A long weekend

The year 2014 saw a spate of extended weekends as several festivals and public holidays fell around them. Rakesh kumar looks at how people are taking advantage of these short breaks


No longer do people wait for summer of winter vacations to take that outstation holiday with family. There is a now new trend towards short breaks, where one goes out on week-ends. This current year ~ 2014 ~ has been a boon for these “short-break” seekers as several festivals and public/national holidays have fallen before or after a week-end, resulting in a long weekend or a short vacation. This year has eight such long weekends, bringing to a total 53 days, when one can travel out. Though over half the year has lapsed, there is still a chance to take that long break for those who haven’t gone out so far. 
 The frequent long weekends have given rise to a new trend and there is a rush among people going on a short holiday instead of long ones.

 "Since the last few years there is an increasing trend for short holidays during such long weekends," said a Delhi based tour operator. "We are already witnessing increased bookings for destinations close to Delhi-NCR. Among the most favoured places is Jaipur, followed by Manali, Shimla, Nainital, Amritsar, Agra and Corbett."   
  The last long weekend that stretched from 15 August (Independence Day) and went on till 19 August, came as a boom for many travel operator all over the country. During this weekend, many such operators said they had got several enquiries for nearby destinations for their “staycations”. "Before this Independence Day weekend, I got numerous calls from people enquiring about travel packages for this weekend," said another travel operator. 

 The next long weekend is from 2 October (Gandhi Jayanti), which is followed by 3 October (Dussehra), Saturday and Sunday, and ends on 6 October (Bakr-Id). A fine time to pack one’s bags, say tour operators. The same opportunity is available during Diwali and New Year. "A long weekend is the perfect time to get out and breathe fresh air, especially after being relatively sequestered inside all week," said Sharif Ahmed, who has planned a surprise trip for his family during the next weekend. 
 Over the years, long traditional holidays have become passé. Fast lifestyles, work commitments and hectic schedules are making travellers opt for quick breaks, which are more convenient. Moreover, it has the health as well as finance importance too. These mini vacations not only require shorter breaks from routine work but are also lighter on the pocket. Taking a mini vacation actually proves to be more beneficial as one feels refreshed and rejuvenated before getting back to the grind. This spurt of weekend bookings has also largely been influenced by flash sales being offered by low cost airlines and hotels, which tempt travellers to book their holidays in advance at discounted rates.  

 If one takes a look at Yatra.com, a travel website, one can see a three-fold increase in the number of travellers opting for long weekend holiday packages. Weekend destinations such as Goa, Coorg, Lonavla, Mcleodganj, Rishikesh and Jaipur have seen a tremendous increase in bookings for the upcoming long weekends, showing that the Indian traveller is now keen on taking frequent short breaks in addition to the longer summer and winter vacations. 

 "Another good part of taking a short trip to a destination that is only an hour or two away is that this is a great way to visit a new place, but doesn't require too much travel or planning," said Mahender Yadav, a businessman from Delhi.

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A royal procession

Teej festival of Rajasthan is not limited to swings, henna or dressing up in traditional clothes but goes way beyond, discovers rakesh kumar

It was a huge procession of decorated elephants, adorned camels and colourful horses, along with the cannon carriage, bullock carts, horse-drawb buggi and well-decorated rath. Seeing all these, one might imagine standing in a royal palace. Indeed, one would not be far off the mark as the place is a Land of Kings and Queens ~ Jaipur in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan is not only famous for its rich royal culture or lush green forest but for its festivals too. The occasion was the colourful festival Teej, which is all about the reuniting Goddess Parvati and her husband Lord Shiva. The other significance of the festival is the beginning of monsoon in this dry state.
On 30-31 July, on the occasion of Teej, the whole city wore a festive look. Our tourist guide from Rajasthan Tourism informed us that festival has a very old legacy, more than a century old. On this day, an idol of Goddess Parvati (Teeja Mata) is taken out in a royal procession from the City Palace so that the general public can have a chance to pay homage to the Goddess. All the year, the Teej Mata is under wraps at the home of the royal family, only on this occasion, it comes out.
 Meanwhile, some of us were eager to have a look at the preparations taking place inside the palace ground and we had a plenty of time to do so. The scene inside was rather attractive, or to say, it was worth spending one hour inside. On one side, there was a row of elephant standing there all decked up, with lions and deer painted around its eyes and legs. Their mahouts got busy throwing a sheet and then few other adornments over these giants. There were a few camels and horses as well. In one corner was a group of women dressed in finery, all in black, and a few men playing music.

 After spending some time watching, clicking photographs and talking to the people around here, we finally made our way to the main road in search of a vantage point to view the procession. The sitting arrangements were made on the terrace of the Hind Hotel opposite Tripoliya Gate, where there was a row of chairs filled with foreign tourists. Luckily, despite a huge crowd, mostly VIPs, we grabbed our seats. Every now and then, there would be a sudden bout of drizzle.
Suddenly, sounds of a band emanated from the Tripoliya gate followed by a procession of painted elephants, looking grand and beautiful. Following them were different cultural performances like Kachchi Ghodi, Gair, Kalbeliya and Chakri dances. The procession also included cannon carriage, bullock carts, horse buggi and decorated rath. A number of bands also accompanied the procession. Then finally came the palanquin of Goddess Parvathy, which was a beautiful red canopy pulled by eight men dressed in their finery.

This kilometre-long procession wound its way through the lanes of the Old City (City Palace), meandering through Tripolia Bazar, Chhoti Chaupar and Gangauri Bazaar to wind up at the Chaugan Stadium. Unlike VIPs, who were on the roof, many local people dressed in their best traditional clothes made their way to the lanes to witness the fervour. All in all, the festival is a mix of colour, dance, music and mouth watering cuisine, particularly Ghewar. In another words, Teej of Rajasthan is not limited to women on swings or applying henna, but goes beyond.

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Satvik Food

 When I first heard about a “satvik” restaurant, I immediately “googled” it as I was unfamiliar with this word. When I got to know that it meant food with no onions or garlic, primarily meant for hardcore vegetarians. Curious to know how the food would taste without these essential ingredients (onions and garlic) I landed at Shraman.
 Located in Hotel Ashok, the restaurant is a fine dining offering the vegetarian delights of Rajasthani and Gujarati cuisines along with other north Indian dishes. Talking about the décor, it is not that impressive but is definitely authentic and likeable. The other major wow part is the price, which is cheap. I mean it, one can’t find any fine-dine restaurant in a 4-Star / or 5-Star Hotel and expect to pay less than Rs 1,000.
Moving to food, for starters one could relish a blend of north Indian as well as Rajasthani food. We started with  Dahi ka Samosa ~ samosa with hung curd stuffing ~ a unique, delicious take on the samosa, Jodhpuri Mirchi ka Pakora ~ a Jodhpuri specialty, which is must try for those who enjoy the their meal all spiced up! The Dhokla aur Khandvi ki Chaat and at last their best offering in starters, the Paan Patta Chaat.
For main course, we ordered Paneer Long Latta, Gatta Curry, Dal Bati Churma, Dal Shraman ~ all classic Rajasthani fare. Needless to say, the Dal Bati Churma was the best option on the menu. It was too delicious, too hard to share. And we finished with the widely popular Ghewar Malai Mishri ~ a traditional Rajasthani dessert with an almost unbearable sweetness. 

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Row over boats

Delhi boasts of at least five boat clubs, but few know about them as most are defunct and little more than sewage ponds. Rakesh kumar wonders why these cannot become places of tourist interest

The year was 1991, when the Capital conceived an idea of providing leisure boating for its residents by identifying potential water bodies in Delhi. Then, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) approached the land owning agencies and in due course of time various lakes were allotted to DTTDC purely with boating rights. Following this there are now six boating venues that have been developed. And this is how, the culture of boating commenced in the Capital. Apart from providing leisure, the other idea was to woo tourists (domestic as well as international) with various water sports and activities. However, 23 years later, what is the status of these boating clubs? Are they serving the purpose of being popular outings and picnic destinations in Delhi or are they mere showpieces? Why even after an increased tourist arrival in Delhi, the city’s lakes have remained less focused by the government? What is the reason that the boat club remains no longer true to its name ~ children are usually seen taking a bath or swimming throughout the summer season and tourists are missing.

The inception

Delhi has been notorious for its intolerable heat, therefore, a number of tourists try to avoid booking holidays during summer months, especially in the months of April to June. And those who belong to Delhi, and are from well-off families, get their tickets booked for various hill stations to get away from the searing heat of the Capital. Now, what about the rest, who are left behind? Or, say, those who can’t afford such luxuries? They look for alternative methods to beat the heat, one of them being water sports, including boating. To meet the needs of these people and to make Delhi more appealing for tourists, DTTDC chose five lakes to begin with, for water activities. These are: Old Fort Lake, Boat Club Krishi Bhawan, Naini Lake, Bhalswa Lake and Swarn Jayanti Park.   The most popular among these is the India Gate Boat Club. Located around India Gate, Boat Club boasts of beautifully laid lawns and water bodies. One of the canals that run parallel to the Raj Path has boating facility for families at nominal price. In the evening people flock here to walk or sit around, and children can be seen playing on the beautiful green lawns and around the trees that surround the structure.

Current status

Delhi’s six main lakes are actually meant for only water activities. However, the irony is that besides Old Fort Lake and India Gate, hardly any tourist steps into the other lakes. In other words, these water bodies have remained so in name  only. And they are mostly frequented by the club members only. Moreover, even the concerned department seems less serious to develop other clubs apart from Old Fort Lake and India Gate.
“Yes I agree apart from these two, other water bodies are not popular among the tourists. The Old Fort Lake gets the highest footfall and second on the list is India Gate canal. The reason for the popularity is that it falls along historical monuments~India Gate and Old Fort,” said a senior official of Delhi Tourism. Therefore for anyone visiting Delhi these places become a must visit. In their leisure time, they prefer to invest in boating in the backdrop of Old Fort or India Gate. But here the question raised is, what about the other lakes, why are they left unknown to the visitors or are they going to lose their importance in the near future like other water bodies, which have all but disappeared?

Apathy all over

Rajan Sehgal, a Delhi-based tour operator, claims that Delhi has a good number of visiting tourists, in the region of 216.37 lakh domestic and 18.17 lakh foreign, as per a report published by Delhi Tourism. However, in many instances the city fails to cash in on them properly. “If you talk about only boating, Old Fort Lake could be the best place for water activities as it is a natural lake with a monument for backdrop. But it is not maintained well. Therefore, it has not been getting its due,” informed Sehgal.
Delhi had around 611 water bodies. Of these, 274 are already extinct, while the rest are also on the verge of extinction, thanks to nothing more than lack of maintenance. The remaining 337 that still have water in them are in a terrible condition. Bhalaswa Lake in the North has turned into a sewage pond.  Neela Hauz Lake in the South and Sanjay Lake in the East are going the same way. Between 1997 and 1998, a total of 21 water bodies disappeared from the map of Delhi.
But the DDA, MCD, block development officers and Delhi Jal Board are in a deep slumber even as the city grapples with water shortage year after year. “I know there are so many problems, but we only take care of activities happening on water. Some of the lakes fall under DDA, MCD and ASI, therefore, we can’t take responsibility for cleaning them,” said another officer of Delhi Tourism.

Shifting blame

When the same question was posed to the Delhi Tourism officials, they were quick to defend themselves. “We are responsible for the activities held on water only. We deal with the boats, promotion of boating activities and so on,” said a senior official. “In terms of promoting them, we are doing so many things ~ we are organising various festivals and water-related sports. We change the boats every three years and replace those which are meant to be replaced.”

Ever since, boating activities were introduced to Delhi, the major concern is cleanliness, as most of the lakes are very dirty. Many are facing lack of basic faciliti

es. “Forget about the foreigners, even domestic tourists will think a hundred times before opting for boating as they are so dirty and full of mosquitoes. By ignoring all these, if they still go ahead, then problems like lack of basic amenities come forward. Would you believe it, they didn’t even have toilets,” said a tour operator.

The real problem

If one were to talk about the main concerns, apart from dirtiness, Delhi lacks a natural big lake unlike other cities such as Bhopal, Hyderabad, Chandigarh or Nainital. Therefore, this also prevents Delhi’ites from enjoying actual boat rides. For instance, the popular Old Fort Lake is natural but it is too small to have any big motor-boats, the other popular India Gate is a man-made canal, where one can’t expect any boat bigger than pedal boats. And the rest of the  boat clubs are less attractive from tourists point of view. “This is the major problem for us. Therefore, we can’t use other motor boats and other water sports to promote water activities,” said the Delhi Tourism official.

BHALSWA LAKE
LAND OWNING AGENCY: Development Commissioner

Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Ltd. started boating operations in Bhalswa Lake in May 1992. The lake belongs to Divisional Commissioner, Government of Delhi. DTTDC is not paying any revenue to the office of Divisional Commissioner for the boating activity. DTTDC organised National Championship of Kayaking and Canoeing at Bhalswa Lake during 1993-94 & 1995-96. The lake is rain-fed and there is no other source of water in the lake.  The land where the Boat House is situated belongs to DDA and was constructed by the DDA for DTTDC as deposit work. No formal allotment of this land has been made by DDA to DTTDC.
DTTDC is also imparting training in kayaking and canoeing at Bhalswa Lake. After training some of the boys were selected for Para Military Forces.

 NAINI LAKE (Model Town)
 LAND OWNING AGENCY: North Delhi Municipal Corporation

DTTDC started boating at Naini Lake in 1992. DTTDC pays 12.5 per cent of the gross receipt to North DMC as their share. Besides pedal boats, Delhi Tourism provides motor boat rides. A small cafeteria is also there to cater to visitors. A musical fountain has been installed by former MLA from MLA funds.

BOAT CLUB, KRISHI BHAWAN
LAND OWNING AGENCY: CPWD

Originally boating was started in the water channel adjacent to India Gate monument, during 1991 after obtaining permission from NDMC. At present, CPWD is the land owning agency. The DTTDC pays 12.5 per cent of gross sale to CPWD. Since December 2012, boating activities were closed on the directions of Delhi Police due to security reasons on the water channel adjacent to India Gate. On the request of DTTDC, the water channel near Krishi Bhawan was given to DTTDC to operate boating. Boating here was started from 1st July 2013.)

OLD FORT LAKE
LAND OWNING AGENCY: ASI

Boating was started in 1992. Initially DDA was the land owning agency. But now the lake and its surroundings belong to ASI. DTTDC shares 12.5 per cent of total revenue generated at Old Fort Lake with ASI. 

 SWARN JAYANTI PARK
LAND OWNING AGENCY: DDA
Boating activity was started here in 2011. Earlier, the response was good but due to law and order situation in the park, DDA restricted the opening of the park to limited hours, which badly affected boating. Recently, the timings for boating were restored.

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Bikers meal

Elevated super bikes, a World map made of nuts and bolts, banisters propped up with chains, guitars made of heavy metal and brand new bikes on display ~ the description may lead one to think of some garage or bike accessories shop. No, it is neither, but a new restaurant, which bears the look of a garage.
Located in the popular Basant Lok Priya PVR complex in Vasant Vihar, the newbie, Café Torque, stands out with its quirky and ambient décor. And just a couple of glances are enough to shout out its affinity towards bikes and food. An inviting place for Delhi's bikers.  Curated by chef Arun Chanda of Mint Hospitality Consultants, the menu too is a full of biker jargon, with strong European and American accents. Its variety of food could excite both a monk and a glutton, and everyone in between.  The restaurant has even named dishes using biking terminology, like Mango People Party (fresh mango puree blended with yoghurt and mango ice cream), Jerk Powered Chicken Wings and Twisted Lamb Kebabs. For vegetarians there is 2-Stroke Mezze (Greek sambousek with spinach and feta and falafel served with hummus, tzakziki, muhammara, toasted pita triangles and home-made pickles).
Join them to celebrate two marvels of human existence ~ hard biking and meal. 
Meal for two: Rs 2,000  --Rakesh Kumar

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Thailand beckons

With Thailand facing a tourist slump, the country is gearing up to woo visitors, particularly from India, reports Rakesh Kumar 

 
The recent political turmoil in Thailand may have been a deterrent to those planning a holiday there. Yet, the country is not ready to give up on its "most preferred travel destination" tag. With tourism contributing around nine per cent of its GDP, Thailand is keen to send the message that all is well and tourists are as welcome as before.
"Can you imagine a country facing political upheaval holding domestic  festivals back to back?" asked
Runjuan Tongrut, director, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). "No...this is a sign of a (peaceful) country."
In the first four months of this year, Thailand has seen a five per cent dip in tourist arrival and officials expect this figure to rise further. As for Indian tourists, every year around one million visitors have been holidaying in Thailand. However, due to political unrest in the country, their footfall is likely to decrease. But Tongrut, who was in India for a roadshow, remained optimistic. "For the past three years, we have been getting around one million Indian tourists. This year too, we are expecting the same number."
In the roadshow held in the Capital last week, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) showcased a whole gamut of products and services, ranging from culture and entertainment options to theme parks as well as health and wellness, from tour operators to airlines and hotels. Pointing to the continued interest of tourists to Thailand, Tongrut explained how the country offered a lot by way of wedding celebrations, golf, health and wellness, adventure sports as well as women's programmes.
"Over 100 Indian weddings have been held in Thailand over the past few years and celebrations such as birthdays, anniversaries and graduation parties are being held in Thailand," said the director. "And day by day, we are getting more inquiries in this area, showing that the situation is normal."
Among other initiatives that Thailand is taking to encourage Indian tourists, festivals are organised to coincide with their holidays. These festivals include Dok Krachiao Blossom Festival, Rafting in Pai River, Amazing Thailand Grand Sale, Suphan Buri's Tulip festival and much more.

After Delhi, the Thailand Tourism roadshow will visit Jaipur and Bhubneshwar to apprise people there about places of tourist interest such as Ayutthya, Sukhothai , Khao Yai, Rayong, Koh Chang, Chantaburi, Koh  Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Pha Ngan, Krabi, Phuket, HuaHin/Cha-am, Pranburi,  Kanchanburi, Trang, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

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Joy for women

Teej is mainly celebrated in north Indian states but is now popular in Delhi, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, reports Rakesh Kumar

Every year, the third day after Shravana month of the Hindu calendar is celebrated by married women across much of North India with much gaity and enjoyment. The auspicious day of Teej is a much anticipated monsoon festival, which commemorates the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, after her 100 years of penance. The three-day festival, which marks for the well being of the family, is mainly celebrated in north Indian states ~ Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab in different styles. Now it is also observed in Delhi NCR, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

 Every state has different take on this festival. For instance, Teej has a broader significance in Rajasthan, where it is observed to provide relief from the scorching heat of summer. Rajasthan Tourism organises a Teej fair called Sawan Mela or Monsoon Festival every year to showcase the customs and traditions of the state during this time. Teej is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal. At the famous Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, women circumambulate the Shiva Linga and offer special prayers to Shiva and Parvati. A day before, this festival is celebrated as Sinjara, where young girls and women apply mehandi, or henna, on their hands and eat sweets such as Ghevar. They take out a procession in the streets singing and dancing. We take a look at how Teej is celebrated in different states.

Haryana 
In Haryana, on girls apply mehandi on their hands and feet. Married women get gifts, including new clothes, from their parents. The gift, known as baya, also consists of a variety of foodstuffs. The gift is placed on a thaali at the place of worship, usually a chowk (square), which is gaily decorated and an idol or a picture of Parvati installed. The evening is full of singing and dancing and includes prayers by the women for their husbands' longevity and their families.

Rajasthan 
Teej is also known as a festival of swings. On this day women, dressed in green colour, swing to their hearts’ content, accompanied by songs. To mark the festival, Rajasthan Tourism organises an elaborate procession in Jaipur for two consecutive days on the festive occasion, watched by people in large numbers. The Teej idol has a canopy overhead whereas the Gangaur idol is out in the open. The traditional Ghevar sweet is also an inseparable part of the festival.

Punjab 

In Punjab, Teej is celebrated as Teeyan. The whole month of Sawan sees women getting together to perform Giddha and enjoy the swings hung from trees in the village communal land. Like Haryana, it is customary for married women to receive presents from her family in the form of new clothes and sweets.

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