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Oberammergau : Where a vow started with a Pandemic and ironically postponed with a Pandemic

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20/10/2020 Manisha Deb Sarkar * Oberammergau Our Route for Oberammergau from Herrsching in Germany It was a comfortable cool morning in June, 2017 when I set out for Oberammergau from Herrsching in Germany . While driving along the silk smooth road that skirts through the eye soothing greeneries a sudden feeling of happiness filled my mind – that it is not a dream but a reality and I am travelling in the Bavaria state of Germany, a place so renowned for its picturesque natural beauty . On the way Reached My destination Oberammergau is a small town located in the foothills of the Alps cladded with dark green shaded coniferous trees. Mount Köefel is the signature of the town . It is some 61 km and about an hour long journey from Herrsching where I started my drive. Mount Köefel Mount Köefel I had little idea about the village. Before sharing Oberammergau in relation with the pandemic situation I prefer to give you some idea of its basic features. Oberammergau is a municipality in the
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Monsoon Magic….in Debrigarh.. A short Wildlife Photographic travelogue …

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  Brati Majumdar (Chatterjee) After a long gap of nearly three years, after finishing the story of the life of Dry Fish Workers and stressed due to work pressure…there was a need for refreshment. Many beautiful destinations popped up, with numerous suggestions from friends and relatives, we decided to pick the impossible,” A jungle safari, amid monsoon”.  We were informed promptly, that, most of the WLS’s been closed for three months during monsoon, there was no hope for a safari….but a sudden meeting with a friend of mine, and we came to know about the Debrigarh WLS, which remains open in September. With no delay, we visited the site, and our trip was planned. On September 22, 2023, we reached Sambalpur, where we were greeted by the staff of the WLS. After light refreshments, we headed towards our destination. As we leave the hustles and bustles of the beautiful township of Sambalpur, blessed by Goddess Sambaleshwari, the scenario began to change. Winding up along the road, with t
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The COVID Experience in Qatar

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20/10/2020 Sudeshna Sanyal * Earlier this year as the spread of coronavirus started to gather momentum in different parts of the world, we, the residents of Qatar, braced for its impact as well. Although the first cases outside China were reported from different countries in January, the first confirmed case of COVID in Qatar was reported on 29 February,’20. This was a Qatari citizen who was evacuated from Iran. By 19 March, the number of total infected people rose to 460. Everybody knew that the spread of the infection in Qatar was inevitable in our intricately connected world. One by one, the government started taking strict steps to contain the spread of the virus. Travel ban was imposed, first, on 15 countries and later more were included in the list. A general ‘Lockdown’ was imposed in the first week of March and schools, universities, parks, religious places, shops, restaurants, malls and other establishments were closed. Face masks became mandatory in public places with a very
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Groundwater Depletion in India -Now it’s Time to be Conscious

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09/09/2016 Juthika Dey* Ground water is the water that seeps through rocks and soil and is stored below the ground. The rocks in which ground water is stored are called aquifers. Aquifers are typically made up of gravel, sand, sandstone or limestone. Water moves through these rocks because they have large connected spaces that make them permeable. The area where water fills the aquifer is called the saturated zone. The depth from the surface at which ground water is found is called the water table. The water table can be as shallow as a foot below the ground or it can be a few hundred meters deep. Heavy rains can cause the water table to rise and conversely, continuous extraction of ground water can cause the level to fall. Source: Overview of Groundwater in India, Rupal Suhag , February,2016 Figure 1: Graphical Representation of Ground Water and Associated Terms The underground (hydro -geological) setting of ground water defines the potential of this resource and its vuln
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A unique tribal group practicing an eco-preserving agro-technique by a women empowered society

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Manisha Deb Sarkar  Planning the visit:  Ziro valley – Homeland of Apatani tribe It was 2016. I was sitting unperturbed as the steady grip of Dr. Rupa holding her ‘Bolero’ steering was slowly crawling up the scary zig-zag roadways leading me to Ziro, a unique town in Arunachal Pradesh. Dr. Rupa and her family lives here. She hails from the non-nomadic Apatani ethnic tribal group and is presently working as Assistant Professor of Geography at Rajiv Gandhi National University in Itanagar, the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh. I expressed my desire to visit her hometown and talk with this unique tribal people. Dr. Rupa gladly took me over there and helped me in two ways. Firstly, she made me acceptable to the people and thereafter acted as an interpreter. From our conversations many unique features were unfolded to me.  Pre-ideas:  Nursery bed for sowing paddy saplings Mountain-girt valley and the centrally located paddy field Apatani women – farmers and farm land owners Forest at the fr
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A Myth or a Lost River? River Saraswati

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 Ishika Maity For thousands of years historians, archaeologists, and mythologists have been captivated by the intriguing mystery of the river Saraswati. The Saraswati, a river that is revered in Hinduism and is mentioned extensively in ancient literature, is a subject of contention. Some people consider it to be a myth, while others think it was once a magnificent river that has been lost to the passage of time. This article explores the historical significance of the river Saraswati, how it is portrayed in ancient scriptures, and the continuous efforts to unearth its past to shed light on its mysteries.                            The Mythological Saraswati In Hindu mythology, the river Saraswati is not merely a body of water but also a goddess, one of the holy trinities, together with the Yamuna and the Ganges (Ganga). The goddess Saraswati is hugely associated with rivers in Indian culture. She is considered the goddess of wisdom, music, and art. One of the world's earliest rel
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A Delightful Holiday in Kashmir

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21/12/2018 Gargi Banerjee* I was in Kashmir along with my parents for ten days on a holiday in the year 2016 during the month of May. I thought it worth writing a blog about our impressions and the beauty of nature. I can never hope to describe like movies, poets, storytellers have shown and described the splendour of Kashmir. I will just say it’s one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I have travelled to many places throughout India but the beauty of Kashmir will always remain evergreen in my mind till my last breath.  Pir Panjal Range In Kashmir, we were in Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Srinagar, Pahalgam and Patnitop. Gulmarg is called ‘snow clad Switzerland of India’ …Snow covered natural meadows mesmerized us. The town is situated in the Pir Panjal range of the western Himalayas. Blind valleys were new to me in Pahalgam. The beauty of Betab and Aaru valley was treat to our eyes. It offers an unforgettable horse ride trip up to the valley.  Betab Valley Riv
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A Dream Come True: A Journey Through Scotland's Wonders

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  Atrayee Roy For as long as I could remember, a desire to explore the diverse countries of Europe had simmered within me. It was a dream I harboured, one that beckoned with the promise of adventure and discovery. Little did I know that during a vacation in Bali, fate would gift me the opportunity of a lifetime – a chance to visit Scotland for a 7-night sojourn within the next two years. The universe had spoken, and my long-cherished wish appeared to be coming true. However, as fate would have it, the spectre of Covid-19 cast doubts over our travel plans. Yet, through unwavering persistence and determination, we found ourselves embarking on a journey to Scotland in the crisp March of 2023. Snowfall: A First Glimpse of Magic Our plane descended upon Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, on a leisurely Saturday afternoon. The city's aura was palpable, whispering tales of history and intrigue. We awaited a bus that would transport us to Sterling, the first stop on our Scottish odyssey. F
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Gajan- A Folk Cultural of Rural Bengal

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21/12/2018 Moumita Ghosh * Rich folk culture and traditional heritage have always been the most important part of Indian art and culture. The state West Bengal is also famous for some of its very indigenous folk culture, and ‘ Gajan ’ is one of them. It is a part of ' Charak ' festival observed on the occasion of the worship of the lord Shiva; as He is referred as the prime-mover. ' Gajan-gaan ' (' Gajan ' songs) originates in the heart of common people, and this expresses their social, religious and political status, demonstrating the history of class struggle, social stratification, and exploitation of marginal class by the upper class and political hegemony. 'Charak' ( PC Google ) Lord Shiva is imagined as a healthy, handsome person with a tiger skinned on, with a trident in the left hand and ‘ damru’ in the right. Preparation for ' Gajan' begins towards the end of ‘ Falgun ’ (March). The villagers begin to thrive with life and
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Qatar Calling

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  Sudeshna Sanyal Qatar is a very small country in the Middle East. It is located in the northern partof the Arabian Peninsula, south of the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf). With its east-west extent of only 100 km. and 200 km. north-south extent, it is relatively obscured by its prominent neighbours like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Today Qatar is the cynosure of the world’s eyes as this tiny nation will be hosting the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup which is one of the world's biggest sporting events. The FIFA Football World Cup, since its inception in 1930, had never been hosted so near India and therefore, a large number of Indians, and of course, people from all over the world are expected to visit Qatar to witness the world cup matches in 2022. Who knows how many of us will decide to make that journey! Thus this is a good time to know a little bit about what a tourist can expect in Qatar. Qatar, like all other oil-rich Gulf countries, is changing fast – every year new tourist attractio
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