Winterlude festival, which takes place during the first three weekends of February every year in the Ottawa region, is one of the best ways to enjoy the Canadian winter!

 Winterlude Festival: Ottawa 

Lots of events in Canada can make you fall in love with the country. Exciting stuff to discover in Canada, includes International film festivals to Edmonton folk festivals, from light festivals to well-known food festivals. There is also a large bouquet of winter festivals that should not be missed while visiting Canada like Winterlude, the most famous and attractive winter festival. 

For first-time visitors,  Ottawa is one place that must be on the itinerary. Even if you dislike winter and are wary of the cold, dry weather, you may well be impressed by Canada's festive atmosphere that will make you fall in love with the season.

Winterlude Festival Activities

The great Winterlude Festival: In Ottawa, the Winterlude festival is a celebration of Canadian culture, a truly mesmerising experience for outsiders. You can participate in various events along with friends and family.  Activities like skating, ice and snow sculpture competitions, and many other types of concerts draw huge crowds to the fun-destination.

Started as a fun event in 1979, it is now organised by the Canadian Heritage Department. Winterlude brings the best out of every participant and encourages you to enjoy the magical wonderland of Ottawa. Unlike others, the Winterlude festival is completely free. The festival starts in February and continue for three weekends.

The sites of Winterlude include Confederation Park, Jacques-Cartier-Park,  and the Rideau Canal skateway, the focal point of the Winterlude festival.

Among other activities, ice sculpture making is extremely popular. The ice sculptures fitted with gleaming lights creates an aura of blissfulness. Enthusiastic participants showcase their talent using multiple shades of light. The festival is unique and acts as a magnet to attract tourist, who get to enjoy the enchanting season of ice and snow. A live music concert, an outdoor dance party, ice-carving competitions and workshops are some other features on display beside the opportunity to enjoy road trips in winter.

Fun Festival Winterlude

Canada is replete with many entertaining festivals giving you an experience of a lifetime.  There are also lots of interesting events and fun-loving activities designed for children. Giant games, kiddie zone, the Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques Cartier Park are some places that become a playground in freezing temperatures. 

People spend hours with children who are taking free lessons for snowboarding. If you love skating and ice sliding, the Rideau Canal Stateway is your ideal location. You might get lucky to experience adventurous skating there, however, it would be best to inquire about the place as the canal is in poor shape. Besides skating, the Ice dragon boat race also adds charm to the festival. Where else you can enjoy a boat-race competition in the middle of winter?

For youngsters, the nightlife in Ottawa presents exciting opportunities. Relishing with friends in an outdoor dance party, enjoying live band music and if you like Jazz, Winterlude is the place to be. Apart from this, Spark street offers Kickoff party, various live events and other light festivals. 

Beyond that, The Byward Market is a foodie's paradise. Your family can join you on this adventurous food trip. From free Wagon rides to Winter food tour, the place is brimming with energy.

Winterlude Packing Guide

 In February, the weather in Ottawa is unpredictable.  It is advisable to pack with caution as harsh winter may greet you. You can enjoy the Winterlude festival only if you are properly prepared with an extra pair of warm clothes, gloves, woollen socks and other basic necessities. If you enjoy skating, good quality boots should be packed. Different other accessories like scarf, hat,  sunglasses, cream and lip balm are some other items of need.

Extraordinary events organised at Winterlude turns it into a magical wonderland. It is a place to make your memories for a lifetime.  You also get to experience and participate in other unique Canadian cultural events fire festival. This festival offers the best in Canada,  its culture, lifestyle, and a marvellous opportunity to experience all of it for some days.

Photo courtesy: Google

Farmers began protesting across the country after the regulations became law, with farmers in Punjab and Haryana in the forefront of the unrest. Protesters questioned Prime Minister Modi's plans to reform agriculture through repealing laws.

Lets Decipher Farm Protests (Part -2) 

In my earlier post, I have informed you, how the glut production of a few agricultural commodities with limited consumption in India and no exports are becoming a huge economic disaster. MSP is a political milch cow for every politician worth his salt, but, who pays the bill? We the common citizens of India. Well, for the sake of rural economy, we may support it, but does it really help the farmers?

1

A diverse and large country like ours, pushing the can down the road isn’t going to pay in long term. Let us now try to understand a bit deeper.

1

Why only farmers in Punjab and a section in Haryana are up in arms?

To understand why only a section of farmers is at the forefront of the protest, try to follow the money trail. Below graphic sheds light on the amount of wheat procured by state agencies in different states of India.

The graph clearly indicates 70% - 80% of procurement in Punjab-Haryana is on MSP, benefiting the farmers in these states and not of any consequence to other states. Clearly, other farmers are dismayed by the protests and are absent. Moreover, the continuation of MSP and APMC is identical to the Licence Raj regime of the 70’s where rich farmers garner the maximum profits while poor are left in the lurch.

1

Now, let’s try to understand the dynamics of APMC, I am sure the term has reverberated numerous times before us in the last few days of ‘farm agitation’. First intriguing question is why APMC are so important? Why Punjab CM is fueling the fire along with his cohorts? You will get the answers in tax money trail. 

1

If you look at the Economic Survey report on FCI (2014), you will decipher the true intentions of Punjab politicians. 

The report clearly indicates the juggling of numbers by Punjab and Haryana, to increase their coffers at the expense of ‘farmers’. Punjab levies maximum taxes on farm produce, due to arbitrary nature of taxes on APMCs the state benefits. On the other hand, there is not much difference between the annual income of farmers among different states. This is because lower taxes are levied by other state govt on APMCs. I believe the mischief in numbers is now clear for everyone to understand. MSP is not helping the farmers, it is the state Punjab that is making money out of MSP.

1

Punjab by imposing 15% taxes on MSP given by the central government is filling its coffers, while the condition of farmers is almost the same whether he is from Punjab or Bihar. The Rs.64,000 crore net worth of wheat fetches Rs.9600 cr. In taxes to the state. This is what drives the Punjab political support to the so-called agitation. 

1

Here, the state government and its ‘arhtiyas’ keep getting rich with the continuation of MSP and by imposing taxes, while farmers and FCI are at the receiving end. We the common man, pay our taxes to keep the state that acts as a middle man happy. It is now easy to understand that the farmer’s agitation serves two purposes of ‘Opposition politicians’, One bleeds Modi of political capital earned through hard-work while using farmers as fodder, keep them subdued to the old system. 

Photo and charts/graphs courtesy - Google images

The 2020-2021 farmers' protest over the Indian government's introduction of three laws that relaxed restrictions on agricultural produce sale, price, and storage.

Lets Decipher Farm Protests (Part-1)

To understand what has gone wrong with our agriculture sector, the actual production, glut in the market and more, let us dig into details. I have used FY2015 data, and the crop is wheat.

The wheat production in 2015 was 94-million tons (MNT), in 2020, its whooping 105 MNT. No matter what pessimists project, the actual agricultural production is commendably high.

Now, as it is visible the wheat production is going great guns, what’s about the consumption status? Now let's have a look at the consumption chart. It is amply clear that wheat consumption in our country is almost stagnant. So, who needs this extra 10MNT wheat? One thing is obvious- We don’t.

So, if we have extra produce we can export it, right? Unfortunately NO. This is because there is already glut in the International market with India, EU, and China collectively produce 762 MNT, a little over 50% world production(2018-2019).

Now the problem starts building up, India doesn’t export wheat. Only marginal exports take place. The most developed world is in surplus while the wheat consumption is on the decline worldwide.

Most of the wheat imports take place in the African continent, and with surplus production, the prices are depressed making it economically unsound to export. The charts show the prices are stagnant for a while around $200/ton.

Devil in details

The $200/ton price of wheat(in international markets) roughly translates to Rs.1400/quintal. This implies the MSP offered by GOI is good 37% higher than the prevailing prices. The resulting outcome is NO EXPORTS of a commodity that is lying unused in India. However, a farmer expects GOI to commit itself with MSP, thus enabling him to get the regular income through his produce.

The Facts:

We have seen that the farmers:

 Have benefited from steps initiated by successive governments resulting in surplus wheat production(hardly consumed within country and can’t be exported).

 Bumper harvest due to high-quality seeds compounding the problem of plenty.

 The produce can’t be exported and the tax-payers money is wasted to buy grains.

1

The problem

The increasing farm income is good news for farmers, however, it is coming from taxpayers pockets with no incentive. When GOI procures excessive grains (FCI), this is what happens:

The above stock represents 3yrs of production. The stocks with FCI are excessively high, now add to it the populist measures taken by the GOI in the last 5 years of increased MSP. And you are starring at 2.5 lakh crore of the deficit with FCI. 

The most troublesome part is the speed of increased FCI deficit in the period. The resultant borrowings by FCI from National Small Savings is ₹191,000 core in FY20 in addition to food subsidy bill of ₹184,000 crores. If you look at the earlier financial reports, in FY17, the borrowings were at ₹70,000 crores.

1

Now you can understand the problems we as Indians are staring at, on one hand, farmers are unsatisfied and are ‘protesting’ the entry of private players in the agriculture sector, the other problem is the ballooning of country’s deficit. 

With so many hurdles ahead of us, such as Covid, a website dedicated to keeping a record of events, fittingly called 'Is 2020 Over? No, it does not!

COVID-19: Glimmer Of Hope In Dark Times (Part-3)

Positive Impact of Covid-19 on Human Life

1) Green Shoots for Startups 

Amid global lockdown, the internet has emerged as the last hope of survival, an alternative solution, and a coping mechanism for companies and government. While companies are encouraging their employees to work from home, the unprecedented business opportunity has been beneficial for Indian startups companies.  

.

Services offered 

Many startups are adapting to the situation and working together to leverage technology in driving solutions required to the customers.

 .

Some of them are working with the government to develop apps like an application for citizens to report symptoms of COVID-19. A healthcare app helps the citizens carry out a self-assessment test for COVID-19 and seek help from the government if required. 

.

Some other startups, like Zomato and Cloud Kitchen, have helped the authorities to feed the poor and needy in these challenging times.

.

Even startups performing religious rituals live from places of worship on a virtual reality (VR) platform that is in high demand during the lockdown. The trend is likely to grow as people are becoming conscious of not visiting crowded places like temples.

Some others deliver essential commodities like groceries, fresh fruits, and vegetables to the people at their doorstep. At the same time, the government has also supported the initiative by bringing them under essential commodities. 

Future of Startups 

The Indian startup ecosystem has played an active role in easing the hardships faced by the general population and going forward, the tribe of startups will only grow. There was a gradual shift among the young generation towards the digital world, but the COVID-19 lockdown has accentuated the process.

.

While lockdowns enabled startups to expand, it also allowed individuals to reorganize their lives. People are learning to reconnect themselves with loved ones, besides adopting positive lifestyle changes.

2 a) Family and Social Bonding 

One significant positive outcome of lockdown because of coronavirus is the opportunity for individuals to reconnect with their families and friends. Today people have the time to focus on their health and tend to the needs of family members, friends, and community.

 .

The hectic schedule and the urgency to meet deadlines have taken a back seat because of lockdown, which will help heal individuals both externally and internally.

 

b) Hygiene Conscious 

Another positive outcome is the government's mass media drive to maintain hygiene, a welcome change, and seems to be everlasting. People have also realized the necessity to manage not only personal health but also around their dwellings.

 .

The habit of covering one's face during sneezing or washing hands frequently after touching something is lifestyle changes and is everlasting.

Conclusion 

When the planet is amid the COVID-19 pandemic, countries across the globe that are directly or indirectly impacted are suffering physical, emotional, and economic casualties unmatched in modern human memory. It will take the concerted efforts of all nations to tide over this crisis, which will hopefully be over soon. Humans are resilient and have been through various challenges before, too; this will not be any different.

.

Let's hope this pandemic will have much needed positive repercussions for our age and the future generation because there is a silver lining in every adversity. It will hopefully teach us that Joy and kindness are obligations and not a privilege. Humankind can not exist without them. Humans will probably learn to coexist peacefully with nature, be more accountable towards their surroundings. Hopefully, this adversity will teach humans to be more kind.

 .

Lastly, the lockdown has awakened the world to a new reality; we are together in this phase and should consider it to help others in these difficult times. Sharing a meal with hungry or coming to the help of lonely elders, feeding birds, and paying gratitude to those who cared for us throughout our lives. It is time to light a lamp within ourselves to dispel darkness. 

Courtesy: Google Images