CELEBRATE NEW YEAR IN AN IGLOO

have any earning person at home. So, to sustain their livelihood and to continue their education and other expenses, the government is providing relief. Earlier, they were given Rs 6,500 and now they are planning to give Rs 7,500 per month. It will be notified soon. DCPCR is assisting us in collecting the data.”

According to reports, there are very limited laws about giving benefits to the family members of jailed inmates. These prisoners are often worried about their families facing financial issues.

Now you don’t have to go to Greenland to see and stay in an igloo. You can usher in the New Year in a “desi igloo” in Manali and Lahul and Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh.

Although igloos are often associated with all Inuit and Eskimo peoples, they were traditionally used only by the people of Canada’s Central Arctic and Greenland’s Thule area. Other Inuits tended to use snow to insulate their houses, which were constructed from whalebone and hides. Snow is used because the air pockets trapped in it make it an insulator. On the outside, temperatures may be as low as -45°C (-49°F), but on the inside, the temperature may range from -7 to 16°C (19 to 61°F) when warmed by body heat alone. Now, igloo tourism is getting popular in Kullu. Two youths, Vikas Kumar and Tashi Dorje, of Manali are promoting igloo tourism near the Hamta Pass at Sainthen village for the past three years. They conceived the igloo idea in 2017. This year, they have built five igloos.

Talking to The Sunday Guardian, Vikas said that “Igloo experience is available just for a month or so. During extreme winter, when temperatures plummet drastically, it is congenial for giving shape to an igloo. As temperature increases, the structure melts rapidly.”

Inside their igloo, there is bedding, where tourists can stay at night. To maintain warmth inside, they provide the tourists hot water bottles and warm bedding system. Use of electric heaters or a bonfire inside the igloo for warming is prohibited. They decorate igloos at nights with electric lights with power generator outside.

“We charge Rs 5,000 per person for night stay in an igloo. They will be provided breakfast, lunch and dinner along with other snow activities”, the promoters said.

Man Mohan can be contacted at rovingeditor@gmail.com