3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue 1 & 2 Jan - Apr 2 3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue | Page 62

we were travelling in the in the month of December to our Ad Film location - Longyearbyen, we witnessed the truly ethereal “Aurora Borealis”. I would never ever forget that dramatic trip on board the charter flight from Oslo to Svalbard, which I was told, happens to be the world’s last northern airport ! Some statistic this !! We checked into a rugged log hut and the media crew provided to us by Visit Norway worked round the clock to get things ready for the shoot. Apart from designer Tea Bags, we brought with us traditional Assamese Mekhela Chador, conical shaped Japi hat and the symbolic Assamese bell metal Xorai & Bota, all of which would add an incredible Assamese dimension to the Ad Film on the ethereal backdrop of icy Polar/Arctic wilderness. After numerous trials, we endorsed the film in which we got a bunch of gorgeously dressed Svalbard ladies, all draped in traditional Assamese Mekhela Chador dancing rhythmatically to the lilting tunes of the hugely popular Bihu song -“Aami Asomiya Oi Deha Bihu Te Boliya” number and offering guests to sip the world famous Assam Tea - all in ice cold Arctic surroundings. We were shooting at a time when the “Blue Hour” was on - a period characterized by the sun going below the horizon, which offers a matchless natural ambience wherein 62 this unusual light phenomenon creates a magical panoramic setting. This experience is mythical, stuff of legends and Svalbard is the only place in the world where the Northern Light is permanent. Once the 3 day long shooting stint at Longyearbyen was over, we had enough time to explore the town on our own. Since the Northern Lights were on, we found most residents huddled inside their pretty houses and indulge in merry making. One local lady, dressed in traditional Svalbard wintry costume, who was part of the Ad Film got very curious and wanted to know more about Assam Tea and India. We spent an hour at her logged hut and the entire family were very impressed by Assam’s rich culture and bio- diversity. Tea is priceless in small-town Longyearbyen and so we gifted a couple of packs of Assam Tea to our host. But, the funny part is they don’t know the art of tea-making. So, I played the role of a tea-maker and trained them up and offered tips of how a cuppa Assam Tea can cheer you up and enliven you even in ice cold Arctic conditions. Fulfilled by our tea-training session, the lady of the house extended her helping hand and took us on a leisurely sightseeing tour. Our first stop was at the Svalbard Museum which rather ingeniously depicts the cultural history of this amazing region of Norway. Vol 4 | Issue 1 |Jan - Feb 2019