What's Khaas about Chandigarh?

My friends staying abroad or in other parts of India ask me what's khaas about my Chandigarh. I'd say every place has something special about it. But Chandigarh...it is a pride of India. Planned and built by the French architect Le Corbusier, Chandigarh can boast of having the most regulated traffic system and low pollution considering the large section of greens that embrace the city.

It has enviable infrastructural facilities and some of the best educational institutions both at the school level and for higher education. Some of the best known companies of India and the world have opened bases in Chandigarh creating more job opportunities.

What do you like about your Chandigarh. Please share your thoughts if you are living here or have visited the city. What did you like here?

Chandigarh aur Khaas.....yeh koi puchne ki baat hondi hai!

Its true when Chandigarhites proudly say that 'you have to be in Chandigarh to know what you are missing'. The planned city is what almost takes your breath away, not to forget the splendid infrastructural facilities and the wonderful festivals. I'm lucky to have witnessed some of the festivals. I'll just share an insight into some of them; so that you also know what YOU ARE MISSING

Baisakhi Festival in Chandigarh:
This festival is celebrated in the month of April. It is celebrated to mark the beginning of the harvest season in Punjab and hence is one of the most important festivals of the city. Bhangra dancers perform the traditional Bhangra dance during this festival. It is also one of the most important festivals of the Sikhs as it was on this day that Guru Gobind Sigh found out the Khalsa Panth.

Chandigarh Mango Festival:
This festival is celebrated during the month of June in the fabulous Pinjore Garden. Visitors get to see different kinds of mangoes in this amazing fruit festival. Different kinds of food items made from mango like mango juice, squash, mango jams, pickles and the 'aam papads' or mango poppadoms are also displayed and sold in this festival.

Chandigarh Carnival:
Celebrated in the second week of November, the Chandigarh Carnival is extremely popular amongst the children and the youngsters. A large number of competitions and other activities are organized for the children in this festival. This festival is basically held to promote and encourage young talents of the country.

Chrysanthemum Show in Chandigarh:
Another popular flower festival of the city is the Chrysanthemum Show. Held in December, one can get to see different varieties of flower in this fabulous festival. Large number of competitions are also held in this festival.

Chandigarh Plaza Carnival:
This colorful event is held every Saturday. This weekly event attracts a large number of people, both the young and the old. The events offer an opportunity to the local artists to perform and display their talent. Magic shows, dance performances and other cultural activities are held during this festival.

Teej Festival
This festival is mainly celebrated by the women folk. It is celebrated to usher in the monsoon season. The festival is held in the Rock Garden and consists of a large number of colorful dance and other cultural programs.

The festivals and events in Chandigarh highlight the true spirit of the rich Indian culture and her people. These fun filled colorful events have played a major role in promoting Chandigarh tourism.

dear friends,
i have lived in chd for 4 yrs before coming overseas.infact it is still our base whenever we go to India.ur thread has made me nostalgic & i am really missing it.
these r the main festivals u have mentioned but lets not forget the lots of trade fairs,CII fair ,lesiure valley fair,car race ,sukhana boat race & above all the famous ROSE festival..........
along with these the regular navratra fair at Mansa devi,dusshera festival nearly in all sectors plus the ronak of valentines day,friendship day & guru purab and the fantastic lighting in all bazaars /sectors during diwali & new year
the list is end less...............
pragati

I guess the most khaas thing about living in chandigarh is that it has already prepared you for the modernities of wherever you go in the world. You can smoothly blend in with a new life abroad because Chandigarh is like a taster for a more modern and bigger world!!

Lilly

You are absolutely right Lilly. Chandigarh is a fantastic mix of modernity and traditional grandeur and a city of today's India.In fact, the city is considered as the Mecca of modern architecture and planning all over the world.

Ironically, Chandigarh which is a fairly new city of India, was born out of the partition of the country. A new capital city for the State of Punjab was required and Chandigarh was created to serve this purpose, and even more, to be the symbol of faith and confidence for the resurgent republic. Today, this is a reality. Chandigarh thrives as a palpable city of half a million people-proud of themselves and their duty.

While a city usually takes hundreds of years to develop a distinct personality and character of its own. Chandigarh, barely 40 year old-an infant compared to other cities-has already come of age and craved an identity of its own.


Here's a lovely pic of Chandigarh. Do you have any to share?

a very tempting picture!

Lilly

Thanks Lilly, that was exclusively for you with love from Chandigarh...your very own Chandigarh.

As you wrote:

I guess the most khaas thing about living in chandigarh is that it has already prepared you for the modernities of wherever you go in the world. You can smoothly blend in with a new life abroad because Chandigarh is like a taster for a more modern and bigger world!!

Will you please share with us how living in Chandigarh facilitated your lifestyle abroad? We'd like like to hear your story. Anyone else from Chandigarh staying abroad who would like to share your yaadein about your city.

Originally Posted by SimranUnplugged

My friends staying abroad or in other parts of India ask me what's khaas about my Chandigarh. I'd say every place has something special about it. But Chandigarh...it is a pride of India. Planned and built by the French architect Le Corbusier, Chandigarh can boast of having the most regulated traffic system and low pollution considering the large section of greens that embrace the city.

It has enviable infrastructural facilities and some of the best educational institutions both at the school level and for higher education. Some of the best known companies of India and the world have opened bases in Chandigarh creating more job opportunities.

What do you like about your Chandigarh. Please share your thoughts if you are living here or have visited the city. What did you like here?

Hey Hi Simran ... My name is Shivani , Title of the thread is too good to resist to leave it without writing something or anything about " Whats khaas about my Chandigarh . .. Oh boy ... Everything about Chandigarh is just Fantastic ... I have lived in Chadigarh for good number of years before moving Overseas , but everytime i come to Chandigarh , I never want to leave ...

Its so true when it is said , once you live in Chandigarh , its difficult to settle anywhere else. Chandigarh is abench mark , Any place has to be better then Chandigarh to feel better and feel Settled down .

The infrastructure , Serenity , Leisure Valley , Rose Garden , Beautiful Houses , Greenary , Fantastic People , Education System , Lake , list is Endless ...

Thought of Chd made me Nostaligic ... Lucky you all Souls to be part of that place ...

Hi Shivani, Lovely to hear from you and sorry, for joining in late. Yes, I do acknowledge how you feel away from Chandigarh and it is the universal Chandigarh syndrome which even I've experienced away from here.

Just as I write here, I'd like to add a news which perhaps will make Chandigarh KHAAS even more than before.

Chandigarh achieves 'two children per couple' target

Chandigarh (IANS): Chandigarh is among the 11 states and three union territories in the country which have beaten the 2010 deadline set by the central government to achieve total fertility rate (TFR) of two or "two children per couple" policy.
The 2010 deadline for achieving the TFR was set by the central government under its National Population Policy of 2000.

"This has been made possible due to the persistent efforts made by the health department to promote acceptance and usage of the family planning methods and create increasing awareness among the couples about the benefits accruing from a small family," Chandigarh's health and family welfare director M.S. Bains said on Sunday.

He said the use of family planning methods in the rural and urban areas in Chandigarh is 76 and 75.6 percent respectively. Awareness about various contraceptive methods in Chandigarh stands at 86 percent and efforts are being made to meet the demand for contraceptives.

Don't you think this is great achievement befitting Chandigarh's mature population?

i am a delhiite now settled in pune....i have lived in in chandigarh only for a year while i was working thr ...a big part of what made me enjoy my stay was the city....everything about the city is just amazing....

i have enjoyed all my short stays (apart from that one year stay too)....have been to mohali cricket stadium and enjoyed matches...have been to the carnival and have danced on the stage :)....have been to pubs with friends and have enjoyed fultoo punjabi music and those fundoo dance steps

have lived with wonderful landlords....have met wonderful people in the city....there is s much of trust , love and happiness in the air...somthing u will always remember and will bring u back to the city over and again:)