Trustee report from the town

Darjeeling is in festive spirit. The Dusseera puja has recently finished and Divali, the festival of lights, will be on us in two days’ time. Strings of lights hang from shop fronts and are strung across the main shopping street through town. Meanwhile in Chowrasta, the town’s main square where both tourists and locals like to sit in the sunshine and hang out, is festooned with flags. A large stage has been erected and every evening for about three hours the audience is treated to a special cultural festival of song and dance put on by local communities. It is noticeable how much pride and enjoyment all age groups take in both participating and supporting the various acts.

We were drawn into the event on our first evening here when we were spotted in the audience by one of the organizers, ushered to front row seats and our names taken and then a short time later taken onto the stage and honoured by the presentation of khata scarves around our necks – infamy indeed, especially as the event was filmed live on local tv!

But the main business of our visit concerns the children that DCT supports. Preparations are in full swing for the children’s festival on November 2^nd and we have provided an audience for a song and dance rehearsal of some of the sponsored children with Rajib, our music teacher. The children are excited about the festival and are working hard to make it a great day.

At Mahatma Gandhi School DCT has funded the replacement of the roof to the school hall which was previously leaking significantly. Students from that school are dancing two traditional dances and were practicing under the keen eye of Tshering, our travelling librarian. Below, a group of trustees views the roof repairs at the school along with staff and supporters.

Throughout all this the weather continues to clear after the monsoon and the days are fine and sunny. Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain dominates the horizon and glistens with its white snows seemingly overseeing all our activities.

We are promised our first view of the new Phase 1 building on the boys’ orphanage site tomorrow; another post will follow soon!