Peaceful Puja sans trucks
The Government notification banning entry of trucks from Jaintia Hills, West Khasi and Sohra and also those coming from Guwahati from 3-6 October brought great sighs of relief to Puja revellers and the general public.
Shillong roads looked big and spacious. Said one Shillongite, “So this is how the city will look once the trucks use the by-pass. We will be able to reclaim the fresh are and the traffic orderliness.”
Sometimes citizens tend to forget these small yet sensitive gestures from the Government but, this one responsive act has brought a smile to many as cars could move around from pandal to pandal with ease.
There were of course areas that were too crowded with vehicles such as Rilbong. In these areas better traffic management would be required the next time around.
People should learn that they cannot take their vehicles right inside the pandals!
Muri Fair?
Around half a dozen muri (puffed rice) wallahs were selling jhaal muri at the entrance to the recently concluded International Trade Fair at Fire Brigade Ground.
The entrance to the venue was flooded with muri sellers almost as if everyone had gone to the fair to eat jhaal muri.
People of all ages seemed to have taken a fancy to jhaal muri. Meanwhile the city hospitals have been reporting an increase in typhoid cases.
Typhoid fever doctors say is caused by Salmonella bacteria in contaminated food and water. The bacteria are absorbed in the intestinal tract and spread in fecal waste.
Many believe that the tamarind soaked water used by the jhaal muri sellers to add taste and zing to the muri is contaminated and that the sellers don’t really care about the quality of water they use.
School children are particularly fond of this junk food and they are the ones who are most susceptible to typhoid. It’s time to exercise some restraint on vendors selling unhygienic food.
Winners all!
This Time the Miss Shillong contest was raised to a different level.
It was evident that the young women had been transformed into ladies through a process of careful grooming by Avenues a local firm whose tag line is, “Language changes you.” This firm is currently coaching students of some leading colleges on the art of articulation in English and mentoring young people to acquire poise and etiquette.
According to Mark Stone, Director Avenues, all 15 contestants are winners because they have acquired confidence and a personality that they are proud of. As one of the contestants said, “What I have learnt in three weeks of intense grooming has given me so much, that winning the crown is not everything for me.”
Well said, and its time that schools and colleges go beyond knowledge dispensing to enabling youth to bring out their hidden potentials.
At the end of the day winning means different things to different people.