This colony near Kashmere Gate, Delhi presents myriad colours of Tibetan culture
Archit kumar Srivastava | June 29, 2016 | New Delhi
Majnu ka tilla or New Aruna Nagar Colony, situated on the banks of river Yamuna near Kashmere Gate, is a refugee camp housing Tibetan people. The Tibetan colony was established in 1960.
The colony is divided into two parts; new colony and old colony. Many restaurants and shops are located in the new colony, while in the old colony houses of Tibetan refugees can be seen. Most of the refugees came to this colony in 1959.
As you enter the narrow lanes of Majnu ka tilla, colorful prayer flags catch one’s eye immediately. Right in the center of the colony a Gompa (a Tibetan monastery) can be found. Monks and devotees offer prayers and rotate prayer wheels inside the monastery.
The place is also thronged by tourists as there are many popular eating joints, which offer local Tibetan food. Many local shops selling Tibetan handicrafts, latest fashion wear and gadgets also attract tourists to the place. Kids can be easily found playing games and hanging out in the narrow lanes of Majnu ka tilla.
The colony also has a park which is adorned with beautiful flags and buntings. The park becomes a playground for children and a resting ground for the elderly.
The place also reflects Tibetan people’s struggle for freedom, as posters and graffiti of ‘Free Tibet’ seen all over the place.
Laja(79), a monk or a bhikkhu, has served in the gompa for around two decades.
Shreen (76) was 19 years old when he came to India as a refugee. Shreen and his father were brought in into the colony by Indian army. He wants to die in his motherland but can’t go back as does not have a visa.
Archit is an intern with Governance Now
On June 28, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 41.3°C, four degrees above the seasonal normal. But the “feels like” temperature, which factors in humidity, showed more than 51°C. What the body experienced was very different from what the thermometer recorded. India`
India today finds itself in an unusual position. At a time when geopolitical conflicts, trade fragmentation, and supply-chain disruptions are reshaping the global economy, the country`s macroeconomic fundamentals remain relatively upwards. Growth remains among the highest in the world, inflation has larg
The Trees of My Country: A Natural History of India in 50 Trees By T. R. Shankar Raman, with illustrations by Manali Patil Aleph Book Company, 284 pages, Rs 1,499
A banyan tree in Munger, Bihar, estimated to be around 700 years old, has been identified as the oldest accurately dated banyan tree, Ficus benghalensis, using radiocarbon dating, a method that relies exclusively on scientific evidence rather than historical records or local lore. Banyan
The phrase "corporate governance" often evokes images of board meetings, compliance checklists, and regulatory filings. For years, governance was viewed primarily as a mechanism to prevent fraud, protect minority shareholders, and ensure regulatory compliance. However, the events of the last deca
India and Japan are opening a new chapter in their special strategic and global partnership with the visit of prime minister Sanae Takaichi, India`s prime minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, "I had said in the G7 summit a few days ago that, in this environment of
