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Shimla-based band’s upcoming music video trailer shows marvelous glimpses of Chanshal Pass and Dodra-Kwar

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With its full Orchestra, the band climbed to the top of the highest peak in the Shimla district – Chansal Pass at 4,520 metres (14,830 ft) and descended to reach the other side Dodra and Kwar

SHIMLA- Recently, a Shimla-based music band ‘Ispat’ released the trailer of its upcoming video song “Bulbule”. Himachal Watcher received an opportunity to watch the complete music video prior to its release. The music and lyrics are delightful and romantic and the landscapes are stunningly beautiful. The video has bird-view drone shots of some beautiful locations in Shimla district. Considering that the video is mostly self-funded by the band members and is recorded in home-studio, it deserves a mention.

shooting-in-chansal-pass

The band took only five days to complete the shooting of this music video despite traveling to one of the most remote and isolated region of Himachal Pradesh as well as of India – Dodra-Kwar, locked away between the steep-high Himalayan mountains. Dodra -Kwar didn’t have a motorable road until 2009 when first HRTC bus service was introduced by the govt. The  region is about 200 km from capital city Shimla. The Chanshal ski slopes are considered the longest in South Asia by experts. 
chanshal-pass-photograph

With its full Orchestra, the band climbed to the top of the highest peak in the Shimla district – Chansal Pass at 4,520 metres (14,830 ft) and descended to reach the other side Dodra and Kwar, two regions consisting of villages separated by gushing waters of river Rupin.

Trailer of ISPAT’s ‘BulBule’

Both Dodra and Kwar have their own rich socio-cultural history with marvelous works of architecture including temples.

Photo: K Kasturi

Photo: K Kasturi

So far, this part of Himachal, which has mostly remained unexplored due to tough geographical and climatic conditions, was hardly explored as location for shooting. The region is approachable only through Chansal Pass that remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall. Until 2009, before the region was connected with the nearest Rohru town via a motorable road, people used to trek for 2-3 days to reach the other side. But even this road isn’t less than an adventure and it can scare hell out of even skilled riders.

dodra-village-drone-image

ISPAT has shown the region in a refreshing perspective with some wonderful scenes set in a hamlet of traditionally built, slate-roof houses. You also get short, but clear glimpses of the village and villagers in their traditional dresses.

hassan-valley-drone-images

Photo Copyright: ISPAT/Himachal Watcher

Some scenes of the video are shot in Hassan Valley in Shimla. It’s a ‘Water Catchment Sanctuary’ with very dense deodar forest cover. Drone footage in the video will give you better idea.

Though, it’s was dangerous, the band took its chances and even filmed a swimming scene in Pabbar River. Then, there are some scenes set in Mashobra.

dodra-village_2

But the scenes of Chansal Pass and Dodra are most charming. Apparently, this part of the world is not meant for tourists. It’s for loners and travelers. There isn’t any hotel or inn here except a PWD guesthouse, which is not a privileged place to stay. At best, you can get home-stays.

That was about the location of the shooting. Himachal Watcher also got a chance to interact with the members of the band. All the actors and artists belongs to Himachal.

About the Band and Actors

Artist Name Place
Singer Varun Kainthla (22) Shimla (Narkanda)
Lead Guitarist Sunny (30) Una
Bass Guitar Sahitya Chauhan(28) Shimla (Chopal)
Rhythm Guitar Ravi Chauhan (29) Shimla (Chopal)
Drummer Manish Verma(29) Shimla (Kumarsen)
Lead Actor Sahitya Chauhan (28) Shimla (Chopal)
Lead Actress Pooja Chauhan (23) Shimla (Rohru)
  Anu Thakur (27) Kullu (Banjar)
Lyrics Ravi Chauhan Shimla

As per the band, the song is actually a dedication to someone and the lyrics were written a couple of years back. Finally, the band is ready to release the music video ‘Bulbule’ on January 1, 2017.

ispat-music-band

The band also shared some of their memories they had captured during their shoot in their mobile phone.
himachal-based-music-band

Gallery:

Madan has studied English Literature and Journalism from HP University and lives in Shimla. He is an amateur photographer and has been writing on topics ranging from environmental, socio-economic, development programs, education, eco-tourism, eco-friendly lifestyle and to green technologies for over 9 years now. He has an inclination for all things green, wonderful and loves to live in solitude. When not writing, he can be seen wandering, trying to capture the world around him in his DSLR lens.

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Art & Culture

Use Offerings Made at  Himachal’s Hindu Religious Institutions Only For Hindus, Employ Only Hindus: HP Govt

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offerings at himachal pradesh's religious places

Shimla-The Additional Chief Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Language, Art & Culture Department has issued a notification barring the use of offerings made at the Hindu religious places or institutions for non-Hindu Communities.

Directions in this regard have been issued to Commissioners (temple) under Section 27 of the Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1984.

“All the receipts or offerings including gold and silver of the Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments shall be used only for the purposes pertaining to the welfare and other activities relating to only Hindus. No receipts or offerings shall be used for the purposes associated with activities relating to Non-Hindus,” the notification said.

Further, now, no non-Hindu person would be given any sort of employment at the Hindu religious institutions/places.

“All the officers and officials including the personnel related to security etc. whether appointed or deputed or taken on outsourcing basis shall be out of the persons professing the Hindu religion only,” the notification said.

No further clarification was provided regarding the intended purpose of this move.

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Kullu Dussehra 2021: All Religious Ceremonies to be Allowed, But No Commercial and Cultural Events

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Kullu dussehra 2021

Shimla-The International Kullu Dussehra would be organised from 15th October to 21st October, 2021, the Himachal Pradesh Government informed today after holding a meeting regarding the same.

The HP Government has decided that all deities would be invited for the Dussehra festival. Orgnaization of all religious ceremonies would be allowed traditionally, but the cultural and commercial activities would not be held.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur presided over meeting of State Level Kullu Dussehra Committee. Directions were given to ensure proper security system, uninterrupted electricity supply and adherence of Covid-19 guidelines.

It was also decided in the meeting that Language, Art and Culture Department would provide an additional amount of Rs. 10 lakh to district administration Kullu for organising Kullu Dussehra festival.

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Wah Re Corona: Himachali Folk Artist’s Lyrical Satire is Factual Rendition of India’s Agonizing Catastrophe

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wah re corona

Shimla-Otherwise blatantly vocal and distinctively mass-mobilizing government of India is suddenly in the most subdued self after its proclaimed victory over the deathly virus; participation in uncontrolled election rallies; and permitting maha melas. The stalwarts are in the hiding, while helpless citizens – who voted them into power not once but in landslide victories twice – are dying due to lack of oxygen, poor – unavailable – medical facilities, and the denial stance of the ignorant in the helm.

Drawing a comparison between the fatal coronavirus and the mismanagement of the entire situation by the appalling government; a Himachali folk artist has released a factually appropriate lyrical satire that will tickle your mind and leave you to imagine what has brought this catastrophe onto us. The song is written by Rameshwar Sharma and music by Lalit Sauta. 

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