Vrindavan: The holy town of Vrindavan is witnessing a heart warming example of communal harmony where Muslim weavers are making clothes for Hindu deities. These clothes are distributed not only in the country, but across the globe as well. This town has around 4000 small and big temples and its weaving industry is said to churn out crores in terms of annual output, including exports. While the communal elements are allegedly seek ways to spread disharmony within various communities, Muslim weavers here are trying their best to promote harmony and integration. They say that by weaving clothes for Hindu deities, they are worshipping the Almighty in a unique way. "We go to the temples. The priests respect us. We take the measurements and then prepare the clothes. Then we dress the deity with our own hands. If the clothes look good on the deity, we feel happy. Otherwise, we feel sad," said Ikram Qureshi, a Muslim weaver. "A total of 800 to 1000 workers are involved. The business is worth 2 crores. These clothes are also exported," revealed Vipin Kumar Aggarwal, a shopkeeper.
June 17, 2004

Shimla-Kalka toy train popular with tourists (Go to Top)

         Shimla: A British-built 1903 steam engine chugging along from Shimla to Kalka town in the valley is a major tourist attraction in Himachal Pradesh. The toy train, as it is called because of its miniature size and snail's pace, presents an old- world charm. The journey offers the passengers a picturesque view of the Himalayan valleys and the train has become very popular with tourists, not only from India but also abroad.

          "It is in a way that people used to have many years ago. It is quite different from the modern train that you get all over India. It is quite different experience..it is like really being inside a toy train," said Carcos Do Carho, a tourist from Portugal. Praveen Kumar, Station Superintendent at Shimla Railway station, said that the wide publicity during the toy train's centenary celebrations last year were responsible for its soaring popularity. "Tourists are coming in large numbers. It seems that all records will be broken this year. Previously people were not aware of the toy train. Ever since we celebrated the centenary of the toy train, there has been an international publicity and large number of tourists are coming to board it," said Kumar.

         Though the epoch of the steam engine ended in the early 1970s, the dark columns of smoke will yet again weave a glimpse of yesteryears. Not only the steam engines were replaced by the diesel engines, the turn-of-the-century vintage wooded bodied coaches made way for studier steel casing. Wooden sleepers were swapped with the steel tough type. The six-hour journey from Kalka to Shimla takes the train through 107 tunnels and connects a number of hill resorts, including Dharampore, Taksal, Gamma and Solan.

          The railways have approached UNESCO for granting a World Hertiage site status to the Kalka-Shimla rail section. The Kalka-Shimla toy train has been overshadowed by its more famous cousin, which runs from new Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. A move to replace the steam locomotive with a diesel engine was shelved after the UNESCO threatened to withdraw the World Heritage site status on the Darjeeling toy train.
June 14, 2004

Women bring back colour to a dying tradition (Go to Top)

          Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu): Dozens of women in southern India on Tuesday made beautiful "Rangolis", patterns made with coloured powder, as part of an event aimed at preserving and popularising the dying tradition. In India, Rangolis are decorative art work drawn on the floor in front of houses and in front of deities in temples. The Rangolis, made with various combinations of curves, lines and dots, are a welcome note for the gods and goddesses and made only by the lady of the house.

           From a simple 3 dots by 3 dots pattern to an elaborate 21 by 21, drawing a Rangoli is a delicate and backbreaking process. Its beauty depends on the lady who draws it and her creativity and expertise with the coloured rice flour. "It is through these festivals that we encourage this art form. It is an important part of our culture. We give cash prizes of 1,000, 750 and 500 rupees to winners," said Vimal Raj, the event manager in the hilly Kodiakanal region where the programme was organised.

          In most homes across India, particularly in southern parts, Rangolis are a daily feature with women waking up early morning to make decorations. Moreover, besides their devotional and asthetic appeal, they are also useful to all-even smallest creation. The patterns are drawn in rice flour and ants, birds and other small creatures feed on them, leaving the space sparkingly clean for the next day. "Rangoli forms an important part of our culture. Traditionally, Rangoli was to feed ants and other small insects..that's what I have been told. But now with the changing lifestyles, this art form is under threat and these types of festivals are a great help in preserving the tradition," Sucheetra, a participant, said. Others have gone a step further and improvised on the tradition using the Rangoli to give a social message. In parts of northern India, rangolis are often made using lentils, rice, pasta and fruit.
June 2, 2004

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