India – A Bouquet of Cultures: How Chandigarh Festivals Unite Us
Chandigarh is more than just a city; it's a melting pot where cultures from Himachal, Haryana, Punjab, and beyond converge. In this episode, we chat with Praveen Jaggi, a renowned Theatre Director, Light Designer, and avid Biker, right from the heart of a Chandigarh Mela.
🎪 Festivals: A Bouquet of India
Praveen Ji beautifully describes India as a garden with different flowers, trees, and mountains. Just as a garden is incomplete with only one type of flower, India thrives on its diversity.
Festivals in Chandigarh, like the Rose Festival and the Carnival, act as a "Layover Station" where people from Jammu, Ladakh, and Punjab meet. It's not just about food and rides; it's about breaking barriers and understanding different customs and dresses.
🏍️ From Stage Lights to Road Trips
Professionally, Praveen Jaggi is a Light Designer for auditoriums and a Theatre Director. But his passion lies on the open road.
🌍 International Rides:
He has ridden across India, Bhutan, Nepal, and even rented bikes to tour the USA, Dubai, Malaysia, and Singapore.
He discusses the exciting possibility of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway reopening, which would allow bikers to ride from India all the way to Singapore via Laos and Cambodia. This route was historically active (until 1973) when buses ran from Delhi to London!
🚶♂️ Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Message
Why travel? Praveen Ji connects biking to spirituality. He reminds us that Guru Nanak Dev Ji undertook four long journeys (Udasis) not to preach, but to understand the world.
"He went to Mecca, China, and Sri Lanka. Nowhere is it written that he argued with anyone. He sat, listened, and understood. Today, we sit in our homes and judge others. To truly broaden your mind, you must step out."
🔓 Are We Become Narrow-Minded?
A thought-provoking part of the conversation touches on how the Punjabi diaspora (those who moved past Delhi after Partition) often seem more open-minded and dedicated to their faith than those in Punjab.
He laments that we are closing doors—literally and metaphorically. The Golden Temple has four doors to welcome all castes and creeds, yet modern politics tries to restrict who can read Gurbani or enter.
"Fragrance cannot be locked in a box. If you restrict Gurbani or culture to one group, it will stagnate. Let it spread like the scent of a flower in a garden."
🎭 Interested in Theatre or Biking?
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Join the Community❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Currently, the route via Myanmar is difficult due to political instability (since 2020). However, the government is working on a corridor that may soon allow bikers and tourists to travel from India to Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
He is a professional Light Designer and Theatre Director based in Chandigarh. He designs lighting for auditoriums and stage plays.
He traveled to understand humanity, diverse cultures, and beliefs. By stepping out of his home, he connected with people from all walks of life before composing his Bani (teachings).