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NAGARAJ LOHITH

About NAGARAJ LOHITH

Posts by LOHITH NAGARAJ:

Dharohar

Darjeeling is fondly called “Queen of the Hills”

An integral part of India’s legacy and heritage (dharohar) are its cities, towns, and villages. History awaits at every corner of India, whether its a lost legend, a well preserved palace, or a village bazaar. Through our ‘Dharohar’ section we will bring to you some of India’s treasured places.

This month we showcase Darjeeling, a city in the state of West Bengal, famous for its highly aromatic black tea with fruity and floral flavor. For all tea connoisseurs out there, your tea experience is incomplete until you’ve tasted the “Champagne of Teas” – Darjeeling Tea. It is said that these teas are the highest elevation produced teas and it is the altitude that creates an ideal environment for the tea plant. The result is that the teas grown here are imparted with a unique muscatel flavour and special aroma.

Nestled in the Himalayan foothills, Darjeeling is home to the view of the mighty Mt. Kanchenjunga. The Himalayan range is best viewed from Tiger Hill and captures the perfect sunrise. To traverse the extreme landscapes, local workers laid small-gauge tracks between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling and built small but powerful engines, and built the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The railway is also known as Toy Train due to its engines and compartments that look like a scaled down toy version of other trains operated in India.

The city is also famous for its Cable Car Ropeway which was the first ropeway built in India. From the cable cars can be seen a bird’s eye view of Darjeeling’s lush vegetation, tea gardens. Darjeeling is also home to the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, that houses high altitude Himalayan animals including endangered animals like Red Panda and the Snow Leopard. Sprawled over about 40 acre of land is Lloyd Botanical Garden, another unique attraction in the city. It is a delight for anyone who wishes to enjoy a vibrant display of nature’s colors with a collection of flora including alpine plants. Finally a visit to the Chowrasta and walk around the Mall Road is a must to get a full view of Darjeeling and the adjoining areas. The nearest airport to Darjeeling is Bagdogra Airport about 95 km from the city, and the nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri. Darjeeling is fondly called ‘Queen of the Hills’ and provides a perfect getaway for those seeking to be in harmony with nature.

Sources:
https://darjeeling.gov.in/
https://www.incredibleindia.org/
https://www.darjeeling-tourism.com
https://www.travelawaits.com/2483111/darjeeling-fascinating-facts/
https://teatrunk.in/blogs/all/everything-you-need-to-know-about-darjeeling-tea-in-a-nutshell

Community Conversations

DiyaChandra

Diya Poorna Chandra, Shrewsbury (Preschooler)

 

“We light candles and pray to God, and we put rangoli too. We do the fireworks around it. And then we say Happy Diwali!”

 

Dr Kalyani Murthy

Dr. Kalyani Murthy,

Lexington

“Deepavali embodies the true meaning of ‘Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya’ which essentially means ‘Lead me from darkness to light’. The Festival of Lights, as it is known all over the world, ushers in light, enlightens our life and fosters a sense of brotherhood. It reminds us to embrace the journey of life as a quest for knowledge and truth while dispelling ignorance.”   

DiyaChandra

Diya Poorna Chandra, Shrewsbury (Preschooler)

“We light candles and pray to God, and we put rangoli too. We do the fireworks around it. And then we say Happy Diwali!”

 

Dr Kalyani Murthy

Dr. Kalyani Murthy, Lexington

“Deepavali embodies the true meaning of ‘Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya’ which essentially means ‘Lead me from darkness to light’. The Festival of Lights, as it is known all over the world, ushers in light, enlightens our life and fosters a sense of brotherhood. It reminds us to embrace the journey of life as a quest for knowledge and truth while dispelling ignorance.”   

 

Radhika Dwara

Radhika Dwara,

Brighton

(Northeastern University Graduate)

 

“Diwali for me is an amalgamation of small joys .. be it the happiness of enjoying Diwali faral (sweets & snacks), the shopping for new dresses, lighting the fire crackers and diyas or attending the ‘Diwali-pahat-event’ (music mehfils at the dawn) in Pune. Diwali always reminds me of the best times spent with my family and friends.”

 

Dr Rahul Datar

Dr. Rahul Datar,

Wayland

“Diwali is the festival to celebrate happiness and remember God. We try to forget our daily trials and tribulations during this festive time to create joy in our lives. We celebrate it with our friends and family to double this joy!”

Radhika Dwara

Radhika Dwara, Brighton, (Northeastern University Graduate)

“Diwali for me is an amalgamation of small joys .. be it the happiness of enjoying Diwali faral (sweets & snacks), the shopping for new dresses, lighting the fire crackers and diyas or attending the ‘Diwali-pahat-event’ (music mehfils at the dawn) in Pune. Diwali always reminds me of the best times spent with my family and friends.”

 

Dr Rahul Datar

Dr. Rahul Datar, Wayland

“Diwali is the festival to celebrate happiness and remember God. We try to forget our daily trials and tribulations during this festive time to create joy in our lives. We celebrate it with our friends and family to double this joy!”

 

yt2

Aarushi Pant,

IAGB Youth Director

 

“Diwali is a celebration of the victory of good over evil where we ward off darkness by lighting up our homes. More than simply a religious holiday, it is also a time of community, where friends and families come together to celebrate.”

 

yc1

Anshika Shekhar,

IAGB Youth Member

“My favorite memories of Diwali celebrations center around a few people, my family. For me, Diwali signals the end of the year. For me, Diwali is the equivalent of the new year for others. Diwali is the time of year when I reflect on my wins and losses from the previous year. This is the time of year when I establish new resolutions and make plans for the coming year. This is when I get to see my family and I (plus my dog) enjoy the holidays while escaping the hectic world of school and work.”

 

yt2

Aarushi Pant, IAGB Youth Director

“Diwali is a celebration of the victory of good over evil where we ward off darkness by lighting up our homes. More than simply a religious holiday, it is also a time of community, where friends and families come together to celebrate.”

 

yc1

Anshika Shekhar, IAGB Youth Member

“My favorite memories of Diwali celebrations center around a few people, my family. For me, Diwali signals the end of the year. For me, Diwali is the equivalent of the new year for others. Diwali is the time of year when I reflect on my wins and losses from the previous year. This is the time of year when I establish new resolutions and make plans for the coming year. This is when I get to see my family and I (plus my dog) enjoy the holidays while escaping the hectic world of school and work.”

 

IAGB Spotlight

Ram Satyaprasad

We all have heard the phrase – Life is a marathon, not a sprint – at some point in life. Ram Satyaprasad of Burlington is the living embodiment of that phrase. He took up running as a part of his exercise regime and hasn’t stopped even at the age of 83. Though he started to run for health, it has given him a lot of fun, immense joy, and most importantly a purpose.

He has participated in more than 400 runs both locally and across the nation, including 32 marathons. In fact, he is the US Track & Field Federation’s national club record holder for 80+ year-olds. Along with these athletic accomplishments Ram enjoys the extraordinary camaraderie within his extended runners’ community. And believes that running in bigger groups has offered him better discipline and an opportunity to learn something new during every run.

Perhaps it is not a surprise that Ram has been a pioneer for many local community organizations, including IAGB. He was the president of IAGB during 1975-77. And fondly remembers the strong sense of connection and dedication experienced by the then small community of Indian Americans. He still wishes the same cohesion to the community and believes that IAGB can become the voice of the larger community by offering a greater platform to build better connections. “We have so many talented people in the community. But sitting back and not getting out doesn’t help. There have to be opportunities to make people participate more and live life to the fullest. In fact, in that regard I highly recommend the book ‘Younger Next Year’ to everyone, especially the seniors,” says Ram.

We sincerely thank Ram Satyaprasad ji for his wisdom, encouragement and blessings!

Ram Satyaprasad

Satya prasad

We all have heard the phrase – Life is a marathon, not a sprint – at some point in life. Ram Satyaprasad of Burlington is the living embodiment of that phrase. He took up running as a part of his exercise regime and hasn’t stopped even at the age of 83. Though he started to run for health, it has given him a lot of fun, immense joy, and most importantly a purpose.

He has participated in more than 400 runs both locally and across the nation, including 32 marathons. In fact, he is the US Track & Field Federation’s national club record holder for 80+ year-olds. Along with these athletic accomplishments Ram enjoys the extraordinary camaraderie within his extended runners’ community. And believes that running in bigger groups has offered him better discipline and an opportunity to learn something new during every run.

Perhaps it is not a surprise that Ram has been a pioneer for many local community organizations, including IAGB. He was the president of IAGB during 1975-77. And fondly remembers the strong sense of connection and dedication experienced by the then small community of Indian Americans. 

He still wishes the same cohesion to the community and believes that IAGB can become the voice of the larger community by offering a greater platform to build better connections. “We have so many talented people in the community. But sitting back and not getting out doesn’t help. There have to be opportunities to make people participate more and live life to the fullest. In fact, in that regard I highly recommend the book ‘Younger Next Year’ to everyone, especially the seniors,” says Ram.

We sincerely thank Ram Satyaprasad ji for his wisdom, encouragement and blessings!