Kalimpong, Aug. 14. - Independence Day is still to
come but Kalimpong has already donned its festive fervour for the
occasion. Unlike other parts of the country,
in Kalimpong the celebrations take on an entirely different hue.
Not for Kalimpong the solemn mood and quiet feeling of pride. Instead, the Hills reverberate to the marching bands of schools
practicing for the final day at the Mela Ground here. Even official
celebrations continue for two days.
A banner in a street corner felicitates town residents on Independence
Day. It's been put up by the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Society. Party
bookings go on in full swing in hotels. Some even buy new clothes
to look their I-Day best. As for the old, they are feeling as green
as ever. Local MLA Mr. golan Lepcha has decided to don his football
boots to lead the Kalimpong Veterans against their counterparts
from Jalpaiguri. The youngish legislator is visibly excited. `Independence
Day celebrations have always been a major affair in this town, it`s
our legacy,` said Mr. Lepcha.
There are various theories to why Kalimpong packs such a punch
on 15 August - something which the neighbouring towns envy, even
Darjeeling.
Septuagenarian Mr. Bhim Sharma, seated in the packed Mela Ground
gallery under a hot afternoon sun, watches Bhutan XI slug it out
with a local football club. Like most, Mr. Sharma thinks Kalimpong`s
festive mood during the Independence Day can be traced to its football
roots, more precisely the Independence Shield tournament. `People
used to come two days in advance from far-off places to see the
finals; it was always great fun` he recalls.
Mr. sonam Wangdi Bhutia, general secretary, Kalimpong Sports Association,
one of the architects of the town`s Independence Day celebrations,
has been working round the clock with his team of volunteers for
three weeks now to ensure that the Mela Ground programme is glitch-free.
Not only the football, even the Independence Day Parade performed
by various schools (this year nearly 27 schools are taking part
with their own bands), is giving soccer a run for its money as contender
for the Independence Shield. At the SUMI (Scottish Universities`
Mission Institution) school, the boys are busy rehearsing what has
become the star attraction of the parade - their balancing act on
motorbikes.
Mr. Go Phipon, vice-principal of the school, said his wards have
been practicing hard for the last one month. As the I-Day draws
near, school hours have now been reduced to just one period. No
wonder SUMI has been bagging the best prizes for three consecutive
years.
Not to be left out of the season's fervour, even nursery schools
will have their own programme at the Town Hall on 14 August. `On
the Independence Day, there is no opportunity for the nursery schools
to showcase their talents at the Mela Ground. Therefore, we have
been celebrating separately` explained Ms. Kalpana Prasad,
principal, L'avenir Garden School, one of the organisers of the
programme at the Town Hall.
There is one theory, most plausible, about Kalimpong's 15 August
overdrive. Mr. Palden Tamang, a senior citizen, thinks that unlike
Darjeeling and Kurseong, where the rural populace is engaged in
tea plantations, the predominantly agricultural population of Kalimpong
remains free around this time of year. `The sowing of paddy
is over by now and the farmers can relax. The Independence Day happens
to be suitably located in the calendar for some festivity`
he said.
Courtesy
The Statesman |
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