Happy World Tourism Day - 2011

Today September 27, World Tourism Day 2011 is celebrated under the theme Tourism – Linking Cultures, an opportunity to highlight tourism’s role in bringing the cultures of the world together and promoting global understanding through travel. “The message on this World Tourism Day is that, thanks to tourism, millions of people from different cultures are being brought together around the world like never before,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. Everyday huge numbers of people travel the world, this contrive the interactions between individuals and communities, get to know their diverse cultures, and to respect and have mutual understanding which ultimately is fabricating a more peaceful world.

World Tourism Day is celebrated annually on 27 September. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the UN Millennium Development Goals and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.

The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced the five photos and five “tweets" from among the hundreds of entries submitted to the 2011 World Tourism Day (WTD) competitions that best reflect the 2011 theme, “Tourism – Linking Cultures." The winning photos, featuring Korean women celebrating India’s Holi Festival and a young tourist backstage at the Chinese Opera Theatre, alongside a selection of finalists, will be displayed as part of a photo exhibition in Aswan, Egypt, the host of the official WTD celebrations, “It is extraordinary how a simple photo, or just 140 characters, can highlight what makes our sector so special: its ability to link the cultures of the world,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

Few countries in the world have such an ancient and diverse culture as India's. Stretching back in an unbroken sweep over 5000 years, India's culture has been enriched by successive waves of migration which were absorbed into the Indian way of life. It is this variety which is a special hallmark of India. Its physical, religious and racial variety is as immense as its linguistic diversity. Underneath this diversity lies the continuity of Indian civilization and social structure from the very earliest times until the present day. Modern India presents a picture of unity in diversity to which history provides no parallel. India has a variety of religions, festivals, rituals, artifacts, monuments, costumes, music and dance, language and literature. Just in some words it can’t be described you must come and visit to explore the culture of India.

The Indian society is not a uniform one. This is a natural corollary to the fact that diversity is a part of Indian way of life. From region to region, diversity in the social structure is prominently seen. The north Indian social traditions and customs are markedly different and so those of the eastern India from those of other parts of the country. And here lies the tantalizing element of mystery associated with India.

Planning to Visit Khardung La

Khardung La has its head in the clouds and its height in doubt. Khardung La is an amazing place and “only one in the world” experience. The sights on the way to and from this place are fantastic beyond words. Khardung La (la means pass in Tibetan) (elevation 5359 m) is a high mountain pass located in the Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The international spelling is used here, but it is locally spelt "Khardong La". This amazing pass on the Ladakh Range lies north of Leh and is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys. The Siachen Glacier lies partway up the following valley. Khardung La was built in 1976 and was opened to motor vehicles in 1988 and by then there have been many automobile, motorbike and mountain biking explorations. This area of Khardung La is maintained by the Indian Army\'s Corps, the pass is really important to India as it is used to carry various essential supplies to the Siachen.

Authentic Khardung La

Khardung La is historically important as, for centuries; Khardung La remained one of the highest points on any trade route anywhere in the world. The caravan trade (till the year 1949) used this pass to do business between Punjab and central asia. This route was a feeder to the famous “Silk Route” and could only be used in summer as the snow in winter would make it impossible to cross. About 10,000 horses and camels used to take the route annually, and a small population of Bactrian camels can still be seen in the area north of the pass, mute witnesses to history. During World War II there was a futile attempt to transfer war material to China through this route. Imagine the adventurers and traders of yester years travelling through these mountains with horses, mules, camels, sheep and yaks!

This pass is really a challenge to every biker from all corners of the world testing their conviction. Thin air and low oxygen levels makes riding to this pass even more difficult. Converge of tourists visit this pass in their SUVs and Bullets each year during mid June to mid October. Weather conditions can be unpredictable, and snowstorms can happen even in the height of the summer also. There can be a lot of heavy traffic on the road, especially Indian Army trucks. Acute Mountain Sickness is a serious risk, and visitors are not recommended to spend too long at the top.

It is probably an adage to use the word anxious when you are referring to Ladakh. But it is not every day that you drive up the towering mountains beyond 17000 feet, in the midst of stunning landscape and then immerse down to 10000 feet to rest in a picturesque valley. Vehicles travelling to and from Khardung La are allowed only in one direction at a time: from 9am - 1pm in the Leh – Khardug La direction, and from 1 pm - 5 pm from the Nubra Valley via Khardung La towards Leh.

"Every generation needs a journey story; every generation needs a story about what it is to be transformed by geography, what it is to be transformed by encounters with cultures and people that are alien from yourself, and you know that age group 15 to 25, that’s the perfect generation to get on a motorcycle, to hit the road, to put on your backpack and just go out."
— José Rivera, screenwriter, NPR [5]

We are planning to explore the world’s highest motorable road in the month of April/May 2012. Those who are likely to join our group can post a mail to wwilson.tom@gmail.com or shanky.panicker@gmail.com or you may even post your view and suggestion in the below comment box. The itinerary will publish after fixing the date.

Onam - Festival to Venerate Happiness and Prosperity

Onam is the time to rejoice. In my school time I celebrated Onam tremendously. When Onam festival falls it’s like a carnival time and schools get closed. Me and my friend had lots of fun at the time of Onam. In schools different types of events are held and all classes are been participated in this events and everyone enjoys the moment. Events like tug of war, kaikottikali, valupari, kalam thali potikkal, nadan pattu competitions and the main event pookalam. For the pookalam competition all student get lots of different varieties of flowers and after organizing a good design very sophisticated the flowers are arranged in the pookalam and in the competition whose pookalam is looking best wins. After all the events are over we all together have our lunch, in onam lunch is called as onasadya. In onasadya we have lots of dishes and delicious payasam as the desert is awe-inspiring one.

Onam is the biggest festival celebrated in the land of Gods Own Country. This festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and this month is regarded as the homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali. Being a harvest festival, it is like a moment to thank God for the bountiful yield. The festival of Onam goes for ten days and a number of rituals are performed during the ten days of this festival. Onam festival is celebrated for ten days and while this days it shows the best Kerala culture and tradition. While in this festival you may get the chance to explore Sophisticatedly decorated Pookalam, mouth watering Onasadya, overwhelming Snake Boat Race and awe-inspiring Kaikottikali dance, and much more customs.

The best part of Onam celebration is the grand feast called Onasadya, prepared on Thiruonam. It is a nine course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes, which includes; Rice, Erissery, Kalan or Pulisseri, Olan, Aviyal, Thoran, Mulakoshyam, Koottukari, Sambar, Rasam, Pappads, Pickles, Upperi or Chips, Payasam, Prathaman. Onasadya is served on banana leaves and people sit on a mat laid on the floor to have the meal.

Another enchanting feature of Onam is Vallamkali, the Snake Boat Race, held on the river Pampa. It is a colourful sight to watch the decorated boat oared by hundreds of boatmen amidst chanting of songs and cheering by spectators.

There is also a tradition to play games, collectively called Onakalikal, on Onam. Men go in for rigorous sports like Talappanthukali (played with ball), Ambeyyal (Archery), Kutukutu and combats called Kayyankali and Attakalam. Women indulge in cultural activities. They make intricately designed flower mats called, Pookalam in the front courtyard of house to welcome King Mahabali. Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal are two graceful dances performed by women on Onam. Folk performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add to the zest of celebrations.

The story behind Onam

The story goes that the beautiful state of Kerala was once ruled by an Asura (demon) king, Mahabali. The King was greatly respected in his kingdom and was considered to be wise, judicious and extremely generous. It is said that Kerala witnessed its golden era in the reign of King Mahabali. Everybody was happy in the kingdom, there was no discrimination on the basis of caste or class. Rich and poor were equally treated. There was neither crime, nor corruption. People did not even lock their doors, as there were no thieves in that kingdom. There was no poverty, sorrow or disease in the reign of King Mahabali and everybody was happy and content. His fame as an able king began to spread far and wide, but when he extended his rule to the heavens and the netherworld, the gods felt challenged and began to fear his growing powers. Presuming that he might become over-powerful, Aditi, the mother of Devas pleaded with Lord Vishnu to curtail Mahabali's powers. Vishnu transformed himself into a dwarf called Vamana and approached Mahabali while he was performing a yajna and asked for alms. Pleased with the dwarf brahmin's wisdom, Mahabali granted him a wish. The Emperor's preceptor, Sukracharya warned him against making the gift, for he realized that the seeker was no ordinary person. But the Emperor's kingly ego was boosted to think that God had asked him for a favor. So he firmly declared that there is no greater sin than going back on one's promise. He kept his word.

The Vamana asked for a simple gift — three paces of land — and the king agreed to it. Vishnu in the guise of Vamana then increased his stature and with the first step covered the sky, blotting out the stars, and with the second, straddled the netherworld. Realising that Vamana's third step will destroy the earth, Mahabali offered his head as the last step.

Vishnu's fatal third step pushed him to the netherworld, but before banishing him to the underworld Vishnu granted him a boon. Since he was attached to his kingdom and his people, he was allowed to return once a year from exile. Onam is the celebration that marks the homecoming of King Mahabali. It is the day when a grateful Kerala pays a glorious tribute to the memory of this benign king who gave his all for his subjects.