In the NEW YEAR

While many of the existent Indian people in the world would have celebrated the Hindu New Year with lights, some visiting their near and loved ones, some going about making trips to macau, singapore or greece for that matter, some dozing off to let out the whole year’s stress and perhaps some who say they did supposedly nothing than sit in front of the TV and check out the daily soaps, i made a quiet trip to NATHDWARA.

Rashee bhabhi had come home for the diwali since the last fortnight and we had been visiting various places in and around the city, although perhaps archeologists, historians and ethnic city dwellers wouldnt be happy with the places i showed her. Parents are the key to all the things, prizes and problems, and so it came again to mom who had since long made a wish to visit Nathdwara and show bhabhi of what is perhaps one of the busiest, crowdiest and chaotic pilgrim place in the world. So, we made a journey to the place in the morning of the new year.

When you see, around 10000 or more tribals, ‘bhils’ as people call them,

all sitting on wall tops, road sides, cowering in the slight early winter chill, making funny obstreperous crypted noises, coupled with devotees from all round the state- nay, the world pouring in for the DARSHAN, although you’re devoted and have immense religious power, you do feel the heat. “To describe the night of ANKUT na darshan, where hundreds of mishtans, sweets and farsan are placed on HIS feet for blessings, IT WAS A CHAOTIC but an amazing SPECTACLE.” The Ankut darshan generally happens in the night at around 8.30-9. and would ideally stay till 11.00 pm. But that day, the line for Men to enter was like a sea wave, like the doll faces one sees in Jagannath puri rathyatra or Mecca pilgrimage in saudi. When a wave would come, it would sweep many in the forward plunge or kick backward in the other way round. Amidst all these, loud chants and calls for Giriraj Dharan and Shyam, Dwarikanath echoed the ever bustling streets. The heat due to the commotion or the chilly warly winter breeze didnt seem to affect many, apart from the those agnostics and new comers. I still believe its a really strange and serene feeling standing there amidst all the pushing elbowing and yet not feeling anything less than the love for HOLY GOVARDHAN. For according to the legend, even aurangzeb was blinded by Govardhan prabhu’s powers and Mughal dynasty would prior would regard Vaishnavas with reverence. Earlier in the day, we had GAU KHEL and GOVARDHAN PUJA where century old traditions of teasing and playing with cows by the cowherds and the puja of the holy Govardhan mountain would happen respectively to all spectators’ eyes looking with awe.

Later at around 12 midnight we finally got a chance to enter the mandir, get HIS ALMIGHTY’s madhuram glimpse and get the chance to view something of sorts that could be experienced once a lifetime. According to the tradition, the tribals or bhils are allowed to enter the mandir premises only one day in a year and that on the day of Ankut for the great loot. Well, no its not the great loot retail outlet, nor a bank robbery, its a custom where tons of hot steaming rice or SAKHDI as its known is kept in HIS chamber and the bhils get the permission to enter, gather/ steal or snatch the rice, have darshan and take as much as they can for them and their families. The twist in the tale is, the temple authorities hide a golden ornament in the rice and the one to find it is regarded as very lucky. Its the only day perhaps in the history where we socialized, educated and cultured people beg the bhils to give a handful of the rice or even try and steal from them a pocketful for it is considered that if we get the rice and save it in our financial saving deposit, it brings luck and goodwill. And so, the world saw the temple bath in the rice, mud, fun, stealing for love and rich stealing from deprived. Where would you see that?

In this land of  sands and desert, Rajasthan, all kinds of people are found. Mirages turning up and moving around like ghosts, sometimes acting as helpers and sometimes vices and problems. In this land of sands and sweets, of scent and droughts i went to the town of Nathdwara to get blessings, perhaps not religiously but for that spiritual journey, for like all agnostics i question nature and existence of supreme being but like all theists and believers i believe in existence of a power and a light that beams in all directions always to help us and guide us.

So that was the beginning of the New Year for me, a time starting the season of fall, and perhaps a time i came to know more about my newly found Bhabhi for my elder brother.

PS: They got engaged 3 months back in what was the most unrealistic manner and quickest of engagements. That story later.

Ae Haalo.. Amdavad ni ser ma! ~Part 1~

Kankaria Lake..

Kankaria Lake

..is the largest man made lake in the Ahmedabad province of Gujarat. Being a product of the 15th century by a mughal ruler Sultan Kutubuddin, it still is the landmark of Ahmedabad and embarks upon the feeling and zeal of the people of the great city. It through the course of time has seen many a modifications and additions to its collar thereby increasing its tourist attraction. In the due course of time in the post independence era, there was a large zoo constructed and named – ‘Kamla nehru zoological garden‘.It boasts to be one of the best zoos in the western India and hosts to many a species of wildlife. The famous Reuben david had once been for long its curator. It also brings up a decent enough Aquarium comprising many a dozen types of domestic fishes, which few other cities in the surrounding areas lack.

Kankaria, also being in the most populous suburb of the city enjoys of getting more attention (apart from being Mr CM’s home seat), thereby getting an illustrious fun world – ‘Bal vatika‘: which has pieces of Indian art and history, bearing collections of early currencies from 1000 ad., multicultural doll house, model railway house, small exotic bird displays and many a rides thus making it a compact amusement park. Among the other attractions are Naginavadi: a central garden in the centre of the lake with hitech laser and fountain shows and cluster of junk food stalls and restaurants.

Atal Express

Provisions for boating and horse riding are made in and around the premises making it more attractive. New attractions like the circumfereting toy train- ATAL EXPRESS(specially made from UK) and vintage bus service with immaculate lightings of the place and slick marketing has surpassed people’s expectations about the place. Recently enough due to the lakefront development project, which was an intensive and fast track development of the infrastructure in the area alonwith increasing the facilities has proved to scale up the tourism in the place with atleast 25000-30000 people footings a day.

Now foodies like me, have a lot to look out for here. Kankaria is actually as much famous for its junk food as its for its amusement. Mouth watering gujarati dishes like Khichu, Bhel, Kachori, Pakodi, Chana mix, etc to spicy chinese and smacks. It has gross of a places to sit and eat. The only concern if i were any other person is to take care of the places of proper hygiene and prevent excess eating. Apart from these the area also has a Jaldhara water park sharing the compound and round the year football ground which hosts a varied amount of processions and festivals throughout the year ranging from semi annual Circus, dussehra, marriages and many a public exhibitions.

If i were you and were coming to Ahmedabad for the first time, i wouldn’t want to miss out this place. Not because this place has things which are unique, in some ways they aren’t but because it represents the spirit of Ahmedabadi and gujarati in whole.

Pin wheels

PS: No exaggeration here about the facts, others’ are just personal opinions.   If you do plan to come up anytime soon, dont ring me ‘coz i have been here 4 times in the past fortnight!!

d dAMAN drAma…

Wind Turbine Generator Unit, Daman

Hi…

After a long hibernation; while most was unintentional, it also attributes to being lazy enough to write; i am back to ahmedabad and normacy.

Just came back from Daman.

Wait on!!!

Its not what people think. I don’t booze!  neither was it some spoiled time out. I had been to training to daman for a fortnight, and returned last night itself after an interesting and captivating industrial training at SUZLON ENERGY LTD.

Well those who do not know about it or what i did there, let me enlighten you!

SUZLON is basically wind energy production company, which produces windmills, establishes wind farms across the world. It thus produces renewable energy and is 5th largest in the world.

Daman Evening

So there i was, sweating it out in the hot afternoons, in its Wind turbine Generator unit, dunetha. It was a really interesting experience as i got my first hand knowledge on how they assemble different parts, what their functions are, the testing, operation controls, safety, quality assurance, procurement and specifications and ofcourse the company administration. I think Bulsara would be quite happy to note, that i did understand practically his theories on personnel management, company guidelines, etc.

Beach house

But apart from the training, daman is infact nothing else but a tourist place. Actually, its not even a tourist place, but for the different hotels and resorts. With its substandard social developments, poor administration and extremely poor beaches. Apart from Jampore beach in moti daman, all others are worth going to the dogs and infact are infested by these dogs, litter, sewage line, puking here and there, horse shit, etc. One cant bear it and seriously someone come up from the city and complain to the administration.

From what knowledge i got, its a haven for the industrial sector, with a lot of exciting reliefs and schemes for industrialists by the Union territory norms or the Central Government. As a result of this, i wonder, only resorts and factories can be seen in the area. Ofcourse one can always see the liquor shops which are there in plenty.

Illustrious beach

All in all, its not an exciting place to estivate, neither to reside. Daman is best and would be only be best for its boozing weekends for frustrated Gujjus and marathis.

There and Back Again.. !!

Hmm.. I have been thinking from sometime where to start? It doesnt happen often when i don’t realise where to start what to say. But alas i got the hold of the Horse’s mouth.

So There and back again. I am going back to the place which inspires me the most. The place i have visited on all the important occasions of my really mumbling, quiescent life.

Tommorow as the clock ticks 5, as the sun gets into a countdown to show itself and as the cock wakes up, I will be on the gas to Nathdwara (Shrinathji).

Going there, waiting in a long echelon of devotees, fighting to have the first glance of the LORD, and actually feeling we are something in this whole lively place called EARTH. Its a Blissful experiance i must say. The environment there is blaringly Peaceful. I don’t know whether you would understand it.

Nathdwara is also in my “Most awaited visiting places” because I get the oppurtunity to enhance on my collection of Keychains(The Story needs justice so next time) and
ofcourse the Fafda kadhi of the place. The Hot Morning Mint Tea followed by melting ‘Poha’ nd finally the Fafda. This is known as FOOD PARADISE….

Chai Garam !!!

You won’t understand until you experience it. My friend who fully opposes my view says the place is so fussy and crowded, you barely need space to breathe. Maybe, thats right. But i always wonder when i go there, “Why would more than 10,000 people come everyday just to see the half a millennium old deity’s statue.” Well the answer lies in this vivid experience of mine.

“The devotees were just waiting for the slightest glint of movement of the silver made door. All stacked in the Moti mahal. It suddenly opened. A roar erupted,”BOL JAI SHRI GIRIRAJ DHARAN KI JAI !!! and the caravan plundered the floors to enter the room to try and manage to barely if possible get a view of HIM.” There a business man was carrying his Grandson on his shoulders, shouted out the name of the deity. Everyone joined. After that the names echoed the whole place with different names of the deity which would even send sensations through the white marbled linings. After this HE himself is forced to give his Darshan one more time after the partitions is closed. THIS IS THE LOVE & FAITH THE DEVOTEES BRING…”