Harthal Festival

State: Kerala
‘Official’ Festival: Harthal a.k.a Bandh

In the state of Kerala – which is located at the southern most tip of Republic of India - we celebrate a unique festival. According to the official records, the state festival is called Onam which is celebrated once a year in memory of a long lost paradise. But recently, there has been some change in situations. There is another festival which is gaining popularity. Its called the Harthal. Previously it used to be called Bandh. The name change was due to a court order which says it conflicts what’s written on the Indian constitution.

The most unique feature of this festival is that it can happen at any time of the year. And it can occur any number of times a year. Some time it can be celebrated in a local area, some times all over the state and some other times, it can occur all over India. So it can also be called as a national festival as well. Sometimes they last for 12 hrs, and at other times even 24 hours. The most recent one happened was an all India one and it lasted for 24 hours.

During the harthal day, the supporters of the group who called for a harthal, wake up early in the morning and go out in the street to celebrate the festival. They stop all the vehicles in the roads and ask them 'politely' to participate in the harthal with them. They even stop train services some times. The supporters conduct rallies during the harthal day which is very inspiring to the common man. If there are any shops open during the day, they come in masses and help the hardworking shop keeper relax and enjoy the festival by closing the shop. At times some of the supporters gets a little excited and ‘accidentally’ break some windows of an office or a vehicle. If the police arrest them, don’t worry, the other supporters will help him escape. The government also supports the festival by providing all the help needed for harthal-ites. How can a government say no to people having entertainment?

This year itself, there had been around 100 harthals in Kerala. For the occurrence of this particular event, there are no special reasons. Any group who has some courage can declare a particular day as harthal. It’s up to a citizens will, whether to participate or not in the festival (theoretically). If you are willing to participate in the festival, you have to stay home and do nothing. That’s where the greatness of the people in Kerala deserves the limelight. 90% of the people willfully participate in the festival. No travels, no shopping, no work. As for the rest of the 10% who are stupid enough to go against harthal, they get special gifts like mental torture, attack on property etc.

Usually a harthal is called up by political parties. Sometimes even religious bodies also call for it. Regardless of which political party or which religion or which class of the society a person belong to, the people of Kerala supports a Harthal with their whole heart. That’s why I recommend it to be considered a national festival.

Some of the citizens who don’t like these festivals came up with a case in the court against the previous form which was called bandh. That’s when the court banned the festival. But the clever supporters found a workaround; they simply changed the name of the festival to harthal. Recently the high court of Kerala made a comment about these festivals which goes on something like this, “If the government is also supporting these 'festivals', even the God cannot save Kerala”. From what?? Need to spend some time thinking about it.

For more information: http://www.harthal.com/

Why do people have to marry?

Why do people have to marry? When you read that question, most of you may be thinking what a stupid question that is. I don’t mean it in the general sense. It’s just that there are many friends of mine, especially woman friends, some of my very best friends, now they are all getting married. I am happy for that. But the feeling of loosing them through marriage is not that good. Some times we have to let things go, no matter how much you love or care for it. Still why is it like that? When things get too formal, or too serious, I don’t know, I don’t feel its too good. Van Wilder, the legend [a movie character I like very much] says, never take life too seriously, 'cos you will never get out of it, alive. May be its the social and cultural set up in India only. In western countries, people find their spouses on their own and then they don’t have to compromise on many things. Here everything is based on adjustments. It has its positive and negative side. I am not bothered about it. Let the things be like what they are. The only thing I am really sad about is that, after marriage, in 90% of the cases, people act like they have all the responsibility and never seems to get time for anything. Why is that? Sure you have to care for families and all. But I don’t know how to explain my feeling, now a days, when I hear any of my best friends, girls, are going to get married [unless its a love marriage] I get sad. Of course I am happy for them for getting in to their dream lives, but the feeling I get always is that I am going to miss them or more like, loose them. [In the case of love marriages, the feeling is different. I am not explaining it. Hope you understand.] We will never be the same again. I don’t know what happens to the "We all have to move on" theory, I really wonder why, why do you have to move on when you don’t like it. :( hmm.. I admit there are many things I don’t understand. Just writing some of my thoughts. And I don’t intend to make this a big debate or anything like that.

- Manu

Expedition Wayanad

Statutory warning: The actions in these photos are performed by professionals. Please don’t try this at home. Also, all the data provided are ours only. It’s your choice, whether to believe it or not.

We went to the place where Bill Gates took the photo for Windows XP default wallpaper. Fortunately or unfortunately, it was summer and all the grass was not green, just pale brown.

Windows XP Default Wallpaper
[Seasons Changed and another bush is also there]

Mission I, Location: Chembra Peak
Physical Location: God’s own District [Wayanad], God’s own Country [Kerala], INDIA
Altitude: 2100m above sea level
Reference: http://kerals.com/keralatourism/kerala.php?t=175&sid=f0f275d51c2effc437d86bc46d8cebbd

Mission: Expedition Wayanad

Team:

• Manu a.k.a Dragonfly
• Vijay a.k.a Chaithanya
• Pauly a.k.a Pauly
• Shanavas a.k.a Shanavas

DAY I

I also took a snap of me there, in case you don’t believe me

Vijay took a snap from the other side

I think Bill [Gates] is a stupid when this photo can be taken other than just the plain grassland.

We trekked ~3kms against gravity, so we consider it as 5kms [Total 10kms]

We rested

We reached the [supposed to be] heart shaped lake on top

I wanted to take the photo of the valley

He pushed some rocks from our path

Trekked down

We went to the highest waterfalls in that area

Statutory Warning: Never try this without the help of professionals.

This is as close we could get.

Mission II, Location: Meenmutty Waterfalls
Height: 500m
Remarks: This was the most difficult part of our trip. To get to the place you will have to trek ~1.5km steep inside jungle. Better get a guide, ‘cos chances are many to loose track of your path inside the steep and extremely dangerous jungle.

Adventure is in our DNA

DAY II

We started day 2 with a visit to the Wayand ghat pass

Mission I, Location: Wayanad Ghat Pass
Area: 12kms of hairpins
Remarks: Will take 1hr for a bus to reach from bottom to top [according to our driver]
Reference: http://youtube.com/watch?v=laE9LGdk3-s&feature=related

We visited the place where they shot the movie ‘Predator’

Mission II, Location: Kuruva Islands
Area: ~950 acers, small evergreen forest islands [info from a local]
Reference: http://www.sundaykaumudi.com/insidek/kuruva.stm

Inside the jungle

We climbed the trees

Swung across the rocks

Slept in the trees

Enjoyed the scenery

Conquered islands after islands

Water seemed to be like crystals

Tried some underwater photography

Discovered some rare species of snails

We had to dive to take a snap of this snail with marks on its shell

Had fun with and in water

Tried some different angles of photography

Gave a classic touch to the jungle

Took a group photo

We visited God also [thought we will disturb him for some time]

Mission III, Location: Thirunelli Temple [The one in picture is its annex]
Remarks: More than 3000 years old
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirunelli_Temple

Original Kerala Architecture

The environment was so good, cool, serene and calm with the sun setting in the horizon. You could hear the classical music from the temple. I enjoyed solitude for some moments.

We witnessed a marvelous sunset also

Way back home

Special Thanks to all who helped to make this adventure real

ps: For more photos, visit Dragonflyz photos at flickr.com

A Nightmare!

It’s the Christmas season and as usual, I was excited as the vacation came close. This year, 21^st Dec, which is a Friday was also a holiday and then 25^th is Tuesday. And if you take 2 days off on 24^thand 26^th, you’ll get nearly one week vacation. I started thinking about the travel to my hometown in Kerala even before 2-3 months due to the huge rush. Then my sister told me, there is a travel agency near her place and she can reserve a ticket for me. I said ok. So she booked the ticket around 2months ago. They noted the date, destination and number of seats required and all. But they didn’t give us the actual ticket and said, they will give it later and added, don’t worry, you will be able to go home safe and sound. Ok, we thought. And as the dates neared, we asked them. They gave the ticket, not in the bus we asked for. Also not to the destination we asked for. We had a big fight over that with the travel agency and finally got the ticket the day before my travel. I didn’t want to take any chances. So I went to the bus office [which is from where I board the bus] and I asked them about the ticket. They were not even aware about this ticket and asked me from where I got this ticket. I told them about the travel agency and they told they don’t have a ticket for this date. It was seat number 9 and after some argument, they changed it to 20 and added if I am lucky there won’t be any double reservation [Again the time of the bus on the ticket was incorrect]. I called my sister and she again had a big fight with the travel agency. In the end, they said that some how they will get me home either in that bus or some other bus.

On the day of my travel, I reached the bus office by 5:30. Fortunately, when the bus came, only 2 persons were already there and seat number 20 was free. I thanked God. I was hoping that it will be a good journey, and the bus was almost on time, 6:30pm. The bus took off and reached another travel agency, and some people boarded the bus and there came one man who asked me whether my ticket is for seat no: 20. I said yes. I was getting tensed. He went out. Then there came a person for ticket checking. He checked my ticket and didn’t tell me anything. I was relaxed. The man who asked me, got a seat in the back. So that was the double reservation. After some time, there came another lady, who asked me the same. Oh my god! It was the second person who had a ticket with seat number 20. She also went outside and she got the back seat only. I think, only because, I boarded the bus first, I retained the seat. This happened with almost every seat and at almost every travel agency we stopped and by the time the bus reached Bangalore city limits, it was 8:30pm, 2hours late than it should be. I hoped all the problems were over. But the main one was yet to come, the Bus itself. It definitely is not an air bus or too old to be recognized as one. The ordinary KSRTC buses are better I think. Every time we hit a gutter, almost everyone in the bus wakes up. Someone was even thrown out of the seat once. That was one of the worst journey’s I ever had in my whole life time. Everyone was cursing all the time. There was nothing much to do. And finally, I am supposed to reach at my place by 6am, but I reached by 9am [mainly because of the initial delay] not safe and sound, but with body pain and sleepy eyes. It really was a nightmare.

Now I have some questions and suggestions,
Is it so difficult to organize a journey and the tickets?
Is there anyone to complain about these exploits by the travel agencies especially during festival seasons?
What is there to be done to make sure the buses start a journey and reach the destination at the right time in the case of Bangalore to Kerala journey?

And my suggestions are,
Never take the A-1 bus, with registration KA-41 2552. You will be in hell. The travels from where the bus started was Choice Travels, opposite to Bata shop and near MAS restaurant. Those travel people seem nice anyway.
I am sure atleast some of my readers have similar experiences with buses. But there was a time, when I enjoyed these travels very much, only before 3years when every thing worked fine.