Bonhomie lifts carnival spirit

DARJEELING, Nov. 9: The Darjeeling Carnival has succeeded in bringing together the cultural wealth of the hills under one platform. Tourists and residents were treated to a colourful show of different ethnic communities at Chowrasta today, the third day of the Carnival. The exotic rituals and dances of the Lepcha, Yolmo and the Marwari communities were a visual delight for the tourists who seldom get a glimpse of the rich, ethnic fabric.

In keeping with the Carnival motto to celebrate the `traditional and chic` of Darjeeling, a dog show was held in the midst of the cultural programmes. It was just as well received as Saturday’s Landrover rally. Organised by the local Pet and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and called `Dog’s Day Out`, there were 32 contestants. Saint Bernards, Dachshunds, Boxers, Golden Retrievers and Cocker Spaniels took to the ramp to the tune of popular songs.

The audience cheered as each pet-owner came up to the stage to show off the specialty of the breed. Awards were given to pets under the categories: Dog of the Day and Most Well Kept. At Tiger Hill, eight km away from the town, parasailing was being conducted for the first time in the Darjeeling hills.

Participants turned up for `30 seconds of eternity`, braving the chill of the mountain top, famous for its view of the sunrise. A local girl studying in a Bangalore college, Miss Pratiksha Pradhan, became the first woman to glide over the Darjeeling hills on a parasail. `I feel like doing it once more,` she said, even after a rather hard landing.

`If the infrastructure can be built, parasailing can become a regular feature in Darjeeling,` said Mr Vishal Raj Gurung, who runs the Kalimpong-based Kalimdor Adventures and Retreat that is conducting the Carnival’s parasailing programme.

`There are great take-off points, but hardly any of them are complemented by a good landing spot. This makes paragliding difficult here,` Mr Gurung added.

In the afternoon, 148 students of the Nepali Girls’ Higher Secondary School performed a Nepali musical play, Sunkasi Rani, at the Chowrasta. In the evening, professional bands played to a huge audience at the Chowrasta.

Courtesy
The Statesman

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