Carnival Of Cultures

Ever since I got landed to Berlin I was wondering how come such a big city could stay quiet and what I have seen yesterday completely changed my thought. ‘Carnival of Culture’ you can say, it is actual heartbeat of Berlin. This street carnival of culture festival takes place every year here in Berlin and it reveals positive sides of international, cultural diversity, friendship and it's lust for life. Music everywhere and people are enjoying, drinking, laughing, and dancing as if tomorrow never comes. I was almost dancing while taking pictures of this animated and colourful parade. This is 12th edition of the Carnival of Cultures and more than 80 countries took part in this hilarious parade of culture. I though there will be Nepali people too but I was little disheartened not to see even a single Nepali out there. It’s sort of Gai jatra festival back home and we too can promote such culture event as our Nepali Carnival. Music is big part of this festival and people were dancing in hiphop from Neukölln, Soca from the Caribbean, colourful masks from Bolivia and many carnival team from a far world, Italians send identities on a journey and people from Angola rap against racism: the street festival is much more than just folklore. Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand were also took part in the parade. Well there were people from many cities of the world and it’s an expression of Berlin's diverse lived-in worlds, it presents carnival art. At the same period of time, Berlin attracted a growing number of artists from all over the world and a new cultural off-scene developed, which added to the cultural richness of Berlin. Berlin developed into one of Europe's music centres with a focus on different styles of electronically generated music. All these street performance on their own is considered as a valuable gift given to the capital's inhabitants. The four-day street festival is a place where people of all ages and different national backgrounds come together. During these festival streets of Berlin becomes the stage where the participants show that they are a firm part of the city and it's cultural scene.

For me it was also experiencing the fascinating diversity of music of the world, which was represented by about hundreds of artists performing on various concert stages with a banner "Eurasia" that allures with Balkan beats, "Barrio Latino" where people enjoy a salsa party, "Bazaar Oriental" attracted with Türk-Pop and "Farafina" makes everyone move their feet to afro-reaggae. I felt that the whole Berlin is one big discotheque. I think occasional street festival of Kathmandu must be a copy of such gala activities from around the world. And you know we lack many reason for such festival back home. Especially organizing part is the weak one. Here it’s very well managed and by rules. There were all kinds of stall from food to product market like we use to have in Basantapur Darbar Square and food stalls attracted with culinary temptations as well as arts and crafts. Besides, what I like most is that in this carnival children were also seen actively participated. They were dress up to the theme of "free like a whale" and for such a creative and fulfill procession. Local children were happy and having good time with their family. It was so nice to see small children trying to imitate dance in the tune of music of carnival.

This year organizer expected about 1.4 million visitors but I don’t know actual data. With the concept of a carnival, which focused on the cultural richness of Berlin, also highlighting the often hidden treasures of its international cultural scene, the Carnival of Cultures was the concept that was a success from the start.
Well that was one hell of an experience and here I would like to share some pictures with you all. And yes can you believe this I also did Samba dance? Check the last pictures for a proof ;)

A Beautiful Lady from Berlin

Let me share this pictures of a nice lady I met at Gendarmenmarkt. Her name is Vicktoria and she was promoting a classic concert that evening. Being a photojournalist what clicked me most is Vicktoria’s beautiful flowery custom, which definitely tells a story about Berlin. You can see her showing me a book regarding the concert.

Berlin is indeed a relaxed city, which has a few crazies and beggars. You can even see some punk lazing around playing musical instrument and asking for pictures. Of course they expect some money after you take their pictures. And it’s a casual and common site in many areas just as you’d see two lovers give a kiss or hug when parting or meeting other places in the world.

Frolicking Around

Churches, Museums and Art Galleries of Berlin

Berlin has more than 170 museums and collections. They offer everything from the ancient to the ultra-modern - the Egyptian Nefertiti, the greek Pergamon Altar, the painters of the "Brücke" and the "Bauhaus" and works by Baselitz and Beuys. The works found in the city's museums and collections and private galleries are as exciting as they are diverse.
This is Konzerthaus, new building designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel to replace the Nationaltheater built from 1800–02 by Karl Gotthard Langhans, which was burnt to the ground in 1817. The conception of the Konzerthaus integrates the remains of Langhan's rectangular building and adds a higher, wider, gabled solidium in the center, complete with an ionic columned hall projecting at the front. Following its destruction in the Second World War, the building was initially only made safe, and the systematic restoration of the original design only began in 1979. Since its reopening in 1984 it has served not as a theatre, but as a concert hall. Above four pictues are of Gendarmenmarkt which is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe – we were told that this is a must for every tourist who visit Berlin. Here the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral), the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) and the Konzerthaus create a beautiful architectural ensemble.With Richard from Uganda.

Statues of Berlin