The thrill of chill at Jamshedpur picnic spots

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Dec 17: Migratory birds and outstation picnickers are synonymous with the advent of winter at vantage points where fun, frolic and food comprise the theme of one day in paradise. The burst of the three day recent cyclonic effect paved the way for winter’s entry and then, suddenly, the mercury plummeted making it necessary for a spot under the sun to enjoy the ‘thrill of chill.’ The third Sunday of December was a case in point.

Dimna has continued to remain a favourite picnic spot through time. In the initial days, it was the domain of local folks to get together and relax while exchanging notes, playing cards amidst sips of tea and bites served hot by the women folk who, for once, enjoyed the cooking part with the spices of ‘traditional gossip.’ Jubilee Park then was more a jungle with three platforms sprinkled along the flowing Subarnarekha River banks where people did venture out for picnics but the place was less frequented. Of course, children did love the place, if not for anything else, at least for the sake of adventure that involved plucking wild berries and ‘Jungle Jalebis.’ Seven decades later, the scene is different.

More than a hint of visitors, mostly from Bengal, Dimna was pleasantly dotted with medium to large groups of tourists spread across the Lake banks and in the vicinity of the Dam’s staircase, enjoying the expanse of nature, gasping at the serenity of the natural lake. People posed for photographs along vantage points by the guard rails. Tulu Dey of Konnagar, a suburban are of Kolkata said, “This is my first visit. My mother had told me about this place when I was not even in my teens. Since then, I had yearned to be at this spot and a decade later, here I am with my husband and my younger brother. I am thrilled. I am experiencing another page from nature’s picture book.”

Aloke Chattoraj and his family started from their Behala residence late evening on Saturday. “The Christmas and New Year mood is gradually making its way in Kolkata. Seven families of our residential colony in Old Dogs’ Race Course Area decided after Durga Puja festivities to visit Jamshedpur during initial winter and enjoy a day’s break away from the metropolitan rush. This is my third visit to Jamshedpur and I wanted to share the joy of this beautiful city with my family and my colony friends. We are so delighted.”

Further up the NH 33, towards Ranchi, Joyda, another haunt of picnickers, wore a contrasting look. Only two groups, one from Ghatshila and another from comparatively nearby Balarampur, were spotted enjoying the sun and sand and the lazily flowing river. Nevertheless, the joy of a break-from-it-all to be amidst the company of nature was there and that is what mattered. But the scenario is bound to change once the winter mood and the yearning to be amidst the lap of nature settles in as the remaining winter Sundays fall in place.

The prima donna of all visitors’ city haunt, Jubilee Park was in almost full flow. The joy, excitement and the sense of freedom from the tedium of routine living permeated the Park atmosphere. The spray of coloured woollens, the excited shrieks of children, games for the young and not-so-young made the entire environment a spot where one would yearn to be at this time of the year.

The Sunday winter joy is revisiting Jamshedpur. The Dalma Range, Dimna and Jubilee Park are dressed up and keen to share space with migratory birds and humans to make life easier to live for the next 364 days.