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Rediscover your roots [Himachal's first citizen journalism effort]

The Mysticism of Mandi’s Mahashivratri
By: Saroj Thakur The Blend of Ancient and the Modern Mandi and Mahashivratri seem to have become synonymous as when we name one the other comes to mind immediately! Like all other festivals Mandi Mahashivratri, too, has some legends behind it and the legend has Lord Shiva behind it. Legend has it that a cow used to [...]
When Benazir Bhutto visited Shimla and learnt her first lesson in politics
By: Saroj Thakur The year was 1972. The war with Pakistan had ended and we were so happy that India had not only defeated Pakistan but had captured many Prisoners of War (PoW). The All India Radio (AIR) had a special slot for the messages aired by the POWs to their own people back home. We [...]
Taarna Maa: The taaran haar of Mandi
By: Saroj Thakur Situated high atop the Taarna Hill, Mandi, is the famous Taarna Temple. Situated among dense trees, the temple is picturesque and breath catching. It seems as if Maa Taarna keeps a vigil over whole of the Mandi town as almost all parts of the town beneath can be seen from this hill top. [...]
Through the forsaken path: A trek to Parashar Lake
By: Saroj Thakur Ever since I saw the beautiful picture of the Lake Parashar on the state calendar of Himachal Pradesh Government, I was hooked to the heavenly looks of the lake and I nurtured a dream of visiting the Parashar Lake. During my last visit to Kataula, in the month of March, where my husband [...]
Branding Himachal: Nescafe takesover chai shacks
By: Saroj Thakur Two Nescafe kiosks have come at strategic points at the National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur - one near the Manimahesh Boys’ Hostel, where it caters to the cravings of the big boys of the Institute; and the other at the entrance to the main Administrative Block where most of the students have their [...]
Hidimba: The unsung heroine of Mahabharata
By: Saroj Thakur The Gita Press Gorakhpur’s, The Mahabharata has beautiful black & white sketches inserted in the text itself and it adds manifold to the charm of the epic. I would look at the pictures and read the text along with to get pleasure out of my reading. One particular picture that I still carry [...]
Ma Simsa: Weaving a dream for progeny
By: Saroj Thakur What should I ask for, when I’ve sought thee… During the Navratras it is a heart-rending sight to see women sleeping on the floor of the temple, seeking a child from the Maa! Thirty kilometres from Baijnath, in Himachal Pradesh, Maa Simsa Temple is situated in Simas village, amidst picturesque surroundings. The thick [...]
Palampur: In the white lap of Himachal
By: Saroj Thakur The first stoppage of our itinerary was Palampur. The day was a little cloudy and the rain seemed to be in the air. The scent of the pine needles combined with the aroma of the tea gardens and the effect was deadly enough to submerge us in its heavenly concoction! The majestic Dhauladhars The distant [...]
The diminishing handicrafts of Himachal
Write-up and photos by: Saroj Thakur It is human tendency to take for granted what he gets easily. Perhaps this is the way it had been for me when it came to Himachali handicrafts, but not any more. This realisation struck me hard when I saw people from outside the state, coming to our Institute (National [...]
A South Indian’s tribute to the people of Himachal
By: Saroj Thakur An 18-year old boy, coming all the way from a remote place in Tamil Nadu, stands at the Chandigarh Bus stand waiting for a bus that will take him to Hamirpur, his destination. What is the problem? A common scene at any bus stand where passengers wait for buses, you might say. The [...]