Gawalmandi Food Street (Lahore – Pakistan)

I thought to add some spice to our etour around the globe. We have been visiting different places and coming to know of their customs, traditions, rituals and social events and festivals. I had a feeling that something is missing. Delicious food is something enjoyed by everyone, no matter what it’s origin might be. So this is my first post which i am adding to this section of “Culture Streets”.

“Gawalmindi Food Street” is one of the cultural centers of Pakistan. It is a street famous for it’s fantabulous Pakistani food ranging from snacks and beverages to main courses and desserts. Each dish has it’s own distinct flavor. The place is a very popular tourist attraction. The food is very cheap yet delicious enough to water your mouth just by thinking of it. You will have all types and varieties of excellent food at one place.

The street is a heaven for food lovers, magically lit with beautiful and charming lights. It is said that Lahore never sleeps, so does this food street in Lahore. The old buildings of the market  with beautiful windows and marvelously carved wood exterior stands there to catch your eyes as an example of Kashimiri and Persian architecture.

If you want to enjoy the food culture of the heart of Pakistan, Lahore, at one place then Gawalmandi is the place. It is a place to tantalizingly treat your taste buds. Do try Chicken Biryani, Chicken Tikka, Lahori Chargha, Seekh Kabab, Karahi, Haleem, Halwa Pori and Chana, Kheer, Rus Malai and Lasi.

Following are few glimpses of the street.

Foreigners at gawalmandi food street Lahore

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Food Gawalmandi Food Street

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Gawalmandi Food Street

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Night Festival 2010 By National Museum of Singapore (Singapore)

For all art lovers, interested  in performing arts, film screening, music gigs, dance performances and cultural arrangements, the National Museum of Singapore has created a festive air in the city this weekend. A night festival is organized by the museum every year. This year the festival is going to be held on the 17th and 18th of July and the 25th and 26th of July, 2010 from 7pm to 2 am.

The festival is holding at the National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Art Museum, The Peranakan Museum, The Substation, Singapore Management University Campus Green, Stamford Green & Stamford Road.

Dream of the past, treasure the present and fantasy of the future is brought by the museum this year with a unique and interesting theme i.e. “Our New World 2010″. The story of era will be narrated via a fulgurant and dazzling show of street theatre entertainment, charming and magical lights and a festive carnivalesque play, taking its inspiration from the amusement park of the 1960s. Cultural values are weaved with contemporary art and video installations giving an exciting outdoor performance that connects us and the Universe.

This festival is a great opportunity for families to enjoy. Special performances are arranged for children. I am sure that people young and young at heart would definitely not like to miss this wonderful festival. For more information please visit the official website of the “National Museum of Singapore” via Link

singapore night festival 2010

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No Rain Allowed (China)

Now Chinese are trying to control rain. Lol. :D

No rain allowed sign

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Don’t Gossip, Let Him Drive (India)

I really enjoyed this road sign somewhere in India. :D

Dont gossip let him drive

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Blackening of The Bride/Groom (Scotland)

Every country, tribe and family has it’s own wedding traditions. Some are nice and interesting, some are weird or even cruel and some are a mere result of superstitious beliefs. Scottish wedding has some unique and weird wedding and pre-wedding customs, “Blackening of the bride” being one of them. This is a pre-wedding tradition.

blackening of the bride

Initially the bride to be was the one who was blackened by her friends but now the groom is also blackened in many cases. The bride and the groom are taken by surprise or may be by shock and covered with foul and disgusting substances. The friends cover them with any gross they can think of. It can be curdled milk, rotten eggs, spoiled curry, smelly fish sauces, molasses, mud, flour, sausages, syrups and feathers.

It seems that the bride or the groom, whoever is being blackened, is always mentally prepared for this pre-wedding tradition as they don’t try to run or hide somewhere.

After being blackened he or she or both of them are either tied to a tree or taken to the local streets and the pubs with the friends clanging the pots to announce the wedding. Scots believe that this humiliation prepares them to face all the difficulties and humiliations that may come across them as nothing would be more humiliating through out their life. Source

The following You tube video shows a bride to be being blackened by her friends

And this You tube video shows a couple experiencing this pre-wedding tradition

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Vancouver International Children’s Festival (Canada)

Child of today is a nation builder of tomorrow. Children are blessed with a very fertile mind and are always in a process of learning. What they learn is decided by their parents. We should make sure that we give them love and care and involve them in creative activities. Participation in extracurricular activities make them a complete and well balanced person. They learn to think critically and  analyze and admire things. I believe that kids are like a flower. Treat them accordingly and they will flourish.

As children’s entertainer and musician, Rick Scott said, “In these desperate times, there are too few places where children are safe to learn and have fun. In our world where children are overwhelmed by violence, greed and propaganda, where will they learn to speak out and say how they feel? With arts in our schools being decimated and deemed increasingly irrelevant, the children’s festival should be our most prized tradition.”

Vancouver International Children’s Festival is an illustrious and renowned festival of performing arts for young audiences . It has been cheering, educating and stimulating inspiration among young audiences since 1978. Since it’s inception it has entertained 1.6 million people. This festival provides the finest quality performing arts programs to children in an environment that encourages critical thinking and a lifelong interest in learning, ideas and cultural exploration.

This year the festival was held from 17th to 24th of May, 2010. Some of the famous shows were:

- A promise is a promise

- A space to play

- Dancing our stories

- Alice in the wonderland and

- Peter pan etc.

For more details about the festival, you can visit the official website through the following link.

International Children Festival Vancouver

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Melodious Bride Crying Custom Known As Crying Marriage Song (Tujia Tribe- China)

Preplanned crying and the expression of grief and sorrow by crying in different tunes and melodies was a popular wedding tradition  in China. This custom is losing it’s popularity in many parts of China but preplanned crying is considered a necessity in the Tujia tribe living in Central China. In this tribe the bride is looked down upon by the neighbors and is considered uncultured and uncivilized if she does not cry properly. A month before the wedding the  bride cries for about an hour. Twenty days before the wedding day her mother cries with her. When ten days are left in the wedding, the grandmothers, sisters, cousins and aunts of the bride sit by her and they all must cry.

On the wedding day, the bride also performs “The Crying Marriage Song”. She weeps in different tones and with diversified words. The Tujia people judge a girls grooming, intelligence and virtue by the way she sings the song. To create the wedding atmosphere and to get respect she must cry as beautifully as she can with her own variations in the melody. This crying singing ritual is thought to bring happiness and good fortune in her life and is very important among the Chinese people.

The custom dates back to the Warring States Period (475-221BC), when the princess of the Zhao State was married to the Yan State to be a queen. Her mother, on the point of her daughter’s departure, cried at her feet and asked her to return home as soon as possible. Via Link

Crying Marriage Song China

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Amazing Performances By University of Hawaii Warrior Marching Band During Football Match (Hawaii)

UH Warrior rain dance

The University of Hawaii Warrior Marching Band is known for it’s great performances and superb shows during the intra-university and inter university football games. These shows make the games much for interesting and add a festive air to the game. The show relaxes the teams and entertains the audience.

On October 10, 2009, during the Fresno State vs. Hawaii football game they showed a remarkably commendable performance entitled as “A Disney Fantasmic” during the half time at the Aloha Stadium. It was raining while they performed. As the name shows, they had chosen Disney songs as their theme.

The following songs were played by them:

-When You Wish Upon a Star (Opener)
-Friend Like Me (From Aladdin) – Rainbow Dancer number
-A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
-UH Fight Song

The following is a You tube video of the performance.

This Halftime show was played during the halftime of the Hawaii vs. New Mexico State University football game entitled as “Tower of Power”. The following songs were played:

-You’re Still A Young Man
-Attitude Dance (Rainbow Dancer Feature)
-You Can’t Fall Up

The following is a You tube video of the performance.

This last You tube video is a tribute to the king of pop “Michael Jackson” including songs like Beat It, Thriller/Billie Jean, and We are The World.

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Wai Kru Ceremony – Ceremony To Pay Respect To Teachers (Thailand)

Wai Kru Ceremony is an annual ceremony held in all the schools in Thailand to pay respect to the teachers. This ceremony takes place with the commencement of the new academic year and always on a Thursday. The students pay respect to their teachers by presenting them with flowers. They bend down onto the floor to show respect towards their teachers via link

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Also see the following Google video.

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Interesting Flag Lowering Ceremony at Wagah Border (Pakistan – India Border)

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Wagah border is the border between Pakistan and India where each evening a traditional ceremony known as the “Flag Lowering Ceremony” takes place. An enthusiastic parade is performed by the Pakistani Rangers and the Border Security Forces (BSF) of India. Watch the following You tube video. Via BBC

This zeal and enthusiasm runs in the blood of young kids also. The following You tube video is one such example. This young Pakistani boy, Abdullah is the son of  Lt Col. Akbar Butt.

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