PATNA: "It's amazing. I love Bihar... I love you guys," Keshri Pragg of Trinidad and Tobago thus gushed about Bihar and Biharis.
The 24-year-old is one of the 37 young overseas Indians currently on a tour to the land of their forefathers on an invitation from Bihar Foundation. Hailing from 13 countries, these youngsters have come to the land of Buddha for the first time and would be winding up their 10-day visit later this week.
"The real Bihar is contrary to what media reports say about it," Pragg, a final year student at the University of the West Indies, said and added international media reports usually associate India with hungry beggars waiting to ambush the guests the moment they get out of their hotel. "But I found Bihar as lovely as any other lovely place outside India," said Pragg, a professional Hindustani classical dancer whose ancestors migrated to Trinidad and Tobago 150 years ago.
Andrea Santos, who lives in the coastal city of Vancouver, nodded. "Prior to my visit, I thought I was going to an unsafe state. But no sooner did we reach than we saw cops on roads. And nobody came to snatch my belongings," she said.
The 23-year-old, who like many others in the group prostrated in worship at the Mahavir Mandir near Patna Junction, said she was awed to see people waiting in serpentine queues just to pay obeisance to the Lord. "I haven't seen such a grand display of devotion anywhere in the world. It's unique to Indians," said Andrea, an international studies student at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.
"I love my India... I love Bihar," cooed Sanam Isseri, a student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). The 20-year-old professional Indian classical singer, who has performed at several shows in South Africa, wishes to "come home" after she is done with her studies at UKZN. "I would like to teach singing, dancing and English to my Bihari brothers and sisters here," said Isseri, who is fluent in English and also speaks in Hindi, albeit with difficulty.
Isseri said Indians in SA have not shunned their culture and tradition. "We celebrate Diwali, Holi, Makar Sakranti and all other Hindu and Muslim festivals with traditional fervor," she said.
Vinit Vishal Nand, from Fiji, said he knows several Hindu families in Fiji who organize Satya Narayan Vrat Katha.
Before this visit, Alisa Kumar (19), from New Zealand, didn't know much about India except that it was least-affected country during the recent economic recession. "But now I can boast of a first-hand feel of India," said the Massey University student.
The youths originally came to India to participate in the Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan in New Delhi from January 7 to 9. In Bihar, they visited Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda and Munger's yoga university besides the Golghar and floating restaurant in Patna. On January 23, they are slated to leave for New Delhi where they would watch Republic Day parade before leaving for home, said Satyajit Singh of Bihar Foundation.
The 24-year-old is one of the 37 young overseas Indians currently on a tour to the land of their forefathers on an invitation from Bihar Foundation. Hailing from 13 countries, these youngsters have come to the land of Buddha for the first time and would be winding up their 10-day visit later this week.
"The real Bihar is contrary to what media reports say about it," Pragg, a final year student at the University of the West Indies, said and added international media reports usually associate India with hungry beggars waiting to ambush the guests the moment they get out of their hotel. "But I found Bihar as lovely as any other lovely place outside India," said Pragg, a professional Hindustani classical dancer whose ancestors migrated to Trinidad and Tobago 150 years ago.
Andrea Santos, who lives in the coastal city of Vancouver, nodded. "Prior to my visit, I thought I was going to an unsafe state. But no sooner did we reach than we saw cops on roads. And nobody came to snatch my belongings," she said.
The 23-year-old, who like many others in the group prostrated in worship at the Mahavir Mandir near Patna Junction, said she was awed to see people waiting in serpentine queues just to pay obeisance to the Lord. "I haven't seen such a grand display of devotion anywhere in the world. It's unique to Indians," said Andrea, an international studies student at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.
"I love my India... I love Bihar," cooed Sanam Isseri, a student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). The 20-year-old professional Indian classical singer, who has performed at several shows in South Africa, wishes to "come home" after she is done with her studies at UKZN. "I would like to teach singing, dancing and English to my Bihari brothers and sisters here," said Isseri, who is fluent in English and also speaks in Hindi, albeit with difficulty.
Isseri said Indians in SA have not shunned their culture and tradition. "We celebrate Diwali, Holi, Makar Sakranti and all other Hindu and Muslim festivals with traditional fervor," she said.
Vinit Vishal Nand, from Fiji, said he knows several Hindu families in Fiji who organize Satya Narayan Vrat Katha.
Before this visit, Alisa Kumar (19), from New Zealand, didn't know much about India except that it was least-affected country during the recent economic recession. "But now I can boast of a first-hand feel of India," said the Massey University student.
The youths originally came to India to participate in the Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan in New Delhi from January 7 to 9. In Bihar, they visited Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda and Munger's yoga university besides the Golghar and floating restaurant in Patna. On January 23, they are slated to leave for New Delhi where they would watch Republic Day parade before leaving for home, said Satyajit Singh of Bihar Foundation.
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