Dehradun, October 30
The third Great Himalayan Bird Count in Uttarakhand concluded today with a little over 260 species recorded by amateurs bird watchers from the country.Addressing a debriefing session, former Chief Information Commissioner Dr RS Tolia described the bird count as an important activity to showcase the bird diversity of Uttarakhand. He said Uttarakhand with its rich bird biodiversity has always been a chosen destination with bird watchers.

Prateek Panwar, founder trustee of the host, Action and Research For Conservation in Himalayas (ARCH), said the count this year has shown some encouraging results with a birding group recording as many as 85 migratory bird species from Asan.

Photographic evidence of birds has also been taken up by the Asan team. He said the data generated by individual teams at every trail was being complied and the outcome would be published soon.

He pointed that there were many more volunteers who were interested to join the count, but could not be accommodated as staying facilities at the forest rest houses were limited.

Chief Conservator of Forests Jairaj said the bird count had a lot of significance for Uttarakhand and said that the outcome of the count would be of great interest to the state Forest Department.

He reminded that Uttarakhand is home to nearly half the bird species diversity of India. As many as 624 species of birds have been reported from the state. The high diversity of birds in Uttarakhand is attributed to the habitat diversity that exists in the state - from tropical foothills and Terai to alpine zone in the high Himalayas.

Popular trekking trails covered in the count this year include the valleys of Tons, Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Bhilangna, Mandakini, Ganga and Alaknanda rivers in Garhwal.

Nainital, October 30
A bonanza of short films was on view on the second day of the second Film Festival at Nainital today. The audience was treated to a series of films on contemporary issues of national and international importance.

The day began with a small film on folk balladeers of the Champawat region of Uttarakhand that was made by Sudhir Gupta. It contained large excerpts of late poet Girish Tewari, fondly known as Girda, explaining the relevance of the art form in the modern world.

Girda was an exponent of the folk culture of Uttarakhand. The ongoing festival is dedicated to him and Bollywood star Nirmal Pandey. Both personalities had spent a large span of their lives in Nainital.

The pick of the day, however, was a Persian movie by Bahman Gobadi “Turtles can fly”. Shown with the English subtitles, the movie deals with the plight of children in a war-ravaged country brilliantly depicting the suffering of humanity at the altar of politics of war.

The movie is about children injured in the war living in a village in Iraq. Made in 2004, it is set in a Kurdish refugee camp on the Iraqi-Turkish border on the eve of the United States’ invasion of Iraq.

The protagonist is 13-year-old Satellite (Soran Ebrahim) and is known for his installation of dishes and antennae for local villagers who are awaiting the news of the fall of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He is also known for his limited knowledge of English.

He, however, is a dynamic, but manipulative leader of the children, organising the dangerous, but necessary sweeping and clearing of minefields.

The industrious Satellite arranges trade offs for unexploded mines. He falls for an orphan named Agrin (Avaz Latif), a sad-faced girl travelling with her disabled, but smart brother Hengov, who appears to have the gift of clairvoyance. The siblings care for a blind toddler, who happens to be the son of young Agrin, who was raped several years ago.

Later in the day, a film named “For Maya” made by Vasudha Joshi was screened. It deals with four generations of women in the hills of Uttarakhand and presents a picture of the plight and status of women in the state. Vasudha’s another movie “Almodiyana” was screened on Friday evening. The movie brought to life the unique Dasehra celebrations of Almora.

The other movies scheduled for screening during the day were “Andhere se Pehle” by Ajay TG, “From Hindu to Hindutva” by Debranjan Sarangi, “Kithe mil ve Mahi” by Ajay Bharadwaj, “Khargosh” by Paresh Kamdar and “Niyamraja ka Vilap” by Surya Shankar Dash.

Dehradun, October 30
With Diwali less than a week away, Doonites have already on a shopping spree. Denizens are busy purchasing festival goodies, but the invasion of Chinese electric goods into Indian markets has made the traditional earthen lamps (diyas) take a back seat. ‘Diyas’, which are considered auspicious, has now slipped off the priority list of festival shoppers.

The festival of Diwali has undergone many changes over the years. Fancy alternatives to traditional ‘diyas’ have hampered the livelihood of several potters in Dehradun.

Blame it on technology that has provided alternatives to Indian shoppers at affordable prices that a majority of people prefer fancy candles and Chinese lights nowadays.

Bankey Lal has inherited the skill of moulding mud into pots, cups, lamps, decorative masks and earthen lamps on the potter’s wheel, but is a government servant at Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL).

His family has been into pottery for four generations, but his children are in no mood to pursue it as their career. “I inherited this skill from my father, but pottery is not the sole source of my income. Chinese lights, which are fast replacing earthen lamps made by poor potters in the city, have discouraged artisans from pursuing pottery as a career.

“Though we work during the peak season of Dasehra and Diwali, yet we do not depend on it entirely. Pottery cannot earn me a sound livelihood,” said Bankey Lal, who has three children - the eldest is running his own computer institute, his daughter has completed her Masters in Arts while the youngest is pursuing BCA.

According to traders, the main reason behind the decline in the demand of earthen lamps during Diwali is the wide variety of Chinese electric lights, which are fancy, attractive and can be bought at reasonable prices in the Indian market.

“The method of lighting an earthen lamp is time-consuming and the rising prices of its fuel - oil and ghee - could be the reason for preferring artificial lights over traditional diyas by a majority of people,” said Satish, a diya seller at Paltan Bazar.

Also, with outlets like Archies and other indigenous candle manufacturers in the capital, many people are getting attracted to fancy and synthetic candles. “Every year during Diwali, we get new kinds of candles and diyas.

“This year, we have introduced the traditional diya in the form of scented candle in attractive packaging. These are not very costly and can be gifted,” said enthusiastic salesgirls at Art Home, a gift store.

However, some potters said that though Chinese lights are a huge rage among residents, many others still prefer the traditional way of celebrating Diwali with earthen lamps.

“The festival of Diwali may have undergone certain changes with advancement and technology, but customs and traditions remain the same. There are still a few people who prefer earthen lamps to perform puja in a traditional way,” said Buddha Ram, a potter.

Buddha Ram at Kumhar Mandi, Dehradun, whose family has been involved in making diyas for generations, said, “There were times when we supplied thousands of earthen lamps and other traditional earthen items during the festival, but now, the demand has decreased gradually. People are opting for designer and fancy lamps. We hope to do sound business this festive season and wish Goddess Lakshmi would give us her blessings.”

Dehradun, October 30
Diwali is round the corner and all markets in the city have decked up for the festival. Shopkeepers have put up different colourful, attractive and aesthetic stalls to showcase a wide range of things. They have also decorated their shops and showrooms with flowers and lights.

Other than packs of dry fruits, chocolates, cookies and sweets, there are heaps of attractive gift hampers, which include confectioneries, vases, clocks, decorative statues, candles, idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha that are considered the best gift for the festival and door hangings at every nook and corner of the city. There is such a wide range of items that there is something for everyone, somewhere in the market.

To buy the various items, residents of the state capital are flocking in large number to city markets like Paltan Bazar, Hanuman Chowk, Dilaram Bazar and Rajpur Road.

An exclusive range of corporate gifts is also available at the shops - extensive crystal ware, designer and scented candles, figurine glassware, gold jewellery, exotic perfumes, wrought iron artifacts, candle stands and divine figures.

“We have scented as well as floating candles in various shapes and designs, twinkling ‘diyas’, flowers, handmade paper hangings, Lakshmi-Ganesh idols and footprints of Lakshmi,” said a shopkeeper at Rajpur Road.

Neeraj Bhasin, a earthen lamp seller in Paltan Bazar, said, “We have a variety of lamps. Their price varies according to the size and shape. A simple lamp starts at Rs 15.”

“We have also got goods from Meerut,” he mentioned and added, “Even piggy banks are in demand as on Dhanteras, people deposit money to use it judiciously.”

“Apart from regular days, there is a big demand of ‘kaju’,kishmish’, ‘badam’ and ‘khurmani’ for gifting purposes. For celebrations, we have gift packs as well as quality dry fruits by renowned companies,” said Peshori Lal, a dry-fruit merchant.

Though the price of gold and silver are skyrocketing, denizens of Doon are still purchasing these as these are considered auspicious.

“I had purchased lots of gift packs for my dear ones. I also bought silver coins and a gold chain for myself and my mother-in-law and a ring for my husband,” Seema Malik, resident of Race Course told The Tribune.

The colourful hangings are also very much in demand. “I get almost new hangings every day and these get sold within hours,” a shopkeeper at Dilaram Bazar, said.

The shops with various calendars too are pulling crowds. Chocolates and cookies in attractive packaging are another sought-after option. In fact, chocolates have become a good substitute for traditional sweets.

Moreover, customers can choose from a wide variety of packaging options - ceramic, glass, steel and cane. These boxes are decorated with diyas and motifs in brilliant colours.

Dehradun, October 30
Athletes of St Joseph’s Academy proved their mettle on the field as the school celebrated its annual sports meet for senior students here today. The eagerly anticipated event began with the arrival of the chief guest, Major-Gen Ranvir Yadav, VSM, GOC, Uttarakhand, Sub-Area, Dehradun. Accompanying him was Brother Christopher Dawes, Principal of St George’s College, Mussoorie, as a guest of honour.

At the torch relay top athletes of the school Abhay Rana, Jobin Mattew, Prabhanshu Gairola, Archi Mamgain and Johny Antony were the torch-bearers. After hoisting of the school flag by the chief guest, the athletes kicked off the dust while their legs coordinated with the beat of the drum and marched past the guests followed by the oath-taking ceremony of the athletes and the sports meet was declared open.

The first race began with a 80-metre run by sub-junior boys and girls followed by 100 metre by junior and senior participants. The students cheered the athletes of their respective houses and their enthusiasm was evident.

The guests were mesmerised by a display of perfect coordination by girls of Class VI, VII and VIII who performed aerobics to the tune of “disturbia”. Boys from Class VI to VIII displayed their courage by performing various skills of tae kwon do, jumping through a ring of fire and breaking wooden blocks and tiles. Then, followed the 400-m race for seniors and the 4X100 metre relay for juniors.

Next was the invitational relay, where the best athletes from different schools competed with top athletes of St Joseph’s. Students from Class IX performed a mass drill culminating in lotus formation that left the audience spellbound.

The most-awaited event of the day, the cycle race by the senior boys commenced with a loud cheer from everyone present. The cyclists from different Houses displayed their performance with zeal and zest. In an attempt to get the parents into the spirit of the day, an 80-metre fun race for women and a 100 metre race for the men were held, following which was the school march past that depicted the order and discipline of the students combined with their enthusiasm blended to give a show of grandeur.

The distinguished guests gave away the medals to the winners, some of whom had been decided by the field and track events conducted earlier.

Dooley House won the championship of annual athletic meet and raised the cock shield of the annual sports meet. Duffy House stood second while Donavan and Bergin Houses were declared third and fourth, respectively.

Gagan Sawhney bagged the award for best athlete (fastest boy in school) while Archie Mamgain stood the best athlete (fastest girls in school). After the display of zest and enthusiasm by the cyclists, Kevin Lu of Bergin House emerged winner.

Dehradun, October 30
Ashana Agarwal of Welham Girls School will meet Pragya Uppal of STA in girls’ under-14 singles final of the 11th Uttarakhand State Open Junior Tennis Tournament being held at Shanti Tennis Academy.

Pragya Uppal of STA today in her semi-final beat Girisha of Welham Girls School 5-4 (7-5). In another semifinal, Ashana Agarwal of Welham Girls School defeated Sanjana Singh of Welham Girls School 5-1.

While earlier, Mayuk Rawat of STA got the better of Kartik Sharma of Welham Boys School in the boys’ under-14 singles pre-quarterfinals.

Other results:

Under-14 boys singles (pre-quarterfinals), Arush Sood of Doon School beat Ananya Acharya (STA) 6-3 Adarsh Badola (STA) beat Manik Negi (STA) 6-1, Atishya Jain (STA) defeated Kanishk Tyagi (Doon School) 6-4, Arush Goyal (St Joseph) beat Shourya Pangti (ONGC) 6-0, Arnav Alok (STA) beat Siddharth Kapoor (STA) 6-1, Shourya Verma (STA) defeated Svaplin Negi (ONGC) 6-2, Uttkarash Bhardwaj (STA) beat Ruhani Tyagi (Doon School) 6-2.

Under-14 boys singles (quarter-finals), Aryush Sood (Doon School) trounce Mayuk Rawat (STA) 7-3, Atishya Jain (STA) beat Adarsh Badola (STA) 6-4, Arush Goyal (St Joseph) defeated Arnav Alok (STA) Uttkarash Bhardwaj (STA) beat Shourya Verma (STA) 6-2.

Mussoorie, October 30
DAV College, Dehradun, team was the proud winner on the final day of the Inter-College Chess Tournament held under the aegis of Municipal Post Graduate (MPG) College, Mussoorie, today.

Eleven colleges from Garhwal University participated in the tournament. The DAV PG team members Mohit Kumar, Ritik Yadav, Ankit Shrivastav, Hari Krishan Prajapati and Upendar Singh Sajwan were ranked first according to the points table and were declared winners, while Birla campus Srinagar players Jaman Singh, Vivel Rana, Varun Shekhar, Varun Pratap Singh and Pankaj Bisht secured second place in the team championship. In individual category, BEd College, Nalanda, Keshav Kant Gairola lifted the trophy by securing the highest points in the whole tournament.

Harikishan Prajapati from DAV PG College, Dehradun, was declared runner-up in the individual championship. The referees for the tournament were Vipin Garg and Pradeep Singh. The sports coordinator from Mussoorie Post Graduate College Sunil Panwar informed that the tournament was being held in the college after 40 years.

He said the college would endeavour in promoting chess in the college vigorously. He also informed that the players from this tournament would also be selected for the North Zone Championship to be held in near future, thus could reach national level bringing laurels to the state. The chief guest on the occasion was Palika president OP Uniyal who distributed the trophies and commended the efforts of organisers for a successful event. He also praised the players who participated in the event.