SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021 (PAGE 4) BOLLYWOOD BUZZ TRAVELOGUE : A secret A Trek to Parashar Lake Smridhi Sharma

It has always been a human urge to explore what's unknown. This curiosity to bond with children unravel has led to the discovery of many new places and species, but the most On the Birth Centenary Year of Satyajit was too little to understand who Ray was. etc., for disciplining me were my mother’s importantly, it gives us an idea of how tiny Ray, the maestro’s work will be revisited “His gift lay in that he never treated us like domain, he never interfered. But when I space we occupy in this land and the world again and again by admirers and critics. children. I would play chess with him asked him for a still camera, he brought beyond. Among others, an area worth exploring is between shoots and would win every time. me one on his first trip to Japan where he The travelling restrictions during the how the creative genius portrayed, and Perhaps he allowed me to win! Placing also met Akira Kurosawa. Nor did he once Covid - 19 lockdown period during 2020 treated, children in his films and stories, children on an equal footing helped us to interfere in my filmmaking.” had put everything to a halt and tourism writes Shoma A. Chatterji open up. All we had to do was to act our- is not a children’s film but was one amongst many sectors that was Who can ever forget that beautiful selves. It was quite easy.” makes adults look at their world through significantly affected. Luckily, as the things B&W visual of little Apu and his sari-clad From to , Ray the eyes of Pikoo, the child. Goopy Gyne started returning somewhat back to nor- sister Durga running through the white tackled children as entities on their own. Bagha Byne and were mal and the people began moving out with kaash flowering fields to see the train? Or, He took them out of their urban, educat- films targeted at a universal audience. safety precautions, the travelling business Apu inspecting his proud image in a mir- ed, modern backdrop to place them in a Children enjoyed these films for the fanta- once again has stared opening up and a ror sporting a hand-made paper crown rural setting as and when the script sy, the music, the fairy-tale element and new term called "work from mountains" (of the magic, while adults could read in course only for the privileged ones whose them the thinly veiled attacks against the companies allowed them to work from any- politics of totalitarianism and suppres- where) arrived in the market. Mountains tend to heal your soul, and sion of individual freedom. place was addictive; Deodar and pine trees and has a pagoda style of architecture with imagine what working from such a place Ray’s contribution to children’s litera- standing tall welcomed us with open arms intricate carvings of animals and serpents. can offer you! Many people including me ture comprises 21 novels and 11 short and the noise of the small stream running Sage Parashar used to meditate there and my friends utilized their February 2021 parallel to our path seemed like a magical hence the name. There is also a floating story compilations, most of them translat- last weekend to explore the mountains. So, song. As we moved further the altitude and island in the middle of the lake, but nobody ed into many languages across the world. we went trekking to Parashar Lake in the weight that we carried started challeng- is allowed to go inside. One interesting The two incredible and immortal char- Himachal Pradesh. The plan was to meet at ing us, the unexpected rains made the rocks belief we came across was of the rice seeds acters Ray has gifted his child-readers Mandi since we were coming from different slippery and since most of us didn't carry given randomly by the priests after you with are – Felu-da and fictional scientist locations. In the beginning it looked some- the umbrella, we had to take small breaks make a wish. If the count is odd(3/5/7) the Professor Shonku. Felu-da later turned what obscure while implementing the plan, under a tree till the rain stopped. wish will be granted they say and it is the into a celluloid character that has now cut but luckily one of our friends heard about a Meanwhile, we could hear the yatra first thing that locals do before starting any across the barrier of time and creation firm that offered all the facilities right from approaching by the traditional Pahadi new task be it a new business, marriage or with a full-length documentary called travelling, accommodations to meals and a melody that is played using flutes, drums any other important task they take in celebration of the detective’s fic- local guide. It's like giving all your problems and Narsingha echoing in the mountains. approval from their deity. tional 50th birthday. Keeping the child- to them (and of course the money) and in The last part of the trek was challenging After taking blessings from the temple it return you get a wonderful and a memo- reader in mind, Ray had always resisted because it was very steep and by the time, we was time to return to the base camp and we rable experience. and a moustache, in Satyajit Ray’s debut demanded and they never seemed out of the temptation to fill Felu-da’s adventures crossed that stretch to reach the top, clouds soon realized that it was time to return to film Pather Panchali? place. Nor did they behave or speak like with blood and gore and needless vio- We were a total of five girls three of approached, and it started 'hail storming'. our normal routine. Then there is Ratan in Postmaster, a precocious children as seen in many films. lence. whom were coming from Delhi and two of Our face and hands turned pale but luckily, Time travels slow in mountains it proud little orphan girl who refuses the Even in his writings meant for children he This understanding of the child’s us from Jammu. We all boarded the bus on we saw a hut and to protect ourselves from seems, it was just the second day of our one-rupee tip from her master. And, the followed the same belief that children are psychology, the ability to look at the Friday evening by 9.00 pm and by the storm we went inside and found some journey, but it felt like we did so much, trav- tomboyish teenage girl Mrinmoyee much more imaginative than older read- world through the eyes of the child, was Saturday 7.30 in the morning we were at dry wood and leaves which we burned using elled so much, enjoyed so much. These two (Aparna Sen) in Samapti furiously chew- ers. something Ray was born with. Ray’s our base camp. It was a beautiful place a lighter and felt happy to feel its warmth. days will forever be engraved in our mem- ing a sugarcane in one scene and in anoth- The child and teenage protagonists in grandfather Upendrakishore called Panarsa and was the hometown of By the time storm stopped we continued ories and will be cherished for the rest of er, hiding the shoes of the hero (Soumitra his Felu-da series of mystery novels and Roychoudhury and his father Sukumar our guide. It was spring so the apricots and walking towards the place where we had to our lives. Chatterjee) who has come to “see” a girl in films reflect the same belief. Siddhartha Roy were gifted creators of literature for plum trees were covered with flowers; stay for the night. It was a mud house on top While returning to the base camp we her village; the innocent little boy who Chatterjee, who played the teenaged children. Their works are still regarded fields with mustard flowers and there were of the mountain with sloppy roof made of saw an accident that had occurred the pre- asks his mother how to use white for a Topshe, assistant to the self-styled detec- as milestones in the history of chil- apple orchards as well. I was thinking of stones from where you get to see the temple vious night of a car which had fallen into a how sweet and delicious they would taste flower in a painting in Pikoo; the naïve tive Felu-da (Soumitra Chaterjee), main- dren’s literature in Bengali. Ray, a gift- and the lake downwards. They provided us deep gorge. The bodies were still inside; when the harvesting season would come grandson who asks his ailing grandfather tained a diary when he acted in the two of ed artist and ad-man began illustrating an Angeethi and served tea and Pakodas families were informed who must have and how blessed are the people who wake what ‘do numberi money’ means in Ray’s films. When Ray shot , books like Pagla Dashu, Ha-Ja-Ba-Ra- which made us feel warm and refreshed. been on the way. It was painful to see the up every morning with such a view and air Shakha Proshakha; the little boy who he was still in school. When later Ray shot Lo-the famous book of nonsense Coincidently it was a full moon night and condition of the car which no longer looked Joy Baba Felunath in 1977, Chatterjee was rhymes authored by his father. Later, to breathe. after having dinner (our favourite Rajma, like a car but a spherical ball of metal con- seems scared to find the aunty he played I have always observed that the hospi- doing his Graduation. Pages from his the involvement deepened with the Kadhi and Chawal) we went out to see the taining human flesh. with had suddenly transformed into a tality and warmth of the Pahadi people diary reveal facets of Ray not only as a revival of the then-extinct children’s stars. The wind was blowing fast, and it was It is strange how life works. One Goddess in Devi. make you feel like you have known them director but also as a person who could magazine Sandesh, founded, edited and extremely cold. The full moon was shining moment everything is going as planned These,and many more child characters since ages, and the same we felt for the fam- bright and its reflection on the lake made and then out of the blue things turn upside shape the character of the people he published by grandfather were nurtured by Ray through his imagi- ily of our local guide. They cooked for us the place look heavenly. down. I wondered how those people would nation, his aesthetics and his humane sen- worked with. Upendrakishore Ray Choudhury. Ray delicious food and all the meals we had The next morning, we got up early to have planned their vacations thinking of sibilities. That’s why they transcend the Chatterjee says that though he was edited and illustrated the revived were grown in their own fields and they see the sunrise; the rays falling on snow taking a break and enjoying the weekend framed confines of the screen and step naughty at home, he shied away from Sandesh jointly with his close friend even raised cattle. In a few hours after hav- clad Pir Panchal, Dhauladhar and Kinnaur just like we did, but how it turned out to be into our hearts to remain there forever. people outside. “I got rid of my shyness poet Subhash Mukhopadhyay in 1961 ing breakfast and freshening up we were off mountain ranges made the entire stretch a nightmare for them! Uma Dasgupta, who portrayed the over the shooting of Sonar Kella. The later joined by his aunt, the famous to the route from where we could start our gleam like diamond. After having break- I looked up and saw a big vulture teenaged Durga in Pather Panchali three facets of Ray’s persona I found the children’s author Leela Majumdar. trek. We crossed a yatra, it was of Parashar fast, we descended the hill to go to the spreading its wings with pride looking for remembers, “He never gave instructions most fascinating were, (a) his total con- points out that had Rishi who is the Kul Devta of that region Parashar temple, the lake adjoining the its prey. Vulture symbolizes a messenger to children in the presence of others. It trol over any situation related directly Sandesh not been revived when it was, and that's where we had to go. temple is said to have been built by one of between life and death, the physical world, was always whispered exclusively to each or indirectly to his work, (b) his ability Ray may never have taken that dip into There is another motorable road that the Pandava brothers- Bhim by striking his and the spirit world. It has an uncanny abil- child telling what he wanted them to do. It to take speedy and instantaneous deci- that deep ocean of creative writing, espe- directly takes you to the temple but the one elbow into the ground. Till date nobody ity to locate death and feed itself from was like a secret between the child and sions and (c) time management. cially for children. As editor, he realised he we took was through the forest and it knows its depth, but the locals say that they death. It teaches you to embrace and truly him.“ Ray’s director son Sandip Ray remem- had to write too and that led him to write offered views that looked right out of a fairy have once seen big trees drowning in the understand the meaning of death because Kushal Chakravarty who played bers his father never scolded him because stories for children. So the two immortal tale. We had to cover 7.5km (total 15km) for water due to a storm and that too without death of one means life of another. Mukul in Ray’s Sonar Kella (The Golden he never lost his temper even while at characters Prof. Shonku and Felu-da took the day; beginning was smooth, and the leaving a trace on the surface. The temple - (The author is an Information & Fortress) set in Jaisalmer recalls that he work. “All the punishment, the scolding, birth.” —TWF weather was clear. The tranquility of the complex is made from a single deodar tree Communication techie of Jammu at Mumbai) BEAUTY TIPS CAREER COUNSELLING Natural Facial at Home “Quit the race ” Shahnaz Husain ents, like almond meal, oats, or rice flour. Add a little rose water, or yogurt and apply on the skin. Rub the skin gently Every year, summers take a toll on the skin. The burning with it and wash the face with plain water. sun and hot winds tend to damage the natural skin glow and If you have a normal to dry skin, nourishing should come make it dull, rough and dark. An increase in temperatures next. Apply the nourishing cream, wet your hands with water during the summer months, combined with humidity and and massage the cream into the skin, using outwards and heat end up with excessive sebum around the T-zone, itchy upwards strokes. Use extremely gentle strokes for the area rashes, sunburn, and premature signs of ageing. around the eyes, using only your ring finger. The motion Our skin suffers from roughness, summer tans and clogs should be outwards and care should be taken to see that the pores because of dust, pollution and heatwaves. This can lead skin is not pulled or stretched. For the neck, use strokes from to blackheads, itchiness and loss of your beautiful skin tone.. the chin downwards. Continue the massage for three to four Because of all this, our skin needs special care in summer. minutes and wipe your skin with damp cotton wool or a Most people spend a lot of money on chemical products or clean, moist face towel. Avoid applying cream if the skin is face treatments, assuming this will do the trick. But let me oily, but nourish the neck area. Next, apply a face mask. Mix tell you, ultimately together two teaspoons chok- they are using er (wheat bran) one teaspoon Because of all this, each ground almonds, rose our skin needs spe- water, curd and honey into a cial care in summer. paste. This is suitable for all Most people spends a skin types. Apply this on the lot of money on face, leaving out lips and area chemical products or around the eyes. Take two face treatments, cotton wool pads and soak assuming this will do them in rosewater, for eye the trick. But let me pads. While the mask dries, Tanya Sharma I know you must have heard this from multiple sources, but I am tell you, ultimately lie down, close your eyes and reiterating it so that you do not undermine its importance - "Quit they are using chem- put the eye pads on the eye- After an uncertain year of the "Corona-Pandemic", the exam- the race." icals only. lids. Allow your body to relax. season has come back again. The examinations are generally Life is a beautiful journey and if you really want to enjoy this This is where the This kind of relaxation is a feared by the students, but this year the anxiety is more as your journey, you have to cherish it, you have to love it and how can skincare home reme- beauty treatment in itself. regular education has suffered a lot .So, first of all I appreciate you really cherish your life if you are constantly in a rush to leave dies come in handy After 20 to 30 minutes, you all that you have managed to face the tough times and now others behind .So, what do you have to do? that helps glow your wash off the face mask with ready to give your best in the exams. Study for the love of reading: While you are preparing for skin naturally that water. Next, soak cotton wool One very important lesson that I have chosen to discuss with your exams, do not get bogged down by how much you have to prove to be the best pads with chilled rosewater you today is that "YOU QUIT THE RACE". You might be sur- do or how many marks you have to get .Rather, enjoy the process alternative to the and wipe the skin with it. prised that in this so competitive age of today, I am asking you to of learning new things. Be excited enough to take your exams and chemical-based Stroke the skin too, with the get out of the race. But, believe me! This is a very important expe- give your best shot. products. rose water pads and pat your rience that I can share with you as an elder sister and a senior. Detachment from the results : After you have performed It’s a good idea skin briskly with it. This helps You are not in competition with any other person. You are a your karma of studying well for the exams , you need not worry to keep one day in to tone the skin, close the unique self, a beautiful self .You are a divine creation. about the results .This is what the holy book Geeta also teaches the week to give pores and add a healthy glow. Remember, you have been sent to this world by Him to do some- us .So, just give your best and leave the rest to the Almighty God. yourself a home Precaution while doing a thing great. Can we really compare roses and marigolds? No, we You are unique: I always emphasize on this fact that facial. It helps to keep facial . cannot and we should not. Both are beautiful in their own way. each one of us has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. the skin in a good condi- 1. Don’t wash your face that night. Your skin needs a chance And so are you, dear! All of us have something special in us. Take the classic exam- tion and also to counteract the effects of pollution and dirt, to relax. Your facial will have left it quite clean, so there’s So, now you might be thinking that is competition bad? I ples of great personalities of the past .If Newton would have which are present in the air in most cities. It helps to refresh no need to wash your face before bedtime. would say that no, there is nothing wrong about competition. compared himself with some extraordinary dancer-friend the skin and rejuvenate it after a week of stress, strain and 2. Do not apply makeup immediately after treating your But, the kind of competition that we are experiencing these days and would have felt inferior and insecure and not worthy fatigue. skin to a facial.Give your skin moderate time to breathe . is very toxic and unhealthy for the young minds .So, it is the enough , he would not have been a great scientist . Or the First take a head band or scarf , place it just above the 3. Give facial every week using skin-friendly organic prod- nature of that competition which is important. often quoted contemporary example of Sachin Tendulkar. If forehead, along the hairline and tie it at the back just above ucts to improve your skin texture. The synthetic products Let me ask you one question -What is the purpose of the com- he would have been in race with others to become an engi- the neck. This is to protect the hair. may damage your skin. petition? Competition should just be for the sake of bringing out neer, doctor or lawyer, the Indian cricket would have lost a Start by cleansing the skin thoroughly. Choose the 4. Make advance preparations and keep all ingredients the best in you .It should be a constant desire to do the things in gem.So, introspect and analyze your strengths and make cleanser according to skin type – gel/cream cleanser for nor- ready before starting your facial to complete all steps effi- the best possible way. But, what is actually happening? Students them your weapons. At the same time, try to work upon your mal to dry skin; cleansing milk or lotion for normal to oily ciently. these days are running a mindless race for grades, marks and weaknesses. But, make sure your weaknesses do not define and combination skins. Apply it on the face. Take cotton 5. Keep your self tension free in a quiet and calm atmos- rewards. They are losing their happiness and joy in this process. you. wool pads, wet them and squeeze out the water. Using these, phere to achieve the best results So, my dear young reader! Close your eyes and ask yourself - Acceptance : After you have put in your honest efforts , wipe your skin with upwards and outwards strokes. On the 6. Stay out of the sun,. The new skin cells exposed by your the last time you participated in any competition or sat for any accept whatever is granted to you by the Universe .I always want forehead, use strokes from just above the bridge of the nose, facial are sensitive. Give them a few days out of the sun exam, were you really happy and enjoying the process? Were you you to remember that His plans are greater and better than ours going on either side towards the temples, following a gentle and, if you have to go out, use a high SPF sunscreen. Use excited enough that you will get to learn something new? Or, you . Sometimes the things seem to be going haywire or your plans arc. Pay special attention to the corners of the nostrils and umbrella while going out of home to avoid direct sun were constantly comparing yourself with others, or stressed do not work out. In those situations always remember that don’t forget the neck area. Wash the face with plenty of light about the results. Was it causing you experience any negative something better is definitely in store for you. So, my dear water. 7. Avoid any gradients which does not suit your skin type emotions? If yes, then you need to stop and check. young champions of tomorrow, dare you stop! Just keep going While the face is still damp, apply a facial scrub for deep and in case if you feel discomfortabe with any ingradients So, let me give you a mantra. Stop competing with others, but and the world will be at your feet one day. pore cleansing. This is particularly good for oily skins and then rinse it off immediately and cleanse your face . yourself. Constantly keep asking yourself this question that am I To conclude, we pledge -"We are the sons (and daughters) of blackheads. However, if you have spots, pimples, acne, rash- 8. Drink plenty of water/Soup or Juices to keep your skin better than what I was yesterday? Am I doing something to make Light and children of God. Glory unto the Lord, we will succeed es or any eruptions, avoid using a scrub. Facial scrubs are refreshed and hydrated. my skills better? If somebody is doing better than you, then see ……….Faith, fiery faith! March on….Thus and thus we shall go easily available nowadays. You can also use home ingredi- (The author is international fame beauty expert) what can you learn from that person and try to improve yourself. on, brethren"-SWAMI VIVEKANANDA