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First Himalayan Paragliding Carnival

Title of Event :	First Himalayan Paragliding Carnival
Date :	5-7 May 2000
Venue :	Bhimtal - Jangalia Gaon Road (24 KM for Nainital).
Administrative Organizers :	Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd. Nainital, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Technical Organizers :	Snowland Holidays Pvt. Ltd. PO Box No. 8, Manali - 175 131 District Kullu (HP) INDIA e-mail : snowland@vsnl.com
Co-Sponsors :	Escotel Smartphone Service. The Cellular Company
Aim :	The aim of organizing the Paragliding Carnival is to popularize Paragliding in Kumaon, as well as all over India. The competition was organized to improve and upgrade the skill and sportsmanship of Paragliding pilots. It was also as a good start for aero sport lovers to know more different area and possibilities of Paragliding in India.

History about the Site : This site was first discovered on 2^nd October 1999 by Mr. Irvinder Singh, Managing Director of Snowland Holidays Pvt. Ltd. and his Paragliding Instructor Mr. Khem Raj Thakur on invitation and sponsorship from Mr. Unesh Sinha, Managing Director of KMVN. It took three weeks to judge the flying conditions and other aspects. We started to organize Paragliding in Kumaon Hills on 22^nd October 1999.

Planning and Organizing : Although it was well planed in advance. After getting approval from Aero Club of India, KMVN had difficulty to find sponsorship for this event and it happen that the timing met the peak season of paragliding in others part of India and Nepal. We were uncertain about the time to start this event, until the last week of April, we confirmed. Finally we also got financial support from Department of Tourism, Govt. of India and Escotel Ltd. By this time, we left only two weeks to plan and organize the whole process for this carnival.

Competitions : We plan two competitions. The first competition was spot landing and the second competition was flight endurance. In the first competition participants have to land in a specified circle. In the second competition participants have to fly longer time in the air.

Pilots Invited : The participants for this competitions were planed to be around 12~24 pilots, and the invited pilots were 30 to make sure that there should have enough participant to join these competitions.

Competing Pilots : There were 20 pilots participated and completed the competition.

Opening Ceremony

Date :	5 May, 2000.
Venue :	Bhimtal - Jangalia Gaon Road (24 KM for Nainital).
Inaugurated By :	H. E. Sh. Suraj Bhan, Governor of Uttar Pradesh Government
Presided By :	Mr. Rudra Singh Panda, Chairman KMVN
In the Presence of :	Mr. Matwar Singh Kandari, state Minister for development of Uttrakhand,
Guest of honours :	Mr. Umesh Sinha, District Magistrate Dr. Rajnish Dubey, Village Heads and most of the district officials.

During the Competition

Weather : We didn't have good weather during this Carnival. On first day we have bad weather in the morning and we thought that we can't organize opening ceremony, but around 10.00 am weather started to settle and the ceremony was delayed by 2.30 hours and it was finally started around 12.00 noon instead of 9.30 am. We had sunny day after 12.30 PM. After the speech of all the celebrities, we had first demonstration flight around 1.30 PM. We couldn't manage to start competition due to delay in program, so we plan to organize most of the rounds on the second day. On the second day, it was cloudy and wind was not favourable all round the day, so again we can't manage to organize any competition. Now we have only left forenoon of 7^th May. In the morning of 7^th May again we didn't have good wind conditions, so every pilot manage to take off only once for spot landing competition and at last we only manage to complete one round of spot landing competition.

Results of Competition : The results of spot landing competition are as follows :

1^st = Amar Chand flying in tandem paraglider with a passenger (44 inches away from the center of the circle). He got Rs. 5000/- a certificate and a momento.

2^nd = Budhi Prakash (48 inches away from the center of the circle). He got Rs. 3000/- a certificate and a momento.

3^rd = Nand Lal (60 inches away from the center of the circle). He got Rs. 2000/- a certificate and a momento.

We couldn't manage to arrange the second competition, so it was decided to distribute the amount of second competition among all the participants and Rs. 500/- per participant was distributed to all the pilots along with participation certificates and momento.

Closing Ceremony

Date :	7 May 2000.
Venue :	At Pande Village on the way to Naukuchiatal (22 KM for Nainital).
Chief Guest :	Forest Minister in Uttar Prdesh Government Mr. Bansidhar Bhagat.
Presided By :	Dr. R. S. Tolia, Senior IAS officer and Director of ATI Nainital.
Guest of honours :	Mr. Umesh Sinha, Village Heads and most of the district officials.
Change in venue :	Again before the closing ceremony the bad weather started to play its part. Suddenly around 12.00 noon we have very heavy rain and everyone have to find shelter. At last rain stop around 2.00 PM and the closing ceremony was at last organized at Tourist Rest House, Bhimtal.

Conclusion : This Paragliding Carnival was successfully planned and organized due to the great interest of Mr. Umesh Sinha (IAS) Managing Director KMVN, who supported us to organize a national level carnival to popularize paragliding in Kumaon.

Although from beginning to end we face lots of problems in organizing, i.e. financial, administration, weather and advertising etc... Finally with the great efforts of M.D. KMVN and staff of Snowland Holidays, the day arrive after a memorable inauguration, a good air-show after the ceremonial flagging-off by the honoured guest fascinated all the officials, public representatives and local public present in the opening ceremony. For almost half an hour all the honoured guest and public in the ceremony were looking up and watching the performance of the expert pilots, flying, over lapping and soaring paragliders like big and colorful birds in the sky.

Even some of the Events were cancelled due to weather, but The Carnival was successfully completed. It was inspiring for everyone, who was presented there. This Carnival was also covered and telecast by all the major national television networks. We believe aero-sport got popularize in India by this Carnival, and it will be the leading path to the good standard in technical skill and sportsmanship for all pilots in India. We hope our pilots will win honour for our country internationally in future.

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