Mussoorie, June 11
A three-day International Food Festival titled “Plates around the world” that began at Jaypee Residency Manor, Mussoorie, yesterday, more than 10 cuisines from around the world were served to the tourists of which Garhwali and Kumaoni delicacies stole the show, leaving the tourists wanting more of these. The whole terrace was converted into a big international food court with Lebanese food at one end and the local food at the other. The other food items on the menu were Mexican, Thai, Continental, Lebanese, Oriental, Italian and Indian etc.

The highlight of the show was the introduction of the local dishes, namely Garhwali and Kumaoni for the first time. The local items were appreciated by the tourists and the connoisseurs alike, attending the festival.

According the head chef of the hotel, meticulous planning was done for the festival this year and introduction of Garhwali and Kumaoni dishes like “Tor” Dal, Kumaoni Kadi Palak and Kandali ka saag (Nettle leaves vegetable) has been an invigorating experience for him. He further said that the response had been overwhelming with tourists demanding a second helping.

The general manager of the hotel, Anil Sharma, said the main objective of the food festival was to celebrate food from different parts of the world and also to introduce local delicacies to the elite tourists so that they could savour the taste available here. Sharma further said that the festival would carry on till June 12 and more Kumaoni and Gahwali dishes would be served during the festival in addition to the local Jaunsari and Garhwali dance for the entertainment of tourists.

The international tourists attending the festival were glad that they could taste the food from across the globe but the major attraction was the stall with local items on display at the buffet. A tourist from Delhi, Sanjay Sharma, appreciating the local food, said it should be included on such occasions so that tourists were aware of the taste and could easily identify with the food elsewhere in the state.

The tourists also enjoyed the live music and dance on the occasion.

Haridwar, June 11
With back-to-back twin festivals of Ganga Dussehra and Nirjala Ekadasi, the pilgrim city is feeling the heat. Ganga Dussehra falling today more than 12 lakh people thronging Ganga ghats to take holy dip.

The influx of devotees, which began yesterday afternoon, continued this evening. The second holy bath of Nirjala Ekadasi is tomorrow. Such is the rush that national highways as well as inner roads had serpentine queues with hours of traffic jam despite adequate deployment of police personnel.

With only one entry and exit highway road passing through the city, massive trafic jams were obvious, putting city life out of gear.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Nivedita Kukreti told TNS that by 6 pm nearly 12 lakh people had visited Haridwar on the festive occasion. The number would go up by late evening considering prior bookings of hotels, dharamshalas, ashrams and guest houses.

Elaborate security and traffic arrangements were put in place by the district administration in view of the huge rush of pilgrims. The entire mela core zone area was bifurcated into 10 zones and 30 sectors for better management and coordination.

Kewal Khurana, SSP, said in view of the heavy rush (number of visitors exceeded one million today) administration has prepared well in advance. Apart from police and traffic personnel deployment intelligence units aided with commando units, sharp shooters and paramilitary personnel were there at prominent, sensitive and strategic places to ensure smooth, peaceful and unhindered process of the twin fairs.

In view of the traffic jams, entry of heavy vehicles was prohibited in the inner city zone. As the pressure mounted in the noon, buses coming from Muzzafarnagar, Kotdwar, Roorkee, Delhi and Dehradun were stopped a few kilometers from their regular stations to avoid traffic congestion but it aggravated the woes of the commuters.

Dehradun, June 11
President Pratibha Patil visited the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, today. She appreciated the contribution of the institute to the forestry sector.

Welcoming the President, Director-General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dr VK Bahuguna, explained the historical background and the ongoing research works. He also threw light on the contribution of FRI scientists towards the tackling of forest degradation in the country.

He further said the FRI had brought a new forest system in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh by increasing farmers’ income.

Bahuguna also presented a memento and various research publications to the President.

Dr KP Singh, Chief Protocol Officer (FRI ) and other scientists were also present on the occasion.

Dehradun, June 11
As many as 17 foreign Gentlemen Cadets (FGCs) will leave the Indian Military Academy (IMA) with fond memories after completing a strenuous training here. All of them will join the armies of their respective countries as officers.

“It was a great learning experience at the academy,” said Erdene Ochir Bayanjargal of Mongolia. This was for the first time that two cadets from Mongolia had come to the academy.

“There was a lot to learn at the academy and we will implement this back home,” said Yeshey Choda from Bhutan, adding that “We will miss India and our friends here.” The foreign GCs said they had several fond memories of the IMA and they would cherish it. The following 17 foreign Gentlemen Cadets will leave the IMA.

Ugyen Dorji (Bhutan), Yeshey Choda (Bhutan), Ahmed Shafeeu (Maldives), Hassan Saameeh (Maldives), Forno Jean Noel Desire (Mauritius), Gunga Ramkurrun (Mauritius), Batkhutag Galbadrakh (Mongolia), Erdene Ochir Bayanjargal (Mongolia), Bakhtierov Uvaydo (Tajikistan), Dadazhonov Akhadzhon (Tajikistan), Ibronkhimov Sorbondzhor (Tajikistan), Jumaev Daler (Tajikistan), O Alisher Ashuralievich (Tajikistan), Odinaev Manuchehr (Tajikistan), Rioev Parviz Safaralievich (Tajikistan), Safarov Khusravsho (Tajikistan) and Saidov Dalerjon (Tajikistan).

Dehradun, June 11
Blaming the government for lacking vision, famous folk singer Narinder Singh Negi today said that migration of people could have been stopped if the government had initiated development activities in the hills.

He said people in the hills were not migrating out of choice but they were forced to do so because of absence of opportunities. “I was extremely distressed at the way our Chief Minister equated migration with personal advancement. This is not the case. Even after 10 years of a separate state, our people continue to migrate and the only places which have shown robust growth are in the plains,” said Negi.

Negi was speaking today on the issue of migration at the Maha Panchayat of the Akhil Bharatiya Pravasi Uttarakhand Sansthan, organised by the Akhil Garhwal Sabha.

Exhorting the migrants to come back to the state, Negi said they should launch entrepreneurship programmes, so that the youth were forced to stay put.

On the other hand, Veedika Vaid, a Garhwali writer, said that the Central Himalayan Culture faced the threat of extinction due to migration. “Most of the younger generation does not know its mother tongue; some of us have bid adieu to our homes long ago. There are just empty broken houses,” he lamented.

Vaid said that already Uttarakhand had lost six Assembly seats from the hills due to the new delimitation of constituencies.

The Akhil Garhwal Sabha honoured Veenapani Joshi, Dr Achalanand Jakhmola, Dr Shivraj Singh, Madan Mohan Duklan and Dr BP Nautiyal for their contributions in the literary field.

Earlier the general secretary of the organisation, Roshan Dhasmana, said the purpose of holding the maha panchayat was to invite non-residents of the state so that a strategy could be formulated for the development of the state. A large number of participants from Ropar, Chandigarh, Baroda and Bikaner are participating in the Maha Panchayat.

Nainital, June 11
The residence of cabinet minister Gobind Singh Bisht at Charayal village was the venue of ruckus created by some residents of Dhari block who were protesting against the minister’s silence over their being harassed by fellow villagers.

According to the information available, one Munni Devi of Sui village reached at the minister’s house on Friday with her son Deepakand an one woman of Kulyalpura village. They were demanding the arrest of Gram Pradhan and eleven others in a case pertaining to some dispute. A case against the Pradhan and others has already been registered at Mukteshwar Police Station.

The staff at the minister’s residence called the police who promptly booked the three and arrested them.

A case against them has been registered on the complaint lodged by Madan Pandey who is the Personal Assistant of the minister. The three arrested persons, however, alleged that they were manhandled by persons present at the minister’s residence.

Dehradun, June 11
Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury, man having the strongest memory in the country, opened his 77th memory lab centre in Dehradun.

Speaking on the occasion, he said: “There are three laws -law of association, law of visualisation and law of ridiculous thinking. And if the trio is combined together effectively, one can perform miracles.”

Seven times Limca Book of Records holder, he claimed that he could memorise and recollect anything in a few minutes. He has also authored 27 books.

“I also won the Guinness World Record after I beat a Canadian bodybuilder’s record of 138 push-ups in one minute and another world record for memory by beating the record of Michaela Buchvaldova from Germany,” he said. 

Dehradun, June 11
Wills Youth Club humbled Uttarakhand Tigers 7-0 during 60th Lala Nemi Dass Memorial District Football League at the Pavilion Ground, here today.

Arpan (ninth minute), Mohit (16th, 23rd, 49th, 51st), Robin (18th) and Vinit (21st) scored in the win. It was a talented Mohit who struck four goals to play a major role to make it a one-sided win for the Wills.

Vijay Cantt got the better of Yankies 3-1. Ankur (27th), Tusar (31st) and Jatin (57th) were the scorers for the winning team. Yankies scored through the penalty kick by Kusal in the 32nd minute.

Pithoragarh, June 11
A rich cultural programme was organised by the local schoolchildren at the inauguration of the first All-India Football Tournament being organised by the district sports promotion committee and district football association at DS Bisht ground here today.

The tournament was inaugurated by Suneel Bodhe, Brigade Commander of the 69th Mountain Brigade.

As many as 14 football teams from all over the country, including JCT Phagwara, Sports College, Lucknow, Youth Football Association,Tamil Nadu, Garhwal Heroes, New Delhi, HYC Hisar, Adinath Football Club, Udaipur, Neemach Football Association, MP, and RCF, Kapurthala, are participating in the tournament along with the host teams of district sports association Pithoragarh and Uttarakhand police Dehradun, said BS Waldia, district sports officer and secretary of district sports promotion committee.