festivals continued 2-dasai or dashara
by mantru
october the month of the main festival of nepalese people.
In October Hindus specially Nepali Hindus, have their greatest festival. It's a continuous celebration for fifteen days. This festival starts from Jamare Aunshi (Newmoon, the day barley is sown in temples for Dasain. The shrada (remembrance of the dead ancestors) ceremony is also performed during this period. From the next day starts Durga Puja, Nepalis also call this Shakti (Power) puja, when the goddess Durga (triumph of good over evil) is worshipped for nine days to worship the nine different forms she comes in. Nepalis celebrate this by worshipping weapons like their traditional Khukuri, etc. On the seventh day is Phul Pati (Flowers and petals) when flowers of different kinds are taken round the town in procession and later taken to Goddess Durga in the temple. The eighth day is Maar (the day of sacrifice), this day is celebrated with the ceremonial sacrifice of a buffalo at Dali ground.
The tenth day is Tika day. On this day people go to their elders to get the blessings and the holy food (Prasad) of Shakti puja. This continues till the fullmoon day.
This is how dasai ia celebrated in darjeeling but for full details there are three tips on the whole festival of dasain.
Climb the rocks.
by AKHTARSAYYAD
We can climb the rocks by using simple rope and really u must have the courage ...!
It is so nice and enjoyable game
u can take help from local mountaineering teachers...! Only good quality rope and anchors and good nails.high mountain raising shoes..
Memories of Druk Sangag Choeling Monastery
by Donna_in_India
This was one of my 2 favorite experiences in Darjeeling.
This huge, colorful Buddhist monastery sits high on a hill about 4 kms. outside of Darjeeling. It was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama and is the seat of H.H. Gyalwan Druken Rinpoche, the supreme head of the Kargyupa sect.
After taking a couple of photos outside, we removed our shoes and were welcomed inside. Unbelievably there was a service going on. There were hundreds of monks on benches in two sections facing each other. They were chanting to the rhythmic drums. We made our way to the back of one of the sections and sat down on the hard floor. I was absolutely entranced.
Alongside me about 8-10 feet away was a small group of young boys (monks) fidgeting through the service. A short while into our stay one of the elder monks went and brought us 2 mats. At one point several monks came in carrying pots and started pouring hot tea for the monks on the benches. The chanting and drums continued. It was so easy to get lost in it. We stayed a little longer before (unfortunately) making our way back outside.
This was such an amazing experience. If you are lucky enough to go at a similar time, remove your shoes, be respectful (and quiet) and no photos inside!
Big Ben of darjeeling-Capital tower clock
by mantru
I still remember the days when we went to watch films like 'beautiful people' ,the jungle book,this hall was burnt down by a fire since then it no longer functions as a cinema hall ,recently the clock was repaired,however I could not find out the date of origin but you can read the history below written by Dr T.Y.Pemba...During the Second World War, Darjeeling besides being a recruiting centre for the British Gorkha Regiments was also a hill resort and convalescence centre for the military. And hence, the town used to be packed with soldiers, mostly British and Americans. The town would present such a carnival look that the Rink and Capital cinemas would bring out clearly printed notices showing the daily films going on, and the houses used to be packed with soldiers and sailors. Dr. T.Y.Pemba in his article, ‘Reminiscences of Darjeeling’ describing the environment then wrote: “I remember very clearly sitting with some British sailors in the cheapest seats in the Capital cinema… and the sailors made loud ribald remarks at every thing and we had a most boisterous time”. Certainly due to the World War, Darjeeling enjoyed great prosperity. Dr. T.Y.Pemba further writes, “There were three famous ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ restaurants serving delicious Chinese food. The present Shangri La was the Park restaurants serving delicious Chinese food and ice-creams. The present Washington restaurant was a famous Chinese restaurant where all soldiers had to queue up and line up outside for food as they waited patiently for a table. Outside were the union jack, American and Kuomintang flags crossed in amity and fluttering in the breeze. The present Deshbandhu District Library was the Chinese ‘Carlton’ restaurant where people ate on their way to have fun at the Gymkhana Club. I do not remember power cuts or much shortage of water. In fact, when prolonged power cuts occurred, it was so rare that people wondered whether it was the work of the Japanese parachutists!"
4 Day Darjeeling Trek
by earthflyer
India
Agra --- Belur --- Goa --- Gwalior --- Halebid --- Kumbakonam --- Lachen
Lachung --- Panipat --- Satna --- Bodhgaya --- Gaya --- McLeod Ganj --- Hampi
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Shimla --- Thanjuvar --- Tiruchirappalli(Trichy)
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Chopta Valley, Sikkim
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Attari
State of Sikkim
Gezying --- Yumthang Valley --- Namok Village --- Loser (Tibetan Festival)
Darjeeling
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