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Kashmir's traditional tea kettle on the way out
by Bilal Butt

     Srinagar: The traditional Samovar, a container used for making tea, is fast losing its charm in Jammu and Kashmir with the ubiquitous mercury vacuum flask taking its place. A samovar is a container traditionally used to prepare the exotic "kehva" tea. The bras kettle has an opening for burning coal in its middle. Now being used only for adorning houses, this masterpiece of craftsmanship was a staple Kashmiri kitchenware ever since the Mughals introduced it from Samarkand in central Asia. "Today, its use has become very limited because of the use of stove, heaters, gas and it is only being used as a showpiece in houses. There is no coal being burnt in the houses anymore and so it is not being used anymore. It is used only as a showpiece now," said Abdul Karim. Inside a samovar there is a fire-container in which live coals are placed. Around the fire-container there is a space for water to boil. Tea leaves, sugar, cardamom, and cinnamon are put in the water. Samovar, once considered to be the focal point of Kashmiri tradition, now makes rare appearances at functions and funerals. "They are not being used in the city at all. Only when there is a function or if somebody dies in the family is the samovar being used. So, a family usually has one samovar, which is used lifelong. The common people do not use it, they prefer gas, stove and serve it in flasks to the guests," said Mustaak Ahmad, a samovar maker. A symbol of the strong joint family institution, the samovar kindled the spread of copper and bronze ware craft in Kashmir. Besides Kashmir, the samovar is also found in Russia and the Gulf region.
-July 30, 2005

Ferozabad people, breathe glass not air (Go to Top)
by Brajesh Mishra

     Ferozabad: The bangles made in Ferozabad district of Uttar Pradesh, which have been popular all over the country, are now being exported all over the world. The glass indsutry in Ferozabad produces goods worth 217 million dollars a year, and more than half of it is exported. About 400 glass industries are registered in Ferozabad, which make different types of glass products. They use natural gas instead of coal. It is said people of Ferozabad breathe glass, not air. Despite their fluctuating business the quality of bangles has never been allowed to suffer. "There is not much profit in the business any more but we are happy with the end product. We are proud of making this. There is never any problem of labourers," says Rajendra Sharma, a bangle- seller. The bangle industry started 100 years ago in this small district, after the cotton and indigo farming failed due to a famine. Since then, the industry has steadily grown Glass products from Ferozabad, mainly bangles, because of being popular in all parts of the country. Now, the glass industry of Ferozabad has been meeting export orders from neighbouring countries and also from Europe and the United States. "Earlier, we faced a lot of problems but since we were provided with gas, situation has improved . The sales have also increased. Even the foreign buyers have increased. Now we have an upper hand as compared to the bangle-makers from Bangladesh and Pakistan,"says Ram Niwas Gupta, another bangle-seller. Ferozabad is considered the home of the glass industry. White and coloured glass pieces are being manufactured for assembling chandeliers that were in demand even in the past in royal courts and houses of nobles for decorating their drawing rooms.
-July 27, 2005

Everest becoming world's highest garbage dump (Go to Top)

     London: Environmental activists from around the world have expressed grave concern over the heap of rubbish being left behind on Mt. Everest, saying that if this activity is not curtailed or restricted immediately, global warming threats could go out of control. The once pristine snowscape is now strewn with human waste and rubbish that it has earned the unflattering reputation for being the "world's highest garbage site", reports the BBC. According to Sir Chris Bonington, who led the first ascent of Everest's South-West Face in 1975, "We must deal with this situation. The area is one of stunning natural beauty, which is in danger of being ruined by litter." Hundreds of people attempt to climb Mt. Everest each year, and end up leaving oxygen tanks, food packaging and tents while descending from the summit. So deep is the concern, that this week environmental activists will appeal to the authorities to place the Sagarmatha National Park in the Himalayas on the World Heritage danger list. Aware of the problem, the Government of Nepal has insisted that mountaineers pay a deposit, which will be refunded after they bring their rubbish back down. Kathmandu has also organised clean-up climbs and financial incentives for porters to fill empty bags with mountain litter. The Nepalese authorities are now pushing climbers to use metal containers, which can be brought down in crushed form and then recycled, rather than plastic or glass. The collected material is fuelling local industry in Kathmandu and Jiri, where it is turned into cooking pans and utensils and sold in nearby markets. Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mt. Everest, is among those decrying the huge numbers of visitors, including inexperienced amateurs, setting foot on the roof of the world. While it took 30 years for the first 150 climbers to climb Everest, the same number completed the expedition over a three- day period in 2001. The number of successful summiteers now stands at 2,249, "and counting", says EverestNews.com.
-July 16, 2005

Flavoured hookah bug bites Jaipur's elite (Go to Top)

     Jaipur: A new trend of flavoured hookah smoking has picked up in Jaipur as exclusive hookah bars and lounges have sprouted across the city. Also known as "Sheesha", the traditional hookah was earlier confined to the rural areas but now its popularity and growing demand has made its presence felt in the elite section of the society. Lounge bars have come up with exotic flavours of hookahs -- mint, apple, jasmine, mango, cola and orange -- to attract youngsters, and make the non-smokers feel free. The evenings at most of the hookah joints, bars, lounges and clubs in the heritage city have become a hit with the trendy elite youngsters who gather for a smoke as it is free from nicotine and does not harm the body. "This is like a new trend for this town basically but now this is picking up and the response is really good we are getting and the other thing is this is refreshing smoke and so even those who don't smoke cigarettes and bidis are smoking this because this is not tobacco but just fruit flavoured smoke," said Manohar, manager at a lounge bar. A hookah can be smoked at a minimum price of Rs. 110 charged for the pipe and tobacco, and can be shared among a group of six to ten people. Youngsters, who are enjoying the latest fad, say it helps in spending cozy evenings with friends. "It's good because all the friends sit together, enjoy and talk and in the morning we go to office and study and therefore in the evening it is good to sit with friends enjoying and talking," said Vijay Jain. Hookah arrived in the country from the Middle East and Arab countries where the trend of flavoured Hookah was explored as smoking of tobacco is prohibited in Islam. Hookah, also known as "Hubbly-Bubbly", originated in Turkey around 400 years back, and later it migrated to Middle East and became good time pass for Arab Sheikhs and their wives. These hookahs were simple, primitive, and rugged in design, usually made from a coconut shell base and tube with a head attached. They were designed to smoke opium, and hashish. The hookah made its way through the Persian Kingdom, which also included Pakistan, Afghanistan, much of Middle Asia and Arab parts of Northern Africa.
-July 4, 2005