Darjeeling, Nov. 10: Thami was used to
life being tough. She had started earning her livelihood at
a tender age, trudging up the hills with loads of luggage
as a porter.
That there was much more to life than mere
hardships was something unknown to her. So when it came to
dancing and singing at the Porter’s Olympics, she soaked
her spirits in the celebratory mood and radiated happiness.
`It really feels wonderful to be part of
the celebrations. I have never sung or danced on a stage earlier,
even though I was called to act in a film a long time ago.
They say the film was completed but I have never seen it,`
said Thami, one of the contestants at the Olympics, the aim
of the which was to make people like her feel that they, too,
were part of the carnival.
Decked in colourful garments and traditional
ornaments, the women — almost all of whom have migrated
from remote pockets of Nepal in search of a better life —
danced and sang before a huge audience to celebrate the spirit
of the hills. The organisers had planned different events
for the ladies from dance to arm-wrestling competitions. Their
efforts were a success; the Olympics drew a large response.
The winners were judged on several counts,
from their traditional attire to their ability to reply to
the queries thrown by the organisers. Efforts were made to
ensure that the participants enjoyed as much as the audience.
Though the arm-wrestling contest was the top draw, it was
the question-answer round that threw light on their lives.
`I hope my five sons will never suffer the
backbreaking poverty and pain that I lived with. It was a
part and parcel of my life. But then, I wonder whether they
will be able to make it at all,` said Shika Chhetri, another
contestant, as she spoke about her worries.
`We have to carry luggage, weighing almost
50 to 60 kg at one go, to earn our living. But its nice to
be here singing songs as we used to do when we were in our
village,` smiled Sanjamaya Tamang, another participant.
`We decided to hold this contest to send
out the message that these people are also part of the carnival.
We want people to respect these porters,` said Suraj Sharma,
one of the organisers. |
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