Book Review “ Death ends life, not a relationship ,” as Mitch Albom put it. That is why, we have so many rituals associated with death. Minakshi Dewan’s book, The Final Farewell [HarperCollins, 2023], is a well-researched book about those rituals. The book starts with an elaborate description of the Sikh rituals associated with death and cremation, before moving on to Islam, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and finally Hinduism. After that, it’s all about the various traditions and related details of Hindu final rites. A few chapters are dedicated to the problems of widows in India, gender discrimination in the last rites, and the problem of unclaimed dead bodies. There is a chapter titled ‘Grieving Widows in Hindi Cinema’ too. Death and its rituals form an unusual theme for a book. Frankly, I don’t find the topic stimulating in any way. Obviously, I didn’t buy this book. It came to me as quite many other books do – for reasons of their own. I read the book finally, having shelv
Kufri looks so beautiful. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteBeauty of the mountains is captivating in Himachal.
DeleteI've never been to Shimla! Such a beautiful place! Tall trees and beautiful mountains!! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, the trees and the mountains will bewitch you.
DeleteSo you went on a summer holiday to this lovely place? Good post, lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteYeah, a short break from the long summer in Delhi. More for the mind than the body :)
DeleteGreat trip ! I once heard that Kufri is better then kufr !
ReplyDeleteI don't know about that, Kokila. But Kufri can be great fun in less warm days.
DeleteKufr means 'sin' Sir and here used in sense of 'pleasure' :)
DeleteNice photographs....my memories got refreshed... :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad I could do that.
DeleteI visited Kufri this summer and found it to be quite commercialized... tourists were littering the place all over :( There was this pahadi lady with a stall that served paranthas. they were the best I have had in a long time..\and those ponies scared me... I dont think ill do a pony ride again :P
ReplyDeleteYes, Seeta, the pony ride was a bit scary for me too.
DeleteCommerce reigns supreme in every tourist place of Shimla. I mentioned it in my first post in this series.
I didn't eat anything in Kufri, drank a lot of water and fruit juices. It was pretty hot!
Looks like a must visit! I have been wanting to visit the northern part from such a long time.. Hopefully this year :)
ReplyDeleteGo in the season of March-April or Sept-Nov. And carry a lot of cash :)
DeleteNice pictures. Last time I visited there was very bad smell of horse manure near the parking lot. View was overwhelming, though.
ReplyDeleteHundreds of ponies will certainly create a lot of dung. :) I saw a few tourists walking the trail and was quite surprised. No normal human being can walk that way. It's so pathetic. One of the tourists remarked, "This is the best way to make money out of tourists." In fact, there is a proper roadway leading to the same place where tourists are taken by ponies. But tourists realise such truths much later. There is quite a lot of deceptiveness about Shimla, I think. Maybe, the people are helpless; they need to make money this way!
DeleteBeautiful. I would love to visit this place.
ReplyDeleteChoose the season according to your taste. Snow won't be available in summer. Winter can be freezing.
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ReplyDeleteYour post has given very valuable information, keep posting the same information like this always.
ReplyDeleteDelhi to Shimla Taxi | Taxi Fare From Delhi to Shimla
Your post has valuable information about, Kufri,a small hill station in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Kufri is an amazing place to visit and easily accessible from Shimla. There are many places to visit in Kufri which makes it an ideal vacation spot.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing information about kufri. Please share information about Luxury Resorts in Kufri
ReplyDeleteYour blog has relevant knowledge about Kufri and its near by places. There are many Resorts in Kufri where you can enjoy your best time.
ReplyDeleteNice Post! Explore the Manali Tour Package to witness the wonderland of India and get amazing tour packages while visiting the place of spectacular beauty that will absolutely take your breath away.
ReplyDeleteRiding the pony was a great experience in my entire tour
ReplyDeletenice post here!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional Shimla Kufri travel content. Your guides, stories, and recommendations have been an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to explore the wonders of the snowy season. Whether it's uncovering hidden gems or embarking on thrilling adventures Shimla, your insights have enriched the travel experiences of countless readers. Thank you for your dedication to sharing the magic of winter exploration!
ReplyDeleteInsightful read! Looking forward to more. Taxi Service from Chandigarh to Shimla
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