Nerve Endings Firing Away

What is it about the Niagara Falls that attracts people from that side of the Flower Power generation in hordes? Especially the Desi community seems to be overly enamored by its sheer presence. If you have ever entertained your elderly parents or other contemporary relations in America, you will see Niagara topping their list of must-see attractions. Distance is usually not the criteria in placing the Falls on your itinerary. It almost enjoys an iconic status in the hearts of Indian community that come visiting this side of the Atlantic. I have visited it twice already in the brief span of four years. The first time for me was actually a minor letdown considering the hype and hullabaloo I had heard. It certainly is an awesome spectacle, more so from the famed Maid of the Mist but there are other waterfalls in the world which equally draw a gasp of wonder.

Angel Falls in Venezuela may be twice or even thrice the height of Niagara and Victoria Falls in the heart of Africa may have a louder resounding roar but it’s Niagara that draws the maximum visitors. Accessibility is one factor. Hype and marketing are the other. I remember traveling through a narrow cold tunnel 200 feet underground to see the Ruby falls in Tennessee. It was completely dark inside the cavern where the waterfall was supposed to come through. The voice of the announcer proudly introduced Ruby falls as the lights came on. I was thoroughly disappointed to see a tiny trickle of water leaking from the roof of the cave. I swear I could remember peeing more than that sorry excuse of a waterfall.

However, The Niagara Falls are a point of focus for two cities in two different countries separated by a narrow gorge. The Canadian side is wildly alive with multi-color strobe lights and bars along the water edge and contrastingly the American side is drably landscaped. But why are Indians attracted to this particular waterfall? Why does it have to be a prime tourist spot for visiting Indians?

I drove six hundred miles in one day to let my parents feast their eyes on the falling water. We actually were in the vicinity of the falls for far less time than it took us to get there. Not surprisingly, the place was teeming with geriatric Indians in their saris and white cotton shirts followed by their techie sons or daughter armed with a digital camera. This is one place where the parents do not mind posing for the camera in order to boast to their envious second cousins that they have seen the world’s most magnificent sight. They say that the Niagara moves back a couple of inches every year. If that is true, I swear not to visit it again until it is at walking distance; unless, of course my aunt comes visiting and bugs me to see the great Niagara.