ka b a a ya a 28 a a ˘ t i athe magnificence of the taj mahal in agra or the sanctity of the raj...

By Dr Tara Singh

The 28th consecutive annual KaliBharat Yatra Tour to India returnedon Monday October 31st with Ya-trans (tourists) feeling jet laggedbut still at the top of this world.

They have had an extra-ordinary experiencevisiting India and re-established their linkswith the country that had given birth to theirreligion, music, and culture. It was not only ajourney of discovery but also one that tookthem to a higher level of existence, says one ofthe tourists, Gewan Seeram, who was on hisfirst visit to India. For Seeram as well as theothers, it was a life-long dream comingthrough. An interview with 20% of the touristsindicates their satisfaction with the high qualityof service provided by Kali Travel and Tours,

which is the only Indo-Caribbean tour operatorthat is recognized by the Government of IndiaTourist Board. Kali Bharat Yatra Travel andTours, is an authorized travel agent of AirIndia.

The tour party consisted of 44 individuals,the majority of whom were making their firsttrip to India. At the departure lounge at the JFKAirport, Kali Travel and Tours hosted a “social

ritual” for the tourists who were immediatelygiven the opportunity to meet one another andreceived a few tips on their travel by knowl-edgeable guest speakers. That event set in mo-

tion the physical and emotional start of theKali Bharat Yatra tour.

The Yatrans visited a number of spectacularmonuments and sites, such as the Akshardhamof Delhi, which is considered one of the won-ders of the modern world and built by theamazing humanitarian and cultural groupcalled BAPS. The tourists were fascinated bythe architectural splendor of this buildingwhich integrates rich cultural and historical el-ements of the past with the contemporary, andoffers an optimistic perspective into the future.A few Yatrans regard this as the highlight oftheir tour. Others say that their visit toMathura, the birthplace of one of Hindus’ mostvenerated deities, Lord Krishna, was mostmemorable, while a few indicate that perform-ing “artee” at the Ganges was significant. Ofcourse everyone was awe-struck with thebreathtaking grandeur of the Taj Mahal whichimmortalizes one of the greatest love stories ofhistory. Emperor Shah Jahan was so deeply inlove with his wife Muntaz, that he built thatshrine in her memory.

Another Kali Bharat Yatra tour party of 19left JFK 5 days later destined for both Northand South India. The group leader was HarryNepal who was making his fourth trip to India.Kali Travel and Tours arranged for the twogroups to meet in the Pink City (Jaipur), thecapital of Rajasthan, to celebrate the Hindufestival of Diwali, there. “That was a spectac-ular event,” says Tara Seeram. At Jaipur thetourists also visited the famous Amber Palaceand made their way to it by riding on the backsof elephants.

Yatrans note that the logistical arrange-ments for the trip were superb. Asked to grade

the quality of service provided by Kali BharatYatra Tours, they scored an average of 9.5 ona scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest and1 the lowest. One Yatran even accorded it ascore of 12 out of 10. This is not to suggest thateverything was perfect. Hotel accommodationis not the same standard in every state, and afew Yatrans felt a bit uneasy when the standardof a particular hotel did not match their expec-tations. However, this was more than compen-sated for by the live entertainment provided byLake Persaud and others while the tour partytravelled in coach, as well as, at the Mumbaifarewell function. That Mumbai program fea-tured Samir Daate of “Dhun Dhamaka” and“Chalte Jaana Hai” fame. Accompanying himwas Deepali Somiya. Heer Patel, a Model andDancer, Ghansham Vaswani, Singer, and Var-sha Usgaonkar, Actress, also made appear-ances.

Every member of the tour party with whomwe spoke, declaredtheir love for Indiaand would want to re-turn there in the fu-ture. Two coupleswere emphatic thatthey would return in2013. Their tour op-erator would be noother but Kai BharatYatra Travel andTours. They also ad-vised anyone who isplanning to visitIndia that theyshould go with Kali Travel and Tours. How thetourists feel about India is captured by one

New York member: “we should all pay Kaliji$1,000 more for this trip.” At the end of thetrip, Nirupa Persaud was crowned, “Miss KaliBharat Yatra 2011” and Melissa Heeralall wassashed as Kali Bharat Yatra best dancer.

Here is what Yatrans had to say about theirrecent 2011 trip to India. Purshotam Shivraj ofLamaha Gardens, Georgetown, Guyana, ob-serves: “It was a fantastic experience. Youhave to see it to believe it. You also need to bein good health.” Shivraj was on his first trip toIndia. He didn’t expect India to be so devel-oped and that so many people go to the Gangesfor a bath or perform Ganga aartee. He wastouched by the extreme poverty and beggingin such places as Mumbai and Delhi. What heregarded as a phenomenon was the traffic flowwith no traffic lights and which is a mixture ofcars, trucks, rickshaws, pedestrians, and bicy-cles, and which was free of accidents.

Tahol Pancham and his wife Thakurbasi

Pancham of California say that Kaliji madethem realize their life-long dream of visiting

Kali Bharat Yatra 28th Anniversary Tour of India:A Life-Long Dream Came Through for Many

KALI BHARAT YATRA (KBY) GROUP AT TAJ MAHAL IN AGRA , OCT. 2011

A Traditional Welcome

Tara Seeram could not resist the warmthof a child in the village in UP.

Mohan Singh & his wife reflecting a sim-

ple of love at the TajDiwali celebrations commence with Nirupa Persaud lighting

Diya in the Jhulelall Mandir in Jaipur.Broadcaster and Kishore Kumar singer Lake Persaud entertains the

other 62 yatrans at the gala night in Jaipur.

A soothing boat ride in the Lake Pichole in Udaipur.

India. “The price charged was way below thevalue of the trip.” Kaliji delivered “more thanwe expected.” For them, two things werememorable, namely, the traffic was unbeliev-able and the people are humble. The tour guideSunil was terrific.

Indranie and Dave R Daberam’s (formerlyof Trinidad) major highlight was their visit tothe Ganges in Rishikesh. That had such a pro-found impact upon them that they are planningto return to India in 2013 just to re-visit theGanges. They were impressed with the tem-ples and castles, including the Taj Mahal, andthe Sabarmati Ashram, too. They continue tomarvel at the Palace in Udaipur that is sur-rounded by water. “This (visit India) was thegreatest thing we did in our lives.”

Sumintra Mangru (formerly of Canal No 2,Guyana) states: “Since I was a little girl Iwanted to go to India. I was inspired by a sen-ior, 102 years that cared for the neighboring

temple. “I have now accomplished my mostimportant dream.” She asked, “ I want toknow why in this 21st century, there are somany beggars and people sleeping on thestreets?” “Shouldn’t they be building homesrather than temples to care for the needy?”Sumintra advises that every human beingshould touch the soil of India.

Mohan Singh and his wife Chandrowtie(formerly of Guyana) was impressed by theAkshardham and the Laxshmi Narayan (Birla)Temple in Delhi. “The trip was above our ex-pectations.” They add: “words cannot capturethe magnificence of the Taj Mahal in Agra orthe sanctity of the Raj Ghat in Delhi.”

Nirupa Persaud, the youngest member ofthe tour party had a wonderful experience andwould not hesitate to return to India. She wasaccompanied by her dad Lake Persaud, whorendered steady entertainment, and her grand-mother. “Everybody is so kind, but I was dis-

turbed by the number ofpeople sleeping on thestreets.” Nirupa insiststhat every youth shouldvisit India at least once.

George Mangar (for-merly of Canal No I,Guyana) was accompa-nied by Savitri Persaud.“The only thing I knewabout India before, waswhat I had seen in Indianmovies. It was a great ex-perience.” He notes:“The entertainment wasgreat and Kaliji is the

greatest.” Parbotie Nanjad (formerly of PortMourant, Guyana) loves Rishikesh and theGanges. “Too many people are poor.” “I hadalways wanted to go to see Lord Shiva and theGanges. India is beautiful.”

Gewan and Tara Seeram (formerly of WestBank Demerara, Guyana) were overjoyed withtheir experience. “The trip made us appreciatemore of what we have. Sleeping on the streetswas not a pleasant sight. Kaliji provided serv-ices above our expectations and we give himmaximum marks.” According to the couplewho now resides in Florida, their best memo-ries are: ”fun in the bus, stopping to give char-ity, doing pooja at the Ganges. These made usfeel that India belongs to us, too.” What’s evenmore remarkable is,“how people canmake out with so lit-tle and be content.”

Chaitnarine Pan-day who was accom-panied by his Momenjoyed the splendidstructures and archi-tectural beauty, espe-cially taking intoconsideration thatwhen these were builtthey didn’t have the

advanced tools and equipment of the modernworld. When he visited the Elephanta Cavesin Mumbai, Panday felt at home. “If you wantto know more of your background, then youhave to go to India.”

The other Kali Bharat Yatra Group returnedto New York on November 6, 2011. “Thoughgoing to India for 28 years, each time it is dif-ferent, as I have to respond to each person’s in-dividual’s needs. When I could see how theYatrans’ face glow with satisfaction, that givesme the greatest joy.” Kali Bharat Yatra next tripto India is scheduled for December 29, 2011.

Following a successful performance at the Princess Hotel in George-town Guyana, Samir Daate and Deepali Somaiya grace their presenceand perform at the farewell dinner for Kali Bharat Yatra group in Mumbai.In the center is popular actress and singer Varsha Usgaonkar.

KBY group in Haridwar, after a dip in the Ganges where Pandit R. Sharma conducted Ganga puja, Oct. 2011.

KBY group on the way to the Taj

Melissa Harrilal Miss KBY best dancer flanked

by Miss Kali Bharat Yatra Nirupa Persaud and

her father Lake Persaud.

Veena Sirwani shashed and congratulates Nirupa Persaud as Miss Kali Bharat Yatra, extreme right is Dilip Sirwani

Left to right: Director and Producer Ajay Sharma, Veteran Journalist Devindra Mohan, First Disciple of JagjitSingh - Ghansham Vaswani, Tour Director Kali, Tour Operator of RTS fame Dilip Sirwani, Versatile Singer ShreeSeepersaud, holding momentum and Veteran Photographer & Coordinator of KBY group Mohan Singh.

Rajasthani singers

and dancer

performing.

Kali Bharat Yatra 28th Anniversary Tour of India:A Life-Long Dream Came Through for Many