Considered as one of the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture in the twentieth century in India, Chandigarh continues to sustain its reputation .

The MN Sharma Architectural Society in collaboration with the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi has organised a photography exhibition ‘Life and Architecture In Chandigarh,’ featuring snapshots of 37 photographers, who were selected through a competition.

The exhibition is highlighting the many dimensions of the city’s world-famous architecture and its influence on the life of its citizens.

The MN Sharma Architectural Society had invited entries from the artists of Tricity for the MN Sharma photography awards 2022. As many as 73 photographers submitted their entries. Finally, pictures of 37 photographers were chosen by the jury for the exhibition.

Winner of the MN Sharma photography awards 2022 : Swapnil Day Sarkar from the Chandigarh College of Architecture

Place And Timing:  CLKA Gallery at Underpass Exhibition

From 30th October 2022 to 12th November 2022;  10 am to 8 pm.

Brief history of the architectural marvel, Chandigarh

French architect Le Corbusier was employed for making the Master Plan and the Capital buildings and worked from 1951 until his death in 1965 on the construction of the city. The others who helped him were  Pierre Jeanneret, Jane Drew, and Maxwell Fry.

The city plan was conceived as post war ‘Garden City’ wherein vertical and high rise buildings were ruled out, keeping in view the socio economic-conditions and living habits of the people.

Le Corbusier divided the city into different sectors. Each Sector or the neighboured unit, is quite similar to the traditional Indian ‘mohalla’, and measures 800 metres by 1200 metres, covering 250 acres of area. The sector featured a green strip running north to south, bisected by a commercial road running east to west.

An English writer Samuel Johnson once wrote exercise is labor without weariness. Gelling well with this quote, a  FIT INDIA Run 3.0 – Marathon 5 km and Cyclothon 8-9 km was held at the Sukhna Lake under the Fit India movement started by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The event held by  a young NGO ‘For A Cause’ was held in association  with the Chandigarh Smart City Limited along with the ‘The Pursuit Magazine’ and another NGO Sankalp.

The fitness run was flagged off by Anindita Mitra IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Chandigarh Smart City Limited. “The mission is to bring about behavioral change and move towards a more physically active lifestyle,” she says.

“Our team regards these projects as a medium to give back and use these opportunities to make a change, wherever possible by doing our level best. We wish to expand and reach further levels to help more people in need, “says founder director Navroop Shergill.

“We rise by lifting others” is what ‘For A Cause’ Chandigarh believes in. Established in 2019, what’s interesting is it is run by a group of young boys and girls who are working in various areas such as healthcare, environment, arranging livelihoods, hygiene, animal care and disaster response.

Young Brigade of ‘For a Cause’

(Left) Sukhmani Dhaliwal, Deputy Project Director; (Right) Khushi Dhanoa, Advisory board member

Work done

• Collaborated with various government departments and organised workshops and marathons to raise awareness about certain global issues such as pollution and cyber safety.
• Organised donation drives which include donation of blankets, clothes and sanitary napkins.

The first-of-its-kind league in UT, the Chandigarh Golf League evinced keen interest in city golfers and members of the Chandigarh Golf Club. It was held at the 7,202-yard-long, 18-hole Chandigarh golf course.

Canam Raptors won the Chandigarh Golf League by defeating Punjab Aces (4-3). The Third Place play off saw Netsmartz Tigers dominate Captain’s 18.

The league started from September 21 onward and finished on October 31.

The teams were divided into three groups. Two groups have seven teams each, and one group has six teams. The teams in each group played each other once and after the round robin format, the top two teams from each group qualified for the quarterfinal stage. Each team played two singles matches and five doubles matches, with 12 players playing in one match.

Two new flights from the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali, have been added to the winter schedule. These are to our favourite winter vacay destinations Goa,  and the most populous and largest city of  Madhya Pradesh, Indore.

The Goa flight will commence by end of December,  while the Indore flight is expected to start operations from Nov 1.

An OTT fame Mr. Ritwik Sahore popularly known for his performance in #IndoriIshqwebseries shared his experience of #ShaeedBhagatSinghInternationalAirport and was delighted with quick checkin & security screening.#RiktwikSahore #smoothTravel@AAI_Official @CMOPb @cmohry @ceochial pic.twitter.com/1ahIDzdvZ1

— SBSI Airport (@IXCairport) October 21, 2022

The winter schedule comes into operation from October 31 till March 25.

According to the winter schedule, the first flight to take off from SBSI airport will be to Delhi at 6 am. The first flight to land at Mohali airport will be from Chennai at 6:40 am.

After two years of restricted closure, Chandigarh airport witnessed bumper traffic in October, 2022. On October 7 alone, the footfall was 10, 178 with 37 arrivals and 37 departures,  while on October 1, passenger footfall crossed 11,000.

More about Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh

• Punjab & Haryana governments have  24.5% each. while the major stake is Airports Authority of India with 51%.
• Management (Joint Venture): Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL).
• Capacity: 1600 passengers
• Departure: Upper Floor, Arrival: Ground Floor
• 5 Aerobridges
• 48 check-in counters.
• Parking Bay for 8 Aircrafts
• Six escalators and 14 lifts.

On an average, almost 7,000 passengers arrive and depart daily from Chandigarh airport.

Local Bus Service Operated by CTU (38, 38-A): Air conditioned bus service is available that can take you to key places in Chandigarh and to Sector 17 and Sector 43 bus stations (ISBT). Buses are available throughout the day. Fares are quite reasonable

Route (38): Sector 22/23, 35/36, 42/43, ISBT-43, 51, 50, 49, 48 mkts, Jagatpura, 65 mkt, White House, Indl. Area Ph-9, Sec-82 mkt, Airport (vice-versa).

The bus service, which will start from the Sector-17 ISBT at 4.20 am daily and end at 12.55 am from the Chandigarh International Airport, can be availed of for a flat price of ₹100 per person.

Timings of all CTU buses part of the service are in sync with the arrival and departure timings of various flights.

Animals have come to mean so much in our lives … dog lovers never take it lying low if it comes to their pets. However, those who don’t own one, are heaving a sigh of relief. The Panchkula Municipal Corporation (MC) has directed all those who own Pitbulls and Rottweilers to get their dogs registered by October 31, or pay huge fines. However, this rule is not applicable in Mohali and Chandigarh.

A press statement released by Panchkula MC reads, “People have to get these two breeds registered before October 31. Pups will not be registered. Whenever pet owners take their dogs out for a walk, they must ensure a token (issued by MC) in their necks.”

If any dog owner is found in public place with his or her unregistered dog of any of these two breeds, he or she will have to pay ₹5,000 fine the first time, and ₹10,000 the second time.

The press statement further reads, “Dog owners will also have to give an affidavit to the MC that if their dog bites any human being or animal, then the responsibility will be of the dog owner. He or she will bear the expenses of the treatment and ensure that the person gets the best treatment.” These conditions will not be applicable if there is a dog show in the city.

What is this entire fuss about these two breeds, in particular, being targeted by the Panchkula MC? In July, 2022, an 80-yr-old Lucknow woman was bitten by a Pitbull that her son owned and she died. The son, however, got the Pitbull back into the family after it was confiscated by a rescue centre.

This incident raised a hue and cry across the country regarding the ownership of Pitbulls and how such ‘life-threatening’ breeds of dogs who can harm the owner,  could be a danger to the common man. “After this incident, about 42 Pitbulls across the Tricity who were abandoned by their owners were rescued by my NPO,” says Pankaj Khandeliya, owner of NPO (non-profit organization) Foreign Fluff.

“Another reason why this issue has caught so much attention is that the panchayat polls are around the corner, there are about 14-15 Pitbulls in Kalka and its vicinity and they attack people,” argues Pankaj. Therefore, the problem does not lie in Pitbull pets biting people, but unregistered and untrained Pitbulls getting aggressive due to lack of insufficient food and loving home.

What is the possible solution? The first thing that comes to mind is to stop breeding them.  A Panchkula MC official says, “The MC has set October 31 deadline for owners to get these two breeds registered or face a challan. People are showing up and getting their dogs registered. A complete ban on breeding of these breeds has been imposed”.

“A proforma should be circulated in the panchayats around Panchkula amongst people who are breeding dogs illegally so that they get themselves registered. As a result, records will get updated every month, illegal and abrupt breeding will end, and MC will earn revenue,” says Shaurya Galhotra, President, Be-zubaan (Be the voice), another NPO dealing with dogs and working in liaison with Panchkula MC.

Jaws of Pitbull have a very strong crushing power

“In India, Pitbull breeding is banned in India, what some breeders do is send the Pitbulls to banjaras (tribals roaming around rummaging garbage) for breeding and get the puppies and hybrid them with other breeds. There might be just about 10-15 pure Pitbulls across India, the others which look like Pitbulls are mixed breeds,” explains Pankaj.

What is it that makes Pitbulls and Rottweilers scary? “The jaws of the Pitbulls have a strong crushing power about 300 PSI, so even if they don’t attack but if something gets under its jaws, the affected person doesn’t get reaction time, and the harm is already done. So, they are not genetically aggressive, but genetically prone to bite heavily, ”says Pankaj, who handles them every day.

“As far as Rottweilers are concerned, they are one of the most peaceful dogs, They are heavy, their body is pure muscle, so if their paw lands on somebody, they might surely not cause damage but for an inexperienced person, these dogs are difficult to handle,” he adds.

Rottweilers have very strong paws

Initially, the proposal introduced in the Panchkula MC  was to get all pets registered, but the discussion strayed to the so-called ferocious breeds. “Intellectually viability of such decisions is not discussed and impromptu hasty decisions result in confusion,” says Shaurya. The General House of Panchkula MC passed a resolution to put a ban on these two breeds. After the owners of Pitbulls and Rottweilers protested, it was decided that all those who have dogs of these two breeds must get them registered.

Before the deadline of October 31,  over 75 pitbulls and rottweilers were registered by their owners in the last two weeks before the deadline finished.

Before the nitification, around 400 dogs were registered out of which eight were pitbulls and 14 were rottweilers.

Rajesh, a resident of Sector 21, Panchkula, who owns a Pitbull says, “The municipal corporation’s decision does not hold ground under Indian laws. I have a Pitbull at my home and he is like my family member, how can I abandon him? There is no question of giving up our dog. We have already had a discussion and got all the formalities done be it registration or vaccination.”

All petdogs must be registered

Under the Panchkula Registration of petdogs bylaws, 2010, it is mandatory for dog owners to get their pets registered. Challans ranging from Rs 500-Rs5,000 can be imposed if any breed of pet dog is not registered, depending on the ‘nuisance value’.

Where to leave your Pitbull, if you want to abandon it

Foreign Fluff NPO

Owner: Pankaj Khandeliya

Contact no: 8146670758

Address: SCO 24, Sai market,

Pirmuchhala, Zirakpur.

From a college regular to being a ‘British Deputy High Commissioner for a day.’ And city girl Nehal Sharma loved the experience of becoming a diplomat even it was for a few hours. While for teenagers, college is sheer fun, some of them are always sniffing around for opportunities to discover themselves and to learn more. Nehal seems to have started in earnest to make herself useful and more meaningful to society.

92-yr-old Jaswantiben is one of the founders of Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad, later renamed Lijjat Papad a household name in the 90s’, a women’s worker cooperative involved in the manufacturing of various fast-moving consumer goods.

Making and selling papads was just a desperate step by her to contribute to the family income. She and her Gujarati neighbours used to make papads on their terraces.

Jaswantiben was conferred the Padma Shri award in 2021. She began her journey with an investment of Rs 80 along with six of her friends. Initially, they could sell only four packets of papad to a businessman .

Here’s a tete-a-tete she had with the Deputy British High commissioner Caroline Rowett.

In a unique and momentous celebration, Hero Homes created a Guinness Book of World Records on the occasion of Diwali with the lighting of the world’s largest diya in its Mohali premises. Manufactured with approximately 1000 kg steel, the world’s largest diya measuring 3.37-meter in diameter was lit to spread the message of world peace, secularism, and humanism.

Participating in a clarion call for unity and peace, over 10,000 citizens including 4,000 residents of Hero Homes, representing the diverse fabric and diversity of Indian society, pooled in approximately 3,560 lt of organic and diya-appropriate oils to create this unique symbol of peace.

Themed around the festival of peace, the huge stainless-steel diya was lit in the presence of official adjudicators of the Guinness Book of World Records who were present at the society of Hero Homes at Mohali to record this feat. As per the Guinness Books of Records, this Diya has been lit with 3,560 litre of cooking oil and qualifies as the World’s biggest Diya ever lit.

Lt Gen (retd) K J Singh PVSM, AVSM, former GOC Western Command who lighted the lamp said, “This is an unconventional event combining the dual intent of celebrating Diwali as per tradition and one that also manages to spread an important social message.”

Ashish Kaul, CMO Hero Realty said, “Diwali marks the restoration of peace and harmony. The oil in the diya, collected from various individuals irrespective of regions, languages, religions, and other cultural creeds represents the united resolve for peace and spirit of Indians.”

There are many benefits that accrue from the holy cow, considered to be sacred in Hindu culture. Mankind has witnessed its usefulness for ages.

An NGO, Chandigarh Gauri Shankar Seva Dal, has reinvented a means of bringing back Indian rural feel into our modern homes. The Gaushala at Sector 45 is providing organic diyas made from cow dung mixed with organic ingredients like havan samagri, gugul, jatamassi, pilli sarson and loban, and that too free of cost.

How do these cowdung diyas work 

The diya will sustain the cotton flame for about 15-20 minutes. After the flame gets extinguished and the oil has been used up, it will start disintegrating slowly and turn into ash.

How are they useful 

You can mix the remaining ash in the soil in potted plants which will serve as a manure.

The ash can also be mixed with laung and elaichi and burnt like a ‘dhooni’. The fumes arising out of it serve as a disinfectant and spread positive energy.

Besides, the ash can be collected and used to clean utensils as was done in olden times in villages.

“Our target for this year (2022) is to make 75,000-80,000, ” says Sumit Sharma, Chairman, Chandigarh Gauri Shankar Seva Dal.

These organic diyas are only being made at the Sector 45 gaushala. There are six gaushalas in  Chandigarh alone. “The other gaushalas should also start this initiative so that Diwali becomes eco-friendly for everyone,” suggests Sumit Sharma, Chairman, Chandigarh Gauri Shankar Seva Dal, who has been associated with this gaushala for the last 10 years. “A few years back we had gone to a gaushala in Gujarat and we saw them making these cowdung diyas , we learnt how to make them and then started making them here in Chandigarh,” says Sumit.

How are they made

The moist cowdung is mixed with other ingredients havan samagri, gugul, jatamassi, pilli sarson and loban, then they are kept in the sun to dry for about 2 days, and they are ready.
The other conventional earthen lamps or diyas are exposed to heat to make them ‘pucca’, that is why they do not disintegrate like cowdung diyas.

Where will you get them

Gaushala, Near Sector 44-C, 45-D, 51 & 50 Traffic Lights, Chandigarh Model Jail Road, Sector 45-D
Chandigarh – 160 047

When will they be available:  Dhanteras till Diwali

Cost: Free

USP: eco-friendly

Precaution: do not keep it over a wooden structure, it may burn, keep it on a concrete structure

“Goddess Lakshmi resides in cow dung. It is an effort on our part to keep Hindu traditions alive in a modern way. People no longer use cowdung in cemented houses. Yes, those who believe in Hindu traditions and rituals have another medium of getting goddess Lakshmi into their houses,” says Ramesh Kumar Sharma, President, Chandigarh Gauri Shankar Seva Dal.

The NGO has been making these organic diyas for the last over five years. “There has been amazing response from the city residents,” he says.

Though, the social and medical benefits have slowly been losing its sheen due to the constant urbanization and modernization that has been taking place.

In olden times, the cow was the most important resource even when it came to keeping the house neat and clean and hygienic. The walls of mud houses were plastered with mixture of cow dung with dry straws from fields with the onset of any auspicious festival or occasion. And it entailed hard labour too, women were generally assigned this responsibility who did it laboriously and with all love and dedication.

Chandigarh: Soon the Sector 18 stadium, which is one of the oldest coaching centres of the city will get its second hockey artificial synthetic turf.

The primary process of completing the paperwork has been completed by the UT Sports Department and the Engineering Department has now been given the assignment for procuring the turf.

This will be the department’s second and city’s third full-fledged hockey turf, after the one at the Sector 42 Sports Complex (under sports department) and the one at Panjab University campus (under PU).

After laying of this turf, female players of state-run Chandigarh Hockey Academy (CHA) will be coached at the Sector 18 centre.

“All work pertaining to approvals and submitting specifications has been completed. The Engineering Department will now initiate the proceedings at their end. We are likely to get this new turf within six months,” says a top official of the Sports Department seeking anonymity.

The Sector 18 centre is one of the oldest coaching hubs in Chandigarh. The stadium was constructed in 1960 over four acres and has the capacity to host around 1,000 spectators. The field has hosted important tournaments, including All India Gurmeet Memorial Hockey, National Women Hockey (1989) and All India Invitation Hockey Tournament.

Hockey experts claim that Canadian and England clubs have also played friendly matches here. The turf would be laid as per international standards to host state and national championships in the near future.

By now, many of us would have already visited the Atal tunnel in Manali since it started its operations on October 3 in 2021 . HistoryTV18 will premiere a half-an -hour documentary, Modern Marvel: Atal Tunnel on October 20 at 9 pm. It’s an awe-inspiring story of the indomitable human spirit and the wonders of modern engineering.

A meeting between former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee  and his childhood friend Arjun Gopal from Lahaul was where the seeds of its origin lay as he shared with Vajpayee ji the tough terrain, the harsh winter the loss of connectivity for seven months in a year.

It’s the longest high-altitude highway tunnel in the world.

At over 10,000 feet above sea level, the 9.02 km tunnel connects Leh with Manali via Keylong in Himachal Pradesh.

The project involved the labour of  750 officers, engineers, geologists, seismologists, drilling experts and over 3,000 workers turning the dream into reality in the harshest of conditions.