly life has become colourful in this mundane world. 

Not only this is a day when people eat sweets & traditional delicacies (Gujiya, Jalebi, Moth, Malpua) & greet elders. It feels great to see the extravagance of the stalls selling these delicacies for the sweet hungry crowd.

There is also a seasonal overlap..... Holi gives a farewell to winter and also welcomes spring. It marks the beginning of a good harvest season. So, again it is a good news for our KISAAN BHAIS our very own farmers.

Overall its a festival of lows - highs, ups -downs, wealthy – poor and the huge diverse sections of our society. Irrespective of what they are, from where they belong, people come together to enjoy the day to the fullest. Its also a symbol of secularism being celebrated in the worlds largest republic, secular and sovereign country INDIA...!!!

Once again..... BURA NAA MAANO....HOLI HAI....!!!!!

-Mukhar Chatterjee

Kolkata

 

Valentine's Day and its origin

 

Ah... Valentine's day... The day we celebrate the emotion that we call "love". It is said, that love is the strongest emotion that a human being feels in their lifetime. Love, has the ability to give an ignition to many other important emotions in an individual, emotions like  sense of respect, hope,  trust, empathy, happiness, sorrow and euphoria, emotions that are the basics to drive a person throughout their life.

But do you know what the origin of this Valentine's day really is? Who is this Valentine? And why is the day to celebrate love named after him? Well you're up for a short story then…

Like wise minds have already foretold, Love is a double edged sword. The idea of this whole Valentine's day also came into existence because of clash between a priest and a ruler, and yes, love was the cause of this clash.
During the ending of the Golden era of the Roman Empire, Claudius II was in power, as the ruler he felt the need to protect the safety of the empire and to ensure that he needed soldiers. Soldiers whom he thought to be ineffective, as they were too attached to their families and loved ones. Therefore, he went to an extent of putting a ban on marriage all over the empire. According to him, marriage made men weak, therefore making his soldiers weak, thus this ban was something that was necessary.

This left young lovers all around the kingdom agitated and in peril. The one's who decided to marry anyway were executed immediately.  In these times of sorrow, a Priest came to the rescue. Understanding the pain that young lovers felt, St. Valentine decided to go against the ruler, against the law imposed and started to secretly conduct marriage ceremonies for young couples who still wanted to take the risk. Soon, more and more people started to undergo the ceremony in secrecy, and St. Valentine became known as the "Friend of lovers". However, Claudius II soon found out about this and well, he had Valentine arrested.
Here, comes the best part of the story. Now let's not forget St. Valentine was one of Jesus's followers and was also a priest with great belief in his religion and it's power. Asterius, who was the jailer who was assigned to execute the priest, had a blind daughter. Asterius approached St. Valentine and offered to help him, if in return he could heal his daughter's eyes, which selflessly Valentine did, keeping his hand on the daughter's eyes while praying to the almighty, and when the prayer was done, Asterius's daughter really could finally see.

Moving on, Asterius tried his best to save St. Valentine after that, but Claudius was rigid about his decision. 

N

ow the story also tells us about how St. Valentine had taken a liking to the young girl he had healed and the feelings between them were mutual.

Sadly, St. Valentine was executed, but not before he left a letter to his lover which ended with the phrase "From your Valentine", a phrase that lived ever after. I know, that was quite a story. But mind you this was only me telling you the story in brief, the main facts, there are many more stories about St. Valentine so if you really want to know more, do search him up sometime, these stories really do peak my interest.

Now that you know what Valentine's day is all about, let me remind you one thing still, Valentine's Day is about the emotion of Love. Love is present not just between lovers but also families and friends. Valentine's day is to celebrate every person with whom we share the bond of love, by appreciating their efforts and their support that they've shown to us, to celebrate that very important bond.

Now there are a few days that also come along side this celebrated day. Let me give you a calendar so you can remember...

7th Feb– Rose Day-Tuesday.

8th Feb– Propose Day-Wednesday.

9th Feb– Chocolate Day-Thursday.

10th Feb– Teddy Day- Friday.

11th Feb– Promise Day- Saturday.

12th Feb– Kiss Day- Sunday.

13th Feb– Hug Day- Monday.

14th Feb– Valentine's day- Tuesday.

Now, let me remind you something, remember when I mentioned that Love is a double edged sword? These days that come before Valentine's day, if you want to celebrate them, do so with caution. Be sure that the person that you want to celebrate these with really does show a spark of interest towards you too, or else, as we know, the times we live in now, you might be inviting a rejection.

But that's okay... An average Human being falls in love atleast three to four times in their life-span, think of it as one of those trial  and error times, until you find the one who's perfectly fitted for you!

But yes, I know the past year has been tough, and you want to celebrate this day with your loved ones happily but do not forget that the virus is still in the air, do take caution whenever you interact with each other and enjoy yourselves to the fullest while maintaining safe boundaries.

Happy Valentines day everyone!

-Akanksha Mitter

 

Loss of a Veteran

Lights, Sound, Rolling and Action - The array of these words has faced a sudden downfall by the demise of the veteran of Bengali Film Industry Soumitra Chatterjee. He was an actor, director, writer, and a poet and is best known for his performances with the legendary director Satyajit Ray, with whom he worked in fourteen films, starting with the debut film Apur Sangsar, the third part of Apu Trilogy, Abhijan, Charulata, Aranyer Dinratri, Ashani Sanket, Sonar Kella, Jai Baba Felunath, Hirak Rajar Deshe, Ghare Baire, Shakha Proshakha and Ganasatru. 

Soumitra Chatterjee, born in 19th January, 1935 and died on 15th November, 2020, aged 85 years also worked with other noted directors of Bengali cinema such as Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, Asit Sen, Ajoy Kar and Tarun Mazumdar and thus his oeuvre comprised more than 250 films through the course of his long career. The actor was born in Mirzapur Street, close to Sealdah Station in Kolkata, West Bengal. He was a student of Bengali literature and graduated from the City College with an Honours degree. 

Apart from being a talented Actor, Chatterjee was also known as a poet, painter and theatre director. He received the Dadasaheb Phalke award in 2011 and was also a recipient of the coveted Legion d' Honneur - France's highest civilian honour. During the final year of college, the actor saw a play by the doyen of Bengali theatre, Sisir Bhaduri. The play helped him make up his mind to become an actor. He returned to the theatre with his production 'Naam Jiban' in 1978 after a journey of 20 years in Tollywood. Since 2010, he has been playing the lead role in 'Raja Lear', a popular play based on King Lear by William Shakespeare for which he has received critical and popular accolades. 

 

Director Satyajit Ray had written many diverse roles keeping in mind Soumitra's looks and attitude. He went on to become the lead as Feluda in two films - 'Sonar Kella' (1974) and 'Jai Baba Felunath' (1979). Feluda was a private investigator from Kolkata. Ray even made some illustrations of Feluda based on Soumitra's physique. Soumitra Chatterjee became an artist of such a stature that no awards could define him anymore. He was a legend in Bengali cinema. 

Soumitra Chatterjee was admitted on October 6, 2020 in Hospital and shifted to the intensive care unit and was undergoing treatment for COVID-19. The fact that he was born in the year 1935 is not important and when you place that date against 1st October, 2020, when he last reported for a shoot before showing symptoms, you will realise that he was not an ordinary actor but the one who was professionally so much active even on his age nearing 86. He was not only active but very much sought-after. In 2019, he had as many as 15 releases and in the pandemic hit 2020, almost as many of his films either released or lined up for release. Soumitra Chatterjee was a person who loved the Bengali culture more than anything and his passing is akin to the falling of an ancient tree but while the tree is gone, it's shade remains. The legend, the veteran will always remain in our hearts.

-Swagato Chatterjee

 

2021: The Morning After The Nightmare

 

They say, “A nightmare is a disturbing dream associated with negative feelings, such as anxiety or fear that awakens you.” I’m sure by now I don’t have to explain why I’ve used the term nightmare to describe this past year. We’ve all, everyone all around the world been through this nightmare together. Starting this twin year with the raging Australian bushfires, floods in Jakarta – Indonesia and to the global declaration and breakout of Novel Corona Virus resulting in us becoming prisoners in our very own homes to survive.

We’ve seen great losses this year, 2 million souls left us this year. Losses of some legendary public figures like Irrfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor and Soumitra Chatterjee are among the deceased, it was quiet unbelievable actually. The sudden passing of Sushant Singh Rajput also imposed a shock wave over the hearts of thousands of people.

As if this wasn’t enough to deal with, we had to lose a personality as extraordinary and admirable as Kobe Bryant too. As we wish for these souls to rest in peace let me move on to the postponed Olympics 2020 breaking hearts of millions of people worldwide, this took away whatever source of entertainment we had left. When I talk about losses I must also include the massive wave of unemployment which hit people all around the world. Loss of hope every day, loss of that ray of light that we’ve all been waiting for, to shine from amongst the clouds. Now that I’m thinking about the incidents that have happened, my hands are shaking, this feelings of uneasiness and I would almost use the word ‘fear’ to describe this feeling, that I’m sure all of you must have felt at least once in this past year, deep inside your hearts that feeling of security that was lost this year, it will take some time to restore. Nightmare it was indeed.

New year 2021 is going to be different from ever other new year we’ve ever had. Were used to wishing happiness and hope and prosperity to each other every year, but this year these words hold a significance and meaning that they’ve never held before. Hope, I believe it is the basic of an individual’s living, I mean obviously breathing, food and shelter are important for survival, but if you think about it, hope is another necessity too. Especially after walking through this past year and stumbling several times, the thing that made up stand back up was our hopes, giving us the strength and the will to keep walking no matter how many times we fall. Blood relations exist, but this previous year I’ve learnt about this whole new means of connection amongst two people, it was by their interconnected hopes. So I wish everyone hope once again this year… A hope with a different meaning than what it had when I wished you last year on the New Year.

 

Happiness, here comes the second wish. I guess I can’t explain about happiness much or talk about it. Each of us have our own versions of happiness, things and people who make us happy in our own ways. Again, I guess this past year no matter how hard it might’ve been we got a considerable amount of time to actually sit and think about everything going on around us. Well, if I must say anything about happiness, I am going to hold onto those small little things that gave me a sense of peace in this nightmare, short little breaks where I could breathe without feeling a heavy weight that was on my chest. For me, I believe it was when I got to spend time with my family and talk to my friends over call. I hope everyone finds their own version of happiness soon, no matter what it is. And if you’ve already found it, I wish the strength and courage to you, to cherish that happiness.

 

Prosperity, is going to a tough wish depending on what you think prosperity is. Prosperity in terms of wealth will be hard for many people all around the world as a result of losing their jobs, at times like these the above two, hope and happiness, especially hope will give you the strength to get by. It important for us to remember that everyday is a new day and like time never looks back, we should also always keep looking forward, someday we will reach the horizon, just keep believing.

  Okay okay, that was heavy, let’s talk about how we will celebrate this new year to make it worth every hardships we’ve been through, this year specially should be a year to remember, for better or for worst, don’t you think?

 

Well I would suggest you a few things, on the new years eve the first and the most important dress up for the occasion, dress your best and wear pretty matching masks which will not only add a fashionable touch but also to your safety, conditions now are better than they were months ago, but we must remember that the virus is still in the air. Enjoy a nice get together with your family and friends, eat delicious food and enjoy with drinks and snacks. Reminisce the memories about the past that you share with each other. Talk about the plans that you have for the upcoming year. Sing your favorite songs and ever go up to the terrace to enjoy the clear skies and the night air. Breathe in the air from 2020 for the last time and as the clock hits 12 o’clock welcome the new year with a warm embrace and love and  new hope.

 

I would really suggest please take proper measures before going out to the terrace at 12 am, or you might catch a cold, don’t want to start the New Year with a sneeze now do we?

Did I miss out on the New Year’s resolution? Well, sorry it’s a habit to forget about them on the second day of the New Year. Anyway, I’ve decided to keep my resolution and to not forget it or just give up. This year my new years resolution will be to successfully move on from 2020 and walk into 2021 without looking back while holding the hands of my family and friends who were there with me and for me this whole past year.

I hope you can come up with a resolution you can actually maintain this year, after all after this previous year we know for real now that life is ever so small and temporary, so we need to live it to the best of our capabilities every year, you never know what might come up next.

Let’s go and wake up from that nasty nightmare, after all I can already feel the rising sun, as the warm welcoming rays touch my face.
Morning after the nightmare is never the easiest one because of the after effects, but knowing that the nightmare is over sure feels great does it?

 

Happy New Year, 2021

 

- Akanksha Mitter

 

What Christmas is… Well,

 Well, it's that time of the year again... Christmas is right around the corner and by now I'm sure all of you reading this, have already started planning your days to celebrate with your loved ones. I don't know why I'm saying this to be honest, but still, for those people out there who have no idea what Christmas is...( I don't know how? ) But let me tell you. Christmas is the event which occurs every year on the 25th of December to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Originally it's meant to be an celebration for the Christianity but now I guess it's celebrated all around the world regardless of the religion an individual belongs too.

Well Christmas might be just one day... But the Christmas feeling starts from way before the actual 25th December… Thanksgiving is also an celebration, mainly carried out in United States and Canada is an occasion when families and friends gather around celebrating the year's harvest together. In India, churches refer to it as the harvesting festival. Harvesting festival, yes as it sounds, is the day we celebrate all the harvested produce of that very year , thanking the Lord above for this grace. Thanksgiving is also pretty similar except here, families gather around for dinner and give thanks for the good deeds and for the support of each member they have in their family.

XCLUSIVE

Then comes the Christmas Eve, the evening right before Christmas day. Surely one of the most anticipated and exciting days of the year, some would even say it's better than the Christmas day. On this evening, family gatherings and parties are held, presents are ex-changed, in churches, choirs walk out singing Christmas carols all night long. By this time, the Christmas decorations are already done... Streamers, party lights, small Christmas trees the sign of everlasting life with god, are found almost in every other house. Balco-nies have a star hanging outside, the star which resembles the same joyous spirit as the one the star in Bethlehem held which showed the way to the new born baby Jesus. Some extra information for the ones who love the Santa Claus, this is the evening when Santa sneaks in while you sleep.

Speaking of the Santa Claus, do you know who he really is? He's Saint Nicholas, who lives in the north pole... It's said that Santa brings gifts to only the good well behaved children, so children who are reading this, you know what you should do for the best gifts. As for the ones who are wondering by now, how do we really enjoy Christmas. Well firstly, wake up in the morning, wish your family and friends with a smile, then if you can get dressed and attend any near by church where the morning gospel is being read. It doesn't really matter what religion you are, just take a seat and enjoy the wonder-ful words and Stories that are shared early in the morning. Another very important tip, spend some time with your family and friends, sit with them, have a conversation... Some-times conversations are not even needed, the fact that you are pre-sent there beside them is just enough to make them happy. Open the presents that you've ex-changed. Take some time away from work, just relax, maybe go for a walk with your friends in the evening and en-joy the twinkling lights and decorations every-where, or go for dinner somewhere, or just play some music and have a good time at home. The list goes on and on. To be honest, one can never really say how to enjoy Christmas, just close your eyes, take a deep breath and do whatever you want to do, treat yourself. And at the end, all I can say about Christmas, the essence of it is giving... You see, it was on this very day that the Lord blessed us by giving us Jesus Christ who taught us the true meaning of life and forgave our dirty sins... Just like that, we too share and give out our best wishes, our love and our happiness with our friends and families and even the strangers who we meet and send a small smile towards them. It's the season of making new friends and forgiving the old ones. Also, I truely believe that the fact that Christmas comes at the end of every year, giving us an opportunity to correct any mistakes and solve any misunderstandings that have happened in the year... Ending them all and stepping into the new year with a smile.

Forgive, give and love…

Merry Christmas everyone.

- Akanksha Mitter

Light of Introspection

 Be the light - Spread the light, must be the aspiration for everyone and this principle should be the integral part while following or illuminating the light of introspection. Known as the festival of lights, Diwali is celebrated over a span of four to five days by Indians with increasing numbers of people joining in each year worldwide and is one of the key cultural festivals.

T he word 'Diwali' is originated from the sanskrit word 'Deepavali' where 'Deepa' implies 'Light' and 'Vali' implies 'Row' and therefore means the 'Row of Lights' which is a common scene at homes during this celebration of the triumph of light over darkness, hope over despair, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and each honour some historical figure. The Hindus honour Lord Rama and his wife Sita who, as per legend returned to their kingdom after fourteen years of exile after defeating the evil king Ravana in the 15th century B.C. Fireworks are displayed at homes in honour of their safe return . A separate group believe that this festival is celebrated in honour of the union of Goddess Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu and leave their doors open inviting Goddess Lakshmi in to spread good luck and wealth. All these gestures are followed in order to welcome new beginnings and the whole year ahead. In countries such as Fiji, Malaysia, Nepal, Srilanka and of course India, on the day of Diwali, official holidays are announced.

People hand out sweets and goodies to all their loved ones and blow up lots of money on firecrackers in order to ignite the jubiliation in their hearts. Some spend time with the less fortunate ones by visiting at old-age homes and orphanages and hand out clothes and money to those who are staying in financial crisis. In this auspicious occasion, in true sense we must look after each other and show concern to those who need help. This is the actual ignition of light and killing the darkness within us by introspecting our heart full of gratification. The more we share and care, the more will be the happiness around. The quality of life turns to be more meaningful when the contrast, disputes among us get minimized.

So, Sweep the dust from every corner, Light up the diyas outside the door, Line up the boxes of sweets for friends and family - That's right - Diwali is just round the corner.

- Swagato Chatterjee

Durgotsav: Madly Bangali

 Kumartuli: The Rise of Maa Durga

Every year Durga Maa is made from the mud of the river Ganges at Kumartuli by the artistic hands of Kumars. Their devotion, creativity and their beautiful work makes this festival special. Even this year they have worked wonders & kept their doors wide open for Durga Puja devotees.

Mahalaya: Mahishashur Mardini

At 4am, the radio is turned ON
Chorus Song:
Ya chandi, madhu kaidabhaadi daithya dalani,...
Birendra Krishna Bhadra:
Aswiner sarada prate beje utheche alokomonjir,
Dharanir bohirakashi ontorhito meghomala...
The music & the words brings goose-bumps, Ah the feel-ing! The emotions that rush through the veins, wonderful.

Shopping: New Market

Shopping spree without a visit at New Market is incomplete. The vast collection of clothes, shoes, shades, bags for every budget. A small bite at the food stalls around. The overall experience is fulfilling.

Sasthi: Max Excitement

Puja starts for most of the people on this day. Even office goers try to make the most of this day after office hours.

Metro Railways: Life Saviour

A very important element of pandal hopping for a majority of the people is Metro. It commutes lakhs of people to the respective pandal locations. It acts like the blood vessels carrying people inside the heart of Bengal, Kolkata.

Kolkata Police: The True Hero

Hats of to the Kolkata Police who provide duty under so much pressure to manage the safe-keeping of pandal hoppers.

Saptami: Pandal Hopping Start

Not every Bengali gets a holiday from Saptami. But those who can, starts their puja from this day. The pandal hopping plan along with friends or family is so fun.

Ashtami: Anjali Special

The new traditional clothes on every Bengali. The spiritual purity & peaceful feeling during & after Anjali. And not to forget more pandal hopping & photoshoots. It feels great feeling to let go of official dress code for a day & get into traditional clothes on this day.

Nabami: Ultimate Fun

Rice along with mutton curry is a very common for Bengalis in Nabami. And after a heavy meal it becomes difficult to hop pandals. Hence, it might be a good idea to shift pandal hopping from evening to late night on this day.

Dashami: The Saddest Day of a Bangali

The morning starts with greetings of Dashami, the last day of puja. This day is full of sadness as the puja ends on this day & Durga Maa has to go back to her home. And so does everyone has to re-join work & their lives rejuvenated from the next day with happy memories.

Bhashan (Immersion): Tears of Departure

It appears as if Maa Durga also cries leaving the devotees behind. Maa Durga is not a goddess to us, she is family, which is why our eyes become teary at the sight of Durga Maa touching the Ganges water. She goes back from where she came from, The Ganges.

Hope: When is the next year Puja?

The moment when we sit with our closed ones at the pandal or perhaps returning after bhasan, seem to wonder or ask this question: “Porer bachore pujo kakhn?” meaning “When is the Puja next year?”. This is Durga Puja– Asche bachor abar hobe (Until Next Year)...

Sindoor Khela: The togetherness!

The bhasan (immersion) ceremony starts by Baron (welcoming gesture) & Sindoor Khela when Bengali women prays to her & greets each other by putting Red–Sindoor on each other’s cheek & forehead as a gesture of best wishes & dances to the tunes of Dhak.

-Soumadeep Chatterjee

Curtailed Moments

 A midst this pandemic situation going around and half-reading people's faces (covered in masks), it is implied frequently that our outside environment plays quite a role in our mental plays. What we give in any form to the outside depends on what we receive inside our home and from our surroundings. Graphs can be designed easily studying a human mind in different locales, particularly when there occurs a tremendous change of certain places from glittering to lying in weary condition. Though various examples can be drawn, I will focus on the most referred, the most famous, the most popular Hindu festival 'Durga Puja' also known as 'Durgotsav' this year.

T he festival which pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga which lasts for ten days with the most significant last five days namely Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami. This annual celebration is one of India's grandest festivals which perpetuates the victory of goddess Durga over the devil Mahishasur according to mythology. Goddess Durga began her battle against the demon on the seventh day that is Saptami and killed him by the final day Dashami. Going by history, the first record of this festival goes back to 1500s. Since then for centuries, the festival has emerged to be a big one and thus has gained so much prominence.

W ith this deadly thing at its peak and twisted results daily, this year, the festival along with all plans have been disrupted. In Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Various Puja committees are coming up with varied alternatives to maintain this so-old culture and the much-awaited smile and lustre around. They have come with new safety measures for the smooth going of the pandal hoppers and offering them a glance of the goddess. A new concept termed as 'Drive-in-darshan' is made to allow people to slow down their vehicles and catch a glance of the pandal without getting out of their car. Social distancing norms will be strictly followed and mass gatherings will be avoided. In a normal circumstance the Puja organisers would have been creating a hype about their themes and plannings but this year there is uncertainty surrounding the sponsorship and thereby following cost-cutting measures.

This year's puja will not be a familiar one but there is one thing which drives us all for a better tomorrow and that is hope. We are hopeful. Let us all go by the song "we shall overcome" and continue the celebration with new norms and forms. Happy Durga Puja.

-Swagato Chatterjee

Best time to visit: Shimla & Manali

 Best time to visit

All year round.

April –July For travellers who want to escape the heat of the Indian summer and enjoy the scenery of mountains with a clear blue sky along with the thrill of adventure activities/sports.

October-November For travellers who wants to see the autumn magically bloom the flowers and the apples in apple orchards with snow-capped mountains afar surrounding under the blue sky along with the thrill of adventure activities/sports.

December-January For travellers who wants to enjoy the snowfall and freshly laid snowy blanket all over the valley and roads of Shimla & Manali, but also flexible with their timelines and sight scenes as there could be blockades/ roadblocks for exaggerating amounts of snowfall.

February – March For travellers who could be lucky enough to experience a snowfall but mainly to enjoy the freshly laid out snow all over the valley with few available adventure activities or sports.

Adventure Activities

• River Rafting in the River Beas

14 km Rafting [Pirdi to Bajaura] - Rs 800/ person.

8–9 Grade III Rapids | Easy | Duration - 1:30 hr.

10 km Rafting [Pirdi to Sarabai] - Rs 700/ person.

7 Grade III Rapids | Easy | Duration - 1 hour.

7 km Rafting [Pirdi to Bhuntar] - Rs 700/ person.

5 Grade III Rapids | Easy | Duration - 40 min (Bargaining is a must)

There are three locations of River Rafting near Manali, above one is Pirdi and the other two locations for river rafting are Raison And Babeli.

• Paragliding in Solang valley river with a per-person cost of INR 2000-3000 for 5 to 7 mins of flight duration (depending on the winds), or with a per-person cost of INR 4000-5000 for 14 to 16 mins of flight duration (depending on the winds). Prices also vary due to other costs like the hiring of GoPro for a video of your flight. (Depending on your Bargaining power)

• ATV Rides/ Quad Bike rides in Solang Valley with a per-person cost of INR 800-1200. (Depending on your Bargaining power)

• Skiing in Solang Valley or Rohtang Pass with a per-person cost of INR 800-1200 . .(Depending on your Bargaining power)

• Snow-mobiling in the Solang Valley or Rohtang Pass with a per-person cost of INR 800-1200. (Depending on your Bargaining power)

There are also some other fun adventurous activities which are less dangerous and also more economical than the above activities:- Zorbing, River Crossing, Zipline, Rock Climbing, Rappelling, Cable Car Ropeway etc.

How to Reach

There are several ways to reach Shimla and Manali.

1. Train to Kalka Railway station & from there book and enjoy a scenic toy train ride to Shimla Station or you can also hire a local cab or car to Shimla from Kalka.

2. Train / Flight / Bus to Delhi & from there a hired car till Shimla or Manali.

3. Train / Flight / Bus to Chandigarh & from there a hired car till Shimla or Manali.

How to plan

There are a huge number of tour operators in cities all over India who designs package tours of Shimla & Manali starting from INR 10k per person. You can also plan your tour by pre-booking your train or flight online and pre-booking your hotels online according to your choice and budget. Local cab or hired car can be booked on spot from Delhi/Chandigarh/Kalka or Shimla/Manali for both inter-state travel destinations and local sight scenes.

-Pritam Maji

An ode to the Queen of Hill Stations

The Sudden Opportunity

SHIMLA

&

MANALI

For years, I envisioned & dreamed of a trip to Shimla & Manali, but being a student the toll to my pocket was intimidating and so the idea was unceasingly adjourned. Surprisingly, during the summer of 2019, an economical opportunity to experience the Himalayan landscapes fell into my hands.

Commencing & experiencing the journey of our dreams

This time I couldn't let my dream go to waste, so I swiftly acted on the grasping opportunity and thoughtlessly reserved a trip to the „Queen of Hill stations‟ for myself along with two of my eccentric & adventure-loving friends. So we booked three tickets of Duronto Express travelling from Howrah station to New Delhi station. We reached New Delhi in the morning & from there we hired a car and commenced our road trip towards our dream destination "The Queen of Hill Stations- SHIMLA". We have already enjoyed a fun train journey and was now enjoying a road trip together with friends, thus fulfilling our desire & crossing off an item out of our bucket list. Gradually we ditched the conventional straight & hectic roads of mere mortals and initiated our journey towards the heaven, climbing the foothills of the mighty Himalayas, while seeing and admiring the mesmerizing scenery, the flora and fauna, and sensing the rise of chill in the air steadily, as we go up. The panoramic view of the Himalayan mountains from the car was chameleonic, mutating by the minute. For us, it was a moment of absolute bliss and harmony every time we watched outside the pane of our car. Following an immersive and alluring journey of 10 hours, it was almost twilight when we eventually arrived at Shimla.

Arriving & exploring the Eden of our desire(Shimla)

We checked into our hotel which we had previously booked, entered our room, and freshened up for an enchanting even-ing stroll throughout the mall road of Shimla.

The loopy and curvy Mall road is strung out along a 12km ridge, with steep forested hillsides sloping away in all directions, the Himachal capital is one of India's most popular hill resorts, buzzing with a happy flow of heat-escaping Indian vacationers. The only way to get around central Shimla is on foot. Vehicles, including taxis, are forbidden from The Ridge and much of The Mall, with traffic funnelled along Cart Rd and Circular Rd. As Traffic is outlawed from the central part of town, walking is pleasant, even with the huffing and puffing of hiking uphill. Subsequently reaching the highest point of the ridge there was a tableland where resides the 2nd oldest church of Northern India - Christ Church, Shimla. Of that elevated hilltop flatland, the panoramic view and the majestic grandeur of The Himalayas were breath-taking, I was lulled into a gentle complacency and was roused seeing the spectacular peaks of the mountain ranges against the skyline. I felt as if I was in a psychedelic trance. But no, this was real. This was Shimla. Following this visual treat, we went for a treat to subdue and conquer our hunger. There are several iconic restaurants, cafes & bars along The Mall (especially near the lift), there are dozens of simple, economical Indian eateries in Middle Bazaar, just a few short steps below The Mall's central section. Prices are especially good for thalis (multi-curry meals).

After a sumptuous meal, we retired ourselves in our hotel room for a good night's sleep. We woke up early & approached our hotel's open rooftop garden to experience the foreground gashes of a yellow-lit sky with a bluish texture in the background that slashes open the innards of the surrounding mountains while facing the chilly sensation & inhaling the purest form of air that enveloped the entire atmosphere of our surrounding scenery. Devouring a big nutritious breakfast we decided hiking to the local sight scenes named Scandal Point, Jakhu Hanuman Statue, Town Hall, Gorton castle, Gaiety Theatre, Himachal State Museum, The Viceregal Lodge, Shimla Heritage Museum etc while enjoying a lump sump meal of Himachali cuisine and thalis in between our local sight scene parikrama.

While capturing the picturesque landscapes along with ourselves in our DSLR's we also took our time capturing the experiences of the breathtaking views and scenery in our hearts and minds, taking our timeline towards dusk. It was dark now and we could see the small lights twinkling all over the mountains along with the city from the Ridge. We decided to halt & pause for a few moments to enjoy the beauty and serenity and calmness of Shimla and its views surrounding us, for it was our last day in this paradise and it was time to take the heights of adventure to the next level, which was Manali, thereafter enjoying a lavish dinner and resigning ourselves in our hotel's room for a comfy sleep.

A New Day comes with a New Destination

We were so excited that we woke up early at 5 am and packed our cases inside 5.30 and completed our breakfast within 6 am as we had a long journey ahead to Manali. There are many unforgettable bits in every man’s life. Nonetheless, only a few of them get indelibly engraved in our memories. Rare of my most memorable moments was associated with this road trip to Manali and the time we spent there. We commenced our journey towards Manali in a local car which we had previously booked.

Arriving at a different offbeat universe(Manali)

The chill in the air began flourishing as our car progressed up the serpentine roads in the Himalayas along with the sinuous Beas river on its side. On either side of the meandering road, spectacular vistas of unrivalled sylvan beauty appeased not only our eyes but our fidgety soul as well.

Deep vales, with pure verdurous slopes; idyllic, rustic agrarian human settlements, far off glimpses of the white sheep grazing on the slopes of the mountains under the awning of the azure sky are the enthralling illustrations one gets as a bonus for coming to this utopic Eden. As we approached Manali, the mountains became more towering. It was noon when we reached our hotel in Manali.

The harmony, tranquillity, and brilliance of Manali and its surroundings were hypnotic. We had booked a Riverside Resort on the banks of Beas River, so the nature was abundant. Of the room's balcony, the distant snow-clad white mountains and the calming sound of the Beas river gave the illusion of a different offbeat universe. It was evening now and our hotel manager beck-oned us, along with other groups for an enchanting bonfire camping in our resort grounds.

The chill in the air began flourishing as our car progressed up the serpentine roads in the Himalayas along with the sinuous Beas river on its side. On either side of the meandering road, spectacular vistas of unrivalled sylvan beauty appeased not only our eyes but our fidgety soul as well.

Deep vales, with pure verdurous slopes; idyllic, rustic agrarian human settlements, far off glimpses of the white sheep grazing on the slopes of the mountains under the awning of the azure sky are the enthralling illustrations one gets as a bonus for coming to this utopic Eden. As we approached Manali, the mountains became more towering. It was noon when we reached our hotel in Manali.

MANALI

Arriving at a different offbeat universe(Manali)

Under the dark starlit sky with the only sound of gushing stream of Beas river passing by including the warmth of the bonfire, was proving to be a magical evening. Following these enchanting events, we eventually had our dinner and went off to sleep.

The next day we hired a local cab to visit Rohtang pass and Solang valley. Rohtang Pass lies beyond the habitable world that continues to enchant travellers. During our journey to Rohtang pass, we braved bone-chilling gusts, slippery roads with their deadly curves, and sometimes extremely rough weather. The reward for this effort was being greeted by snow-capped mountains, encountering the thrill of a challenging journey, and breathing in the fresh mountain air along with few inches of fresh snow covered like a blanket all over the ground and slope of Rohtang pass. Now we understood the cunning location of the pass coupled with the spellbinding escapade of nature all around us, making Rohtang Pass so popular. Enchanting sights of glaciers, snow-covered peaks, and rivers continued to amaze nature lovers like ourselves to ride the bottlenecked roads that were unforgiving and wouldn‟t entertain amateur drivers. We spent more than an hour playing with the snow, sliding, skiing, and throwing snowballs at each other. Next, it was time to tour Solang valley, so we hopped back into our car and after an hour of treacherous drive, we reached Solang valley where we enjoyed the thrill and fun of adventurous activities like zorbing, paragliding, ATV riding, and skiing/skating, snowmobiling, etc individually depending on our choice of adventure sports. On our way back to Manali we also had the opportunity to visit the Hidimba Devi temple which was at the entrance of a forest covered with huge pine trees. We returned to our hotel in the evening and spent our last night gazing at the starlit sky blanketing over the towering mountains and eventually treating ourselves to a lavish dinner.

Waving GOODBYES!!!

We had spent a glorious midsummer, living our dream in Shimla & Manali, and the next morning my heart was heavy as we left the Eden of our fantasies. The beauty of Shimla & Manali was unforgettable; but far more beautiful was the journey itself. We discovered that there was no wifi in the mountains but you won't find a better connection. Concluding my travelogue with a thought that occupied my heart & mind during our journey:-

“Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.” -Greg Child

-Pritam Maji