Great experience

By darleen r. dhillon from Berkeley, CA---USA on Nov 15, 2006
Positives:
Authentic details

Negatives:
No labels in English!

Overall Rating:
5.0

Comments:
I visited the location in Ludhiana, rather than Jallandhar. I found the whole place to be very well done--tears came to my eyes in some areas, as I was married to a wonderful Sikh gentleman for 42 years (I came to India to take ashes to Kiratpur) and he was from a small village, and had taught me so much about that culture, how to speak Punjabi, legends, customs, food---EVERYTHING! I went from area to area feeling his presence and marvelling at the efforts that were made to recreate this vibrant village culture. I even saw stuff that I had seen on my first trip to Punjab in 1969, that doesn't exist in the village anymore. I also felt a sense of loss---hey, it's great that your young people have cars and color TV's and all, but who will embroider your phulkaris? Who will tell legends and stories at night? I know,...it's called "progress". It happened in our culture too.
One last note: on the night we were there, the cricket matches were going on, and the announcer up on the stage made a lengthy welcome to a group of visitors who had come from Pakistan for that. His welcome was very warm, and I saw other Indians welcoming the Pakistanis too, and I felt touched by this. (Open up that Wagah border!!)
Loved the Bhangra, but have seen better here at U.C. Berkeley. Still, all-in-all, SHABBASH!!

Thanks for hearing me out,
Darleen Dhillon
Berkeley, CA