Schooldays are forever Sanjeev Singh Bariana looks back fondly at the days well spent in learning at the Dalhousie Public School I rubbed my eyes and pulled myself out of the bed following a shrill whistle on a cool early morning in July 1980. It was still dark outside and the watch read 5 a.m. Founder's Day The flow of events at the annual day function of the Dalhousie Public School appeared like pearls assembled in a necklace held together with rhythm and corresponding body movement of hundreds of students.

ALMA MATER: Dalhousie Public School celebrates its Founder’s Day

HIllside view
Images of another kind…
During my travels, I receive special attention when I tell people that I live in Shimla. It’s the same whether in buses, trains, planes or gatherings in big cities. First a curious glance, then questions about ‘ice’. Hindi movies have obviously contributed a lot to people’s warped image of Shimla. A touch of envy in their eyes tells you that they are probably thinking of Shimla as a heavenly centre for romance round the clock. A place meant only for mating couples jumping around bushes, making funny faces to filmy tunes!

Shivji bihane chale… The mythical saga of Shiv and Parvati is very much a part of the marriage ceremonies of the Gaddi community, says Vibhor Mohan Recall the old song describing the marriage of Lord Shiva: Shivji bihane chale, palaki sajayi ke, babhuti lagai ke… Well, something of that order is still practiced in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. Inspired by the most celebrated couple of Hindu mythology, the love saga of Shiv-Parvati forms a part and parcel of the marriages in the Gaddi community, popular as ‘Shiv Vivahs’. Welcome to Kangra-Bharmour, where lines between mythology and traditions get blurred and marriage becomes an elaborate affair. Whenever there is a marriage, the groom has to take a matrimonial test, wherein he takes the guise of Lord Shiva by rubbing ash all over his body. Divine role: Shiva garb for the Gaddi groom

SHIMLA Diary Sweat and ‘toll’ The Himachal Government's no to the four-laning of the Shimla-Chandigarh national highway beyond Solan has raised many an eyebrow. The plea that it did not want the people to be burdened with 'toll' has no takers.  RISE ‘N’ SHINE: War widows being felicitated by Army Wives.

Cementing the wrong elements
The eco-friendly tourism industry and cement plants, which cause damage to the environment, ill go together. However, the Himachal Government sees ‘grey gold’ in the limestone deposits, which the state has in abundance. It is keen to make the hill state, known for its delicious apples and enchanting landscape, the ‘cement bowl’ of the country.