Shimla’s Post-Carnival Hangover: Unleashing Ghosts of Festivity
2 min read
Shimla, January 11, Ritanjali Hastir
The vibrant strings of flags that temporarily adorned the city during the Winter Carnival have now transformed into spectral remnants, haunting the very spirit of Shimla. In their zealous attempt to make the town look festive, authorities overlooked the basic decorum of adhering to laws, hammering nails into the Greens.
Now, with the so-called “Tourist Gods” no longer in the limelight to be pleased, the government, in its wisdom, has decided to strip the town of its carnival remnants. The result? The once-joyful strings of flags are now scattered in bits and pieces, soaring over the iconic Ridge and the Mall. It’s as if their spirits are attempting to break free from the tied poles and tree branches, signaling the end of the government’s festive circus.
Adding irony to the situation, the once vibrant “Horse Chestnut Tree,” popularly known as the “Waiting Tree” on the Ridge, once a beacon of festivity, now serves as a silent witness to the government’s questionable decorum, as it is now stripped of its light, still bearing the token of damage in the form of leftover nail clips embedded in its bark. Its LED lights were meant to add a touch of magic to the town, but the authorities, in a feat of astonishing incompetence, managed to remove the illumination, but only as a subtle reminder of their transient grandeur. The government’s vision, it seems, is not only failing in the creation of a vibrant atmosphere but also struggling with the art of restoration.
This saga serves as a silent testament to the government’s confusion, lack of vision, and eagerness to mimic without understanding. In their pursuit of replication, they forget that every enchanting event demands extra homework, meticulous planning, and a commitment to both creation and responsible dismantling. Shimla, in the debris of its carnival, echoes the consequences of a government that tries to follow trends without comprehending the essence of genuine governance.
