large groups of people, young and old, march through the streets of Siliguri celebrating Ram Navami, a colourful Hindu festival
Our arrival in Siliguri could not have been timed worse. Today is Ram Navami, the Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama. The entire city is coloured orange, from large and small flags, from garlands across the roads, from people’s dresses. Dutch football supporters could learn a thing or two. But from what we can see, the festival doesn’t consist of much more than walking through the streets, in groups, some large enough to block entire fly-overs. And by driving motorbikes through town with an orange flag mounted, or held by a pillion rider. Great fun? Some cars have been dressed up with sculptures, and music installation, a bit like carnival, but much less organised.
orange is the colour of choice, obviously, flags flying from the bridge – which is closed to traffic
The main effect it has on us is that it takes almost one-an-a -half hours to reach the hotel, from the nearby airport, a distance of twelve kilometres.
obvious why the bridge in closed
with groups like these blocking the way
occasionally the groups are accompnied by trucks, decorated mostly with a sound system!
streets, too, have been decorated
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