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Two lakh tourists may come for Darjeeling carnival

     Darjeeling: The annual Darjeeling carnival is a money-spinner in Bengal with the number of visitors having multiplied since its inception three years ago. This year's carnival commenced on December 7. Jazz star Louis Banks, who hails from the town, performed before huge crowds at the carnival. About two lakh visitors are likely to attend the 10-day carnival, which is being organised for the fourth consecutive year. It has also proved to be a cultural bonanza for tourists.

     The carnival is showcasing much of what is a part of Darjeeling's treasured heritage. Poetry-reading sessions, painting and photo exhibitions, tea-drinking ceremonies, a Land Rover rally, music concerts and ethnic food festivals, there is clearly a lot to choose from. Tourists from all over the world, including the Indian tourists, have congregated here to celebrate. "At first sight, Darjeeling is very nice, a little bit cold, but the carnival is very very interesting. We have just seen a procession go by, very interesting to see all the local people, especially the children with local dress on, representing all the community in Darjeeling," said Crowns, a British tourist. "I think if it can enter the travel guides and such things, people can come here to see it. I think the news will also spread from mouth to mouth that it is a good thing to see, and people will come to see it," said Allen, a Swiss tourist. At the Chowrasta, the town's main concourse, more than 300 workers marched with torches, sang and danced. "This place, Chowrasta, is a very popular place here. So, I thought of coming here. Moreover, the carnival is also taking place, which is really very good. Everything about this place is unbelievable," said Bakil Ansari, tourist from Kolkata. The organisers are being led by a non-registered civil group, the Darjeeling Initiative, besides the tourism wing of the DGPC, hill municipalities who are extending co-partnership to the event. Among the active participants in the carnival are the artistes of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre of the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development (Department of Culture) portraying the colourful cultural scenario of Darjeeling and its neighbourhood. "The Carnival is being held for the fourth time. We organise the Darjeeling Carnival to promote tourism as well as to showcase our culture before the world. People here live unitedly, and we want to showcase this to the world," said Sameer Sharma, one of the organisers of the Darjeeling Carnival. The British Council and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations are also participating in this extravaganza. Darjeeling is a district of West Bengal in the Shivalik hills. Its headquarters are at the hill station of Darjeeling. Kalimpong, Kurseong and Siliguri are the major towns of the district. During the British Raj in India, Darjeeling's temperate climate led to its development as a hill station (hill town) for British residents to escape the heat of the plains during the summers.

    The hill station is internationally famous for its tea industry and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apart from tea, tourism is the only industry that has a direct impact on the economy of the region. Practically all businesses of the region depend on tourism. Therefore, the organisers feel it is the best time to boost the tourism industry in West Bengal.
-Dec 13,  2006

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