Kali Bharat Yatra October 2014 Tour Party

T
Kali Bharat Yatra October 2014 Tour Party:
Entertained by Pavitra Rishta and Other Bollywood Stars
By Dr Tara Singh
he 31st annual Kali Bharat Yatra tour to
India had a number of highlights that
made this tour a most memorable one.
Most of the 31 tourists were traveling to India
for the first time. Naturally, they were apprehensive but when someone who was part of the
tour party that had gone to India over 7 times
before, his words of advice were enough to put
them at ease. In addition, Dr Doodnauth Harrykissoon who lives in Texas and is an author
also advised the tourists to have an open mind
and discover India for themselves. That was Dr
Doodnauth’s and his wife’s (Sukhranie) second
trip to India.
Nandanie Singh captures the mood and feelings
of the tourists:“It is with
gratitude and sincere appreciation for your expertise,
talent and knowledge that
you all were able to make a
dream become a reality.
For the past 29 years since
Paul and I got married, visiting our motherland was
on our bucket list. You all
made this a reality and one
that we will remember for
the rest of our lives. On the
2nd day I felt that my trip
was already paid for when I
entered the Akshardham
Temple. It brought tears to
my eyes and at that moment I knew I was there
before.
“On day # 3, just witnessing the Ganga Artie, I
knew I was home and that
didn’t end there. After
being privileged to bathe in
the Ganges and perform
Puja at the banks of the
Ganges,
then able to perShivangi Maini, former Miss India
form
sewa
to the underUSA and Miss Bollywood Diva
privileged in giving food
and money, I was truly
The tour director Mr
Ramesh D Kalicharran had humbled. On behalf of the
entire group of Kali Bharat
to break with tradition for
Yatra
I want to say our sinthis trip. His farewell funccere thanks and gratitude
tion for the tourists that is
to all of you for making this
normally held at the JFK
dream
become a reality. I
Airport was held instead at
look
forward
to visiting
Fairfield Pavilion, Richmond Hill, New York. That India again, but in the
program was graced by for- mean time we will be working with you on the Europe
mer Miss India USA and
trip
in June. I will be callformer Miss Bollywood
Diva, Shivangi Maini, who ing you Uncle Kali.
The consensus of opintold the tourists of the rich
ion
was that the visit to
culture and diversity of
Rishikesh,
regarded as the
India and the numerous
Meditation Center of India,
things they could learn
was their best experience.
from that experience. Mr
Not even their sail on the
Kali invited 6 of the
serene
Lake Pichola could
tourists to light the ceremomatch the peace and trannial torch which is supquility of Rishikesh. But
posed to make the
there
were other major
impending journey beautitourists’
attractions.
ful and memorable.
While some tourists
Drupattie Ramlal, on
her first trip to India, said it went shopping, a few
dropped in to see the legwas very exciting and that
endary
actor Manoj Kumar
she loved Rishikesh and
who is not too well but
the Ganges the most. “The
who still decided to welbath in the Ganges was so
come
them at his home in
calm and serene.”
Former Miss India USA and Bollywood Diva bids farewell following the lighting ceremony at fairfield Pavilion, Richmond Hill, NY
Vinod and Geeta at Ganges
Geeta Bisram rendered soothing bajans at Parmath Niketan
In coach following the traditional welcome in India
In coach following the traditional welcome in India
Cross section of KT&T group at Jaipur, getting ready for Diwali celebration
Prabhu and Jasmatie Dutt in Haridwar
Cross section of group at Birla Temple in Delhi
Kali in the company of Cricketers, Venkatesh Prashad, Praveen Kumar among others
Geeta Bisram in a musical session with a prominent artiste in Agra
Swami Chidanad Saraswati flanked by Vinod & Geeeta
Vinod and Geeta celebrates their 23rd wedding anniversary in Agra
Mumbai. Manoj Kumar excelled in “Bharat Ka Rehene Wala Hoon” by
Padmashri Mahendra
Kapoor and epitomized in
the film “Purab aur
Paschim.” In 1992, Shri
Manoj Kumar was honoured with the ‘Padmashri’
by the Government of
India.
Mr Ramesh D Kalicharran took the opportunity to
present Manoj Kumar with
a plaque on October 30,
2014.
The tourists were
greeted with an October
surprise when they had the
good fortune to meet with
Arjune, Radika and Abha
of the popular Indian soap
opera, Pavitra Rishta. Actress Varsha Usgaonkar ,
who was accompanied by
her husband, Ajay Sharma
(film producer & Director)
rendered a few songs while
she had a movie, “Super
Nanny” released the fol-
Heman Kumar expresses a symbol of love to his wife Taijmatie Balram
lowing day in which she
appeared. Also at the
farewell ceremony was
Guyanese-born Nandani
Sharan (wife of the late
Shri Hari Om Sharan) who
was presented with a Kali
Bharat Yatra citation by
Ramesh D Kalicharran and
Nandanie Singh of Florida.
The dancer Simiran, who
appeared in a few films,
also performed for the
tourists at the farewell. The
live band was led by Mr
Ashraf Khan.
Another surprise organized by kali-ji and his
counterpart Dilip Sirwani
of RTS erupted when Pandit Ashook Sharma was
summoned to conduct a renewal of marriage vows
(after 23 years) between
Geeta Bisram and Vinod
Bisram at Jaipur Palace.
Geeta and Vinod are from
the popular Angels
Caribbean Band. Renewing
marriage vows is becoming
Geeta Bisram flanked by Sarjudai & her mother at lake Pichola - Udaipur
fashionable in some communities. Geeta sang at the
famous Parmarth Niketan
in Rishikesh and at the
Jaipur Palace as well and at
the Musical Farewell function in Mumbai.
Geeta Bisram expresses her gratitude: “I
was accompanied by my
husband Vinod Bisram
and my mother Sainwantie
Narine. Although I visited
India in 2009, it was only
for a spiritual retreat in Mt.
Abu. On this Kali Bharat
Yatra, I find this was an
amazing tour, well planned,
lots of surprises, entertainment, etc. It gave me an
opportunity to perform and
participate in several programs at Diwali Celebration in Rishikesh and the
Gala Night in Jaipur.
Vinod and I couldn’t help
but to say thanks to Uncle
Kali several times. Above
all, I was presented with
this year’s Kali Bharat
Geeta distributes pencils and candy to village kids
Yatra Award.”
We present a sample of
opinions on the tour: Bebe
S. Z. Baksh notes: “For
many years I wanted to go
to India. This time I took
the privilege. I enjoyed
every single moment of
Kali Bharat Yatra. I participated in everything, Diwali celebration was
awesome. I had a chance
to go to the Jama Masjid as
well. the farewell in Mumbai that was extravagant.”
Sarjudai Budhram adds:
“My husband Bhola
Nauth and I had the best
time in our lives. The tour
was beyond our expectation. “Gangadai Udeen
says:” I cannot stop thinking about India. I cannot
wait to spread the word
around, to let everyone
know how much I enjoyed
India. Everything was well
organized, the hotel, transportation, music evenings,
and of course the destina-
Ramesh D. Kalicharran presents plaque to Padmashri Manoj Kumar for his contribution to the Bombay film industry and the impact to the Indo-Caribbean world.
tions were very appealing.
Above all, Akshardham is a
must for every traveler to
experience. “
Kushieram Chetram
observes: ” My wife
Bowmatte could not have
expected better. In fact, the
India that Kali-ji showed us
is beyond our expectation”
while Rajkumar Samaroo
believes “ Kali-ji put up a
perfect tour. The other
tourists were very good ,
the tour guide Sunil was
excellent , he made everyone feel at home. I have no
complaint whatsoever.
Rather, my wife Chanderdai and I must compliment
the quality of the tour.”
Other words of praise for
the tour come from
Prabhu Dutt, who had
visited India in 1992. He
found now that India is
more populated and is also
amazed at the huge buildings being erected with
bamboo as scaffold. He remarked, “Kali-ji has very
good connections in India
and apparently this makes
his tour very unique from
destinations, meals, hotels,
transport, monuments, etc.
This is the first time for my
wife Jasmattie Dutt and
she enjoyed the itinerary of
Kali Travel, above all entertainment was at its best.”
Tajmatie Balram (Nalini)
has flashbacks since her return to the United States
from India. “It was always
my desire to visit the
Motherland; besides this, I
celebrated my 50th birthday
in India. My husband
Heman Kumar Balram
enjoyed the monuments,
the palaces. It was very educational.” Rohit Nankoo
notes: “Everything in
India was wonderful. My
wife Yvonne and I remember Rishikesh at the Ganga
Aartie where the youth
sang the Hanuman Chalisa
so beautiful. Of course,
our very own Geeta Bisram’s voice resonates the
Parmarth Niketan with her
bhajans. We felt proud of
this honor. Diwali celebration was awesome.
Memories of the ‘dip’ in
the Ganges still lingers on.”
Rosaline Tulshi advises that India is for
everyone to go; it’s impossible to describe India to
someone. “You must go to
experience India for yourself.” Vidia Harnarine
comments: “Going to India
was a dream fulfilled. I
could not explain enough,
but one must go to India
and experience for themselves.” What was amazing although Swami
Chidananda Saraswati was
not present at Parmarth
Niketan, as soon as the
group walk over Laxman
Jhula Swami-ji appeared
and we got his Darshan.
Swami said this was destiny.
The tourists visited the
Taj Mahal the eighth wonder of the world in Agra,
Mathura the birth place of
Lord Krishna, Akshardham the unique wonder of
the world ,the Jama Masjid
in Delhi, Rishikesh &
Haridwar by the Ganges ,
Lake Pichola in Udaipur,
Jaipur the pink capital of
the desert kingdom in Rajasthan , Fatehpur Sikri the
capital of the great Mughal
Emperor Akbar and Mumbai the Bollywood of
India. Congratulations to
all the tourists.
Photo Essay Contd.
on Page:
This Tour Is Ideal
For The First Time Visitor
To India By Popular
Request This Tour Will
Be Repeated Next Year.
If You Wish To Get On
Board Call Now
To Reserve Your Seat.
Book Early To Avoid
Disappointment,
Call KT&T
718 291 9292
Or 917 407 9090
Kali Bharat Yatra October 2014 Tour Party:
Entertained by Pavitra Rishta and Other Bollywood Stars
By Tara Singh
Sarjudai flanked by Bhola Nauth & Kali
Photo Essay Contnued form center page
Ladies in colorful garb at Agra
Padma Shri Manoj Kumar flanked by Drupattie Ramlall & Geeta Bisram
Extreme left tour director Kali and extreme right is Vinod Bisram
Nandini Sharan flanked by Geera & her mother
Geeta flanked by Vinod and her mother
Tour Director flanked by Geeta and Bebe Baksh at Jama Masjid Delhi
Cross section of Yatrans at Diwali Puja in Jaipur
Drupattie Ramlal flanked by Tour Director and Munni-ji
Drupattie Ramlal particiapting in Diwali celebrations
Cross section of Yatrans in Puja in Haridwar by the Ganges
Yatrans in a soothing boat ride in lake Pichola - Udaipur
KT&T group in a dancing mood in Jaipur
Dilip Sirwani of RTS welcomes Yatrans in Jaipur
Dandanie Singh flanked by Paul and Kali
Vidia Harnarine with Nandini Sharan
Geeta with a sample of block printing
Cross section of group enroute to Delhi