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Time of India
15-07-2025
- Time of India
Potluck picnics with cousins, frisbee with friends, melting softy ice creams: Will India Gate picnics be a thing of the past now?
For many Delhiites, India Gate is synonymous with carefree, simpler times when it was the ultimate open-air hangout – but new regulations may soon turn that experience into just a memory Few things define the quintessential Delhi experience like a day out at India Gate. From the leisurely walks along the lawns, ice lollies in hand, to late-night drives past the glowing monument, India Gate has held a special place in the city's heart. The go-to picnic spot of every Dilliwallah is now restricted. 'Kripya ghaas par naa chalien, naa baithein… Yeh ek dandniye apradh hai': Boards and announcements alert visitors. As new regulations by the Delhi government prohibit visitors from walking, sitting, eating, or playing on the lawns on both sides of the Kartavya Path – we ask Delhiites about their memories of picnics at India Gate. 'India Gate was the OG hangout spot' You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi 'India Gate was the hangout spot. I have memories of melting softy ice creams, boat rides at the nearby canal, and sprawling on picnic mats with homemade snacks – simple joys that stay with you,' says Rennie Joyy, founder of Aalekh Foundation. Rene Singh, a singer, adds, 'As children, we used to have these large family potluck picnics. One family would get parathas, another would come with a biryani or a chicken pulao, and then one with a meat curry and roti and one would come with a bucket of mangoes.' 'India Gate was the OG hangout spot' 'India Gate picnic was about small joys' Punam Kalra, Creative Director, I'm The Centre for Applied Arts, recalls, 'A trip to India Gate meant fun and laughter. It was about the small joys in life – basking in the sun, sitting on a dhuree that was carefully chosen so the grass wouldn't prick through. I still remember the aroma of aloo, chana, puris and pickles from the food baskets. We'd wait for the entire family to settle down before digging in. It was that sense of togetherness that made it feel like a real picnic. ' Actor and entrepreneur Shivani Wazir Pasrich says, 'As children, our go-to place was the Children's Park at India Gate and the occasional paddle boating experience. In the evenings, we used to enjoy orange ice cream bars while strolling around. It is indeed a magical part of our city.' 'It was a free space' Sohail Hashmi, a geographer and veteran heritage walk leader, remembers how India Gate was a site of freedom. 'In the 70s and 80s, we used to go to India Gate with our cousins and often sit there until 1am at night. I remember having my first tri-coloured casatta ice cream there.' 'When they were young, my children's favourite outing was a visit to India Gate, eat ice-cream or the various other snacks sold by hawkers, and buy a balloon,' quotes historian Swapna Liddle, in her book Connaught Place And The Making Of New Delhi. She now says, 'What I wrote in my book, which was before the redevelopment, even before the National War Memorial came up, seems so out of date today.' Artist Niraj Gupta, recalls how the lawns surrounding India Gate were not just a picnic spot for his family but also one of his most visited spot for sketching. 'India Gate was our go-spot. Sitting there and sketching the monument and the people around was a moment of pure creative freedom' As per new guidelines, while sitting, eating, walking and playing on the lawns is prohibited at all times, the hexagon lawns, surrounding the monument, have to be vacated entirely by 8pm, and the rest of the lawns have to be vacated by 9pm Business mein toh loss ho raha hai: Vendors Ramesh Singh, who has been selling ice cream at India Gate since 1980, told us, 'Mera poora jeewan yahan ice cream khilate hue nikla hai. Ab log baith nahi paayienge. Main khush hoon iss area ko saaf dekh kar, lekin dil se hum ro rahe hain.' 'When people come to India Gate, their plan is to buy ice cream and enjoy it while sitting in the lawns. Some bring sheets and enjoy their ice cream, bhel puri and bhutta. Lekin ab joh log aa rahe hain, unhein kewal chalte rehna hoga. Business mein loss toh ho raha hai,' said Amit Kumar, another ice cream vendor. Pintu, a fruit seller, agrees, 'We are asked to leave the premises by 9pm.' - Inputs from Riya Sharma
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Meghalaya's ‘literary voice' Bijoya Sawian to be honoured
1 2 Shillong: Meghalaya's 'literary voice' Bijoya Sawian will be honoured at the third edition of the Aalekh Foundation Women Achievers' Awards ceremony to be held at The Leela Palace, New Delhi, on Saturday. The Shillong-based writer, translator and cultural custodian Sawian is among 20 exceptional women selected from across the country for their transformative work and impact in diverse fields. "The award recognises Bijoya Sawian's outstanding contribution to Indian literature and indigenous cultural preservation, particularly through her evocative storytelling and deep engagement with the heritage of the Khasi people," a media statement issued by the state directorate of public information said on Sunday. "Her acclaimed translations such as 'The Teachings of Elders' and 'The Main Ceremonies of the Khasis' have preserved invaluable oral traditions, while her fiction works like 'Shadow Men' and 'Hill Songs of Love and Longing' offer lyrical and sensitive portrayals of life in the Khasi Hills," the statement highlighted. Her writings have been lauded for bridging geographies and generations, bringing the rich cultural and socio-political history of the northeast into the national literary consciousness. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The ceremony will be graced by distinguished guests, including R Venkataramani, attorney general of India and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, former judge of the Supreme Court of India, as chief guests. Speaking ahead of the event, Rennie Joyy, founder of the Aalekh Foundation, said, "Bijoya Sawian's work is a quiet revolution in literature — restoring dignity, voice and visibility to stories that often go unheard. At Aalekh, we are proud to honour women like her who shape narratives, nurture legacies and remind us of the power of words to preserve and transform". The Aalekh Foundation Women Achievers' Awards is a flagship initiative that celebrates women who have not only broken barriers in their respective fields but have also contributed meaningfully to society, culture, and nation-building.
