2025- The year of travels and expriences

2025 is a year, I get to realize I am travelling too much. 

1. Year started with a marriage in Krishnagar, West Bengal. I initially thought to attend the marriage and return home. One of my colleague from Abu dhabi said "I will also attend the marriage and will stay 2 more days if you stay back, let me see India, its my first time". I thought since its Saturday Sunday let me overstay and will take him to Sudarbans. One month before travel, his country visa was revoked and they cant travel anywhere. I had my non refundable tickets so I planned for Ganga Sagar and asked my parents if they are interested they can join me in Calcutta on Saturday morning. -- Ganga Sagar 25-26 Jan

2. 15th Jan- My daughter asked a question casually, what is Mahakumbh, While narrating the story, I realized I can visit myself. Hence checked the dates and tickets.. I only got tickets to Varanasi and return from Allahabad. My friend whose family is from Allahabad also joined me in Varanasi. I only planned to take a dip in Ganga and roam here and there in the city. My friend has connections in CRPF, on our return after taking the bath,, she called her relative if there is a chance to get vip darshan in Kashi Vishwanath. 2 hours later we were getting out of Kashi Vishwanath. Then next day we went for Allahabad, took bath one day before Basant panchami. On the day of Vasant panchami, I had return flight, so I thought to go for a final darshan of Sangam and return, due to some wrong info I got delayed and ended up on the other side of Kumbh. While crossing the river, I realized the subh muhurat has arrived and I somehow ended up being there at Kumbh 10am looking over Sangma. --- Kashi and Prayagraj 31Jan -1 Feb

3. My husband hates crowded places. He didn't join me for Kumbh, but he wanted to take a dip in Ganga.. So he asked me to check leaves and lets go for Haridwar and Rishikesh. I had Eid leaves in March and my daughters school was also closed. Hence we picked that long weekend. We arrived at Haridwar, stayed at Har ki pauri, attended morning and evening arti and only then realized its the first day of Navratri, visited Chandrika devi and Mansa devi... Haridwar Rishikesh March 27-30

4. My old colleague from Reliance is a trekker,  he plans a trek every year, In December last year I decided to join a trek with him this year. We had to meet at Chandigarh on May 5th Monday. I tried getting flights, cant get reasonably prized direct flight, So thought to go to Delhi and then train to Chandigarh. While looking at the map I realized, I will be flying above MP. lets visit Omkareshwar and visit Gudiya di and then fly to Delhi. I got perfect flights with reasonable rates. We had a amazing trip. Beas kund is the origin of Beas river between glaciers. This is also the place where all Vyas meditate and attain the title of Vyas, the rishi in Kalyug will also come here for enlightment. Anjaneya temple in Solang was cherry on the top. I visited Indore, traveled to Omkareshwar and then reached Bhopal at night. Stayed with di and Jiju overnight, spent half day roaming in Bhopal with  di. Came to know that Jiju got posting in Kargil and will soon leave. Jiju casually said, I expect you to come and visit me there while I am posted. His posting is for 2 years. I planned with di to visit him next year  -- Omkareshwar Template and Beas Kund May 3-11

5. Our childhood friend and school mate Swati was asking me to join for Hong kong or Europe trip. Her husband wanted to go to Kedarnath and the condition was we all 4 will go. I was asked to make the plan because I was the only one who had visited Kedarnath in past. So I looked up my leaves and I had Arafat day leaves on 5-6 June. So I told them, we can go to Kedarnath from 5-8 June. Everyone agreed and we were at Kedarnath temple on 6th evening. Had a great darshan, weather was also fine.  --- Dhara devi and Kedarnath 5-8 June

6. So after so many travel, I told my husband that I will be at home for sometime, because projects deadlines are approaching, On 23rd June, I got an email stating that 27th June is holiday company wide. I checked in calender it was Friday and below that on the calender it was written "Jagannath Yatra". I asked my husband if he has any plans for the upcoming weekend, as usual he didnt. Next I was in Sakkhi gopal temple on 27th and later joined the Rath yatra by evening in Puri. I returned the next day --- Jagannath Puri 27-28 June

7. My grand mother "Dadi" is in her last days for quite sometime. When I returned from Jagannath Puri, my mom said, you can go anywhere but cannot come here to meet Dadi. I really felt bad because everyone knew she is about to pass away and I planned to visit her on the 13th day of her death. But when mom complained why I went to Puri rath yatra I felt that this will continue and my mood will be off. So I planned to visit Lucknow on 5th July. one day trip to visit Dadi and other kids that were born since I last visited Lucknow. I gave the flag I got from Puri to Mom and Dad, and gave the cloth I got from Kedarnath to Mahima bua. Also took prasad from both the places to Lucknow and asked mom and dad to share whom so ever they want. My grand mother passed on 7th July, --- Lucknow 5th July

7. My college friend Gaurav wanted to travel but as usual wasn't getting any company. We were always in touch in Whatsapp but never used to talk.. just see each other updates. He noticed I keep travelling so last year he asked me how to plan for Amarnath. I told him the details and also informed him that he should get medical and registration the day it opens. All of a sudden this year in April he pinged me and said Registration for Amarnath is open. Shall WE go.. We was a shock to me. I checked my travel plans and said I can only go in August before the cave closes. He readily agreed and said he will ask other college mates if some one is interested. I told him to get medical certificate first and other things can be booked at the last moment. I went ahead got my medical and forgot about it. On July 3rd when the Cave opened, I check the registration dates, called him for confirmation. his family didn't even allowed him to go for medical because of the Pahalgam incident. I was left with a approved medical certificate. So I thought will join the Chadi yatra on 9th August. I registered and booked my flight.

On 10th July while doing my Kalari class I got injured for the first time in last 1.5 years. I twisted my left pinky toe. Doc said its just muscle injury and heal in 2 weeks. but I ended up in taking a decision to cancel my Amarnath trek on 3rd August. On the same day, by evening we heard the news that Cave is closed due to heavy rains and both routes are blocked. I was staring at my tickets and leave confirmation email.

I told my husband that I am going, will visit some other place during that duration. I dialed my travel planner Gauri.. she suggested "Kargil- Dras". and I messaged Jiju that I am visiting him on Rakhi .

Kargil war memorial visit accompanied by a Colonel gave a different level of experience. Next day visited Post 43, an experience I cannot write here.  If one gets a chance they should visit this place. Civilians need prior approval from army to visit. The short en route visit to Lemayuru was another unexpected stop over. I am gonna return back to visit monastries for sure. Shopping at Leh and shanti stupa, History of Leh weaved in Leh palace was eye opening. Visit to Gurudwara Pather Sahib with amazing langer is a feast to remember for a very long time. Dras, Kargil, Kumbathang, Leh 7-10 August

8. Kailash Mansarovar is a place I wanted to visit for sometime. I had been trying to get any planner / group and eventually this year yatra opened for Indians. I registered through Isha as soon as they open the dates. I was in Kathmandu on 30th August. My experience with Isha was not something I cherish, even though I did met some good people. The trip was amazing and full of experience that's hard to forget. The first glimpse of Man Sarovar itself was calming. Even though I didn't feel the need or urge to meditate or very spiritual or energy flow, it was just simple peaceful, calm, a place where you forget yourself without even realizing it, truly speaking I can just sit there and watch it endlessly without the need to think or speak or do anything.

 Kailash north face stay at Dirupek was another chapter. People do talk about spiritual awakening, I might sound stupid or lack spiritual intelligence, but for me Kailash is a place that's home to a family who travels a lot :). Its just a mountain that is different, that stands out, it felt like it is something that cannot be seen from naked eyes, can not be described in words, cannot be felt with emotions. Its a physical embodiment of something that is beyond human comprehension of 5 senses. Its a sight to behold, you look at it and forget to breathe, when you blink your eyes Kailash is looking at you,, the feeling is there that you are in presence of something that you cannot describe.. thats Kailash for me...

Visiting Pashupatinath, Gynushwari shaktipeeth at Kathmandu was experience that worth mentioning. Meeting hard working Sherpas Rajendra, Jeevan, Dilli made this trip even more memorable. Before my return to Kathmandu, Nepal was burning due to Gen Z riots.. Thankfully by the time we returned to Kathmandu everything was under Army control and safe for tourists. Kathmandu, Neyalam, Saga, Darchen, Dirupek 30 Aug -12 Sept

9. Every year I try to visit Pune for Ganpati, this year I spent the time in Kailash, hence thought to visit Pune for Kumkum archana during Navratri. 

Pune 28 Sept

I just go with the flow. Enjoy the moment . and Experience ..

Maha Khumbh ,,, a celestial positioning or something else

 Crores of people have visited MahaKumbh 2025 being held at Prayagaraj. I had not even thought about visiting or taking a dip until 20th Jan.

My daughter always up for listening to stories asked me randomly, Mom tell me stories about Khumbh and Maha Khumbh. Its then I opened internet to realize the magnitude of Maha Khumbh preparations.

The Mahakhumbh stories starts when the Devtas were looking for more resources but cant find it enough. So they decided to churn the ocean to get hold of the powerful and one of a kind resources. But the problem was how to churn it.

They collided with Rakshasha , seek help from Meru parvat, Vasuki nag as the rope and still the base of the churn was missing, hence Lord Vishnu took his second avatar in the form of a Kachap ( toutoise) to hold the Meru parvat on its back while it churns.

Including all the valuables, the most sort after was Amrit- The nector of immortality. It is said while Vishnu took another form of Mohini to ensure most of the Amrit is distributed with in the Devatas, 4 drops of the divine fluid spilled from the pot and fell on earth. The earth was not able to absorb these, hence the places it fell became unstable,, the drops were hence engulfed in earthen space and during specific celestial positioning it is expected that the earthen space will be exposed to human realm. Hence the ritual came to existence to take dip in the water where the earthen space comes very close to the human realm. These celestial positioning is alignment of Sun - The source of knowledge, Moon - The source of emotions, Jupitar - The Guru which guides us from darkness to light,, the light of knowledge. 

While I was narrating the story of the Khumbh to my daughter, I get the feel of the calling to visit Khumbh. Next day I checked my project status, leaves and tickets.. and by the time my daughter returned from her school, My tickets were booked for the weekend of 31st Jan

I got my tickets for Varanasi and then Khumbh. On 25-26th I visited the place from where the drama started to bring Ganga down to earth - Ganga Sagar and the karma bhoomi of great sage Kapil Muni who propagated the tark shahtra,,," There should be a logical reasoning for every statement and action explained every time required.  He emphasized that the job of a learned person is to convince other to perform any task by their logical reasoning, there is nothing like an order or I have said so you have to do it" The basis of Hindu philosophy...

Ganga sagar is the place where Ganga meets the ocean.. So without any plan I took a dip at the place where Ganga unites with Sagar, leaving her name and herself behind. As per the Purans, the 60k children of Raja Sagar were turned into ash by Kapil Muni because they were causing rukus at the Ashram at Ganga Sagar. When Raja Sagar came to know about it, he pleaded Kapil muni and asked for the salvation of his sons. Kapil muni mentioned, there will be a King+sage in your dynasty who with his karma will bring the celestial river Ganga on earth. The path of the ganga will be such that who so ever ash is flown with it, their soul will be free from the rebirth cycle. King Sagar went back and centuries later Bhagirath was born who played a crucial role in bringing Ganga to earth, Being a Lord Shiva fan and unable to part with him, She split herself into 8 parts. One of them through the matted hairs of Shiva came to Gangorti and made it way to all the places where Shiva resides to end in Ganga Sagar. 

 This laid back island town is fondly mentioned as  सारे तीरथ बार-बार, गंगा सागर एक बार 

Well fast forward one week later I was standing on cross road of Lohrabeer in Varanasi.. In my whole life I have not seen so much crowd. I realised not just thousands but the count goes in Lakhs of visitors per day in Varanasi, Ayodhya, Chikrakoot belt because of Mahakhumbh. I took a dip in Ganga again,, a place where our beloved Shankar resides with his partner Parvati. Looking at the line in front of Kashi vishwanth, i almost dropped the idea of visiting there. And turn of events was such that I ended up visiting Maha Mrityunjay mandir nearby collecting the amrut water as fondly said by many. And somehow Lor Vishwanath also gave darshan. The Varanasi trip was a unplanned, and surprising one.

Next day I took dip in Sangam and later in the evening went for a stroll in the mela. Went for darshan of the sangam at night. Next morning again I visited sangam in the mela area. Just wanted to see it and thank which ever power made me stand there. I came to know that the holy time of Basant panchami was to start at 10. I was planning to be out of mela region by 9-9.30 as I have a flight to catch. Somehow one of the person misguided me and I ended up in the other corner of mela. Only to realize that i have to walk back the whole route inside mela . Without wasting time, I turned around and started walking back. At 10 I was crossing the ponton bridge in front of Sangam. I could only smile on the realization of what just happened...

So here is my take of Khumbh

1. Crores gather to take a dip in water

2. People come, bathe, change clothes and go away

3. No pandit or rules and regulations or any discrimination

4. Nothing right and nothing wrong

5. There is no line, no one is coming first or last, no one shouts, no one complains, no one shy away, no one cares about anything or anyone

6.  Few come for cleaning away their wrong doings, for salvation, for insta posts, for dharmic points, for experience, for learning, for satisfaction, for competing their bucketlist... and many more..

Today when I opened this to write I was thinking why I went there? and then it struck me hard,, I didnt went there.. I was supposed to be there at that moment and no where else.. I am meant to do something in this life, I am a catalyst for something , My presence there was meant to complete some tasks maybe very small but one thing is sure,, At Mahakhumbh "I felt Calm in Chaos" maybe its the presence of divine nector in our realm and i was so close to it.. that unknown to me,, it guided me to the path of knowledge

To summarize, I started to believe - The essence of Khumbh is in the Gayatri mantra 

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्व: तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् 

Reme weds Manish..Bengali wedding

23rd 24th Jan 2025...I here am attending Reme and Manish wedding at Krishnanagar West Bengal. I met Reme once prior to wedding and Manish for the first time here during wedding. My being here was not something I can fanthom in my dreams. Instead of questioning my presence, I am here witnessing something for the first time. 

The trend of marriage is now changing in recent years .. for instance traditions are important but capturing memories take the lead.

Bengali marriage is beautiful or it's just this one, I am not sure... The small beautiful traditions make it beautiful. Alta has been replaced with proper bollywood mehndi function .. but without the red liquid on bride it's not complete. The blend of bollywood trends and original traditions in a harmonious way. 

Parents are now taking back seat in arrangements and trying to enjoy in their kids wedding. It's not a burden for family but they also seem to be dancing on the beats..

 

The day of marriage began with brides pooja.. the mukut, pola chura placement. The girl of the house becomes ready to be given.

All the ladies walk with music and dance to the Ganga river, brides mother pray with diya and invite Ganga for the wedding with proper sweets... The water is brought back home

The haldi ceremony starts with all music , everyone applying haldi on both.starting with both mothers. Taking pictures, and everyone applying haldi to bride and groom togeather.. and then the chaos kicksin when friends finally arrive. They allow the funky photoshoot and then starts the shocking holi with haldi and water.. What a mess,, have never witnessed it anywhere.. it was cold, everyone was wearing nice cloths.. in a matter of seconds the whole venue turned upside down with yellow water splashing everywhere. Groom was dumped in water multiple times, and bride was also yellowish or  drenched,, not sure.. I just ran to the back of the venue to spare me from getting a part of this mess.

It feels the wedding ceremony is more dominated and driven by the women of the house. Even though I came from Remes side, I joined the baratis and danced all the way to the venue. Full on dancing of the bollywood, Odissi, and Bengali tune on the Krishnagar streets was a thought I never had untill I was doing it. Cemermony was short and sweet, technically the same as any standard Hindu wedding. Vows and blessings in front of sacred fire, in presence of elders and priests. Food was amazing, I initally thought i would have to manage with fish, but the spread though very limited was freshly made, served hot on seat, comprise of Bengali delicacies both veg and non veg. and some sweet toother like me, the wedding desert was a feast. 

Loved it, every minute of it. Joining a wedding without knowing anyone, I made friends that lasted for 2 days, shared smiles, dance moves, made memories that will probably last a life time!!!

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