With God's Grace, at God's Place
People enjoy visiting so many places to have a very posh and lavish holiday, and so do I. For a change, I decided to go the place which devotees visit and inhabit in large numbers. This time a religious travel bug bit me and took me to Haridwar, the abode of the Ganges.
Trains and flights have become a part of quotidian travel. I decided to break the monotony and take a long road trip with authentic dhabas laying in wait for us. Sitting on a khaat and sipping a cup of ginger tea with an air of excitement surrounding me made enthusiasm bubble even more vigorously within me.
Our car cruised along the broad jet black passable roads lined with tall trees and photogenic fields waving gaily in the pleasant breeze. I guess I will be very contented if we ever had a trip to and fro Haridwar!
After a 5-hour long road trip, we finally reached Haridwar. This is such a devout place that one should never have a stopover in hotels. When you have the city sprinkled with spiritual aashrams, why waste money on a so-so hotel having all the facilities and luxurious rooms; which kill the feeling of a sanctified destination! One can enjoy the regular kirtans and bhajans and get swept away in the reverence of a rapt audience, in deep devotion, as you surrender yourself to the Lord Almighty. Following the same notion, we stopped at Sarv Darshan Aashram. There were ducks and swans in a pond and the sight of the later gave a feeling of serenity and subtleness as it is far away from the tedium of the workaday world. A gaushala welcomed us the moment we entered this aashram. The milk is milked from the cows and directly sent to all rooms and is had freshly boiled, free from adulteration.
After the fun-filled but exceedingly tiring trip after which you literally want to hit the sheets and fall into a deep slumber, anyone would recommend you take a holy dip in Ganga. Now that would be extremely absurd; you come to Her residence and don’t have a good dip! It is said that you should submerge yourself in the river as much as you feel tired. Your lengthy list of sins and filth is torn away into pieces by the venerable Ganga. Mind you, the ground on the banks is scorching hot, enough to make one yelp and jump half a meter high. My younger sister was scuttling around the place like a wild mouse set off on seeing a cat! At a single glance, one can see thousands of people dipping into the river with their faces glowing with reverence. When we entered the water, we came in contact with electrifyingly freezing water which made a screech escape from my throat. The chilliness of the water might sting your skin and raise goose bumps; you might not have an inch of devotional feeling in you, but as you get used to it, you feel the serenity and subtleness flowing along with the water getting embedded in your soul. An unprecedented feeling of cleanliness and satisfaction creeps to one’s heart. I would tag this activity as a part of a traveller’s bucket list as well as one of the must-dos before you die.
After the great bath, we went straight back to the aashram and hit the hay, dozing off to sleep as soon our heads touched the pillow.
The jolly dip in the holy river had charged our batteries for the day ahead. The electric charges had done the work by filling us with double enthusiasm and energy, which is the only component required for the glorious Ganga Aarti. Yes, this was our next planned activity and a special highlight of north India. The true spiritual behaviour and manner of India are vividly displayed in here. Tourists from all over the length and breadth of India visit Haridwar to be a part of this Aarti.
The Ganga Aarti begins at 7 in the evening when the sun has majestically settled over this town, and the sky resembles a painter’s canvass, where the painter has been playing with the shades of the sky; which adds on to the beauty of the Aarti. We saw an ocean of people at the bank of the Ganges and the bridges. The main bridge is the vantage points to view this magnificent view. Being comfort-seekers, we arrived at a bridge ahead of time to steer clear of the people and take a good spot on the bridge. Anyways, there is nothing to worry about if you are in a dense spot as the crowd is always innocuous and calm, as this place floods with devotees.
The Aarti initially begins in a dark-roofed temple with a spectacular statue of the Ganges. Proceedings inside are displayed on really big LCD screen to prevent the hundreds of people getting stuffed inside so that the temple doesn’t explode. This is also a plus point for all the short ones. So, my dear short readers here’s a message for you; the world is getting a better place and people care for others. This is the hospitality of our country, isn’t it? Well, coming back to the Aarti, a few minutes in the temple and then figures of orange with huge, tall stands with beautiful oil lamps or diyas mounted on each shelf start swarming out of the temple, onto the banks of the river. The people light oil lamps in dry leaf bowls and let flow away with the currents of the sanctified waters of the river. Very soon, the river is bedecked with lamps with flickering flames, at the sight of which one’s mood lights up at once. The vista created -people far away in the Land of Devotion; priests, waving the enormous stands, not caring of the heat blaring at them- fills one’s heart with strong and everlasting faith and emotion. I suppose the teeming devotion with which they are indulged in the activity gives them strength to withstand the heat.
The Ganga Aarti lasts only for 15 minutes but leaves a profound impact on one’s soul forever. It was an enlightening experience.
We were super-duper hungry and were craving for some masaledaar food, for I reside in Hyderabad and my taste buds have been looking for the typical north Indian food. I don’t say idli-dosa is not good as I am always happy to eat it, being a foodie. But the lustful desire that eats away inside me whenever I look at the photographs of Dal Makhani and Paneer Butter Masala is simply unbearable. We then went to a restaurant must-dos- I don’t remember as I was very busy in gorging the awesome food. There was a huge business group of foreigners who were doubtlessly having the time of their life. After all, this is Uttar Pradesh and here the cooks are master of all the cooks and their savouries are simply delightful and are known for real Indian food. Also, the Indian snacks are a special highlight. Mouths water instantly on entering a roadside shop selling freshly fried piping hot samosas and kachoris, when the aroma wafts finding its way to your nose, don't they?
Haridwar is a very meagre destination but the place but the place is so well packed with everything, that if ever visited once, you get the complete flavour and feel of India. Also, I would like to add Ganga snaan as one of the must-dos before you die!
Trains and flights have become a part of quotidian travel. I decided to break the monotony and take a long road trip with authentic dhabas laying in wait for us. Sitting on a khaat and sipping a cup of ginger tea with an air of excitement surrounding me made enthusiasm bubble even more vigorously within me.
Our car cruised along the broad jet black passable roads lined with tall trees and photogenic fields waving gaily in the pleasant breeze. I guess I will be very contented if we ever had a trip to and fro Haridwar!
After a 5-hour long road trip, we finally reached Haridwar. This is such a devout place that one should never have a stopover in hotels. When you have the city sprinkled with spiritual aashrams, why waste money on a so-so hotel having all the facilities and luxurious rooms; which kill the feeling of a sanctified destination! One can enjoy the regular kirtans and bhajans and get swept away in the reverence of a rapt audience, in deep devotion, as you surrender yourself to the Lord Almighty. Following the same notion, we stopped at Sarv Darshan Aashram. There were ducks and swans in a pond and the sight of the later gave a feeling of serenity and subtleness as it is far away from the tedium of the workaday world. A gaushala welcomed us the moment we entered this aashram. The milk is milked from the cows and directly sent to all rooms and is had freshly boiled, free from adulteration.
After the fun-filled but exceedingly tiring trip after which you literally want to hit the sheets and fall into a deep slumber, anyone would recommend you take a holy dip in Ganga. Now that would be extremely absurd; you come to Her residence and don’t have a good dip! It is said that you should submerge yourself in the river as much as you feel tired. Your lengthy list of sins and filth is torn away into pieces by the venerable Ganga. Mind you, the ground on the banks is scorching hot, enough to make one yelp and jump half a meter high. My younger sister was scuttling around the place like a wild mouse set off on seeing a cat! At a single glance, one can see thousands of people dipping into the river with their faces glowing with reverence. When we entered the water, we came in contact with electrifyingly freezing water which made a screech escape from my throat. The chilliness of the water might sting your skin and raise goose bumps; you might not have an inch of devotional feeling in you, but as you get used to it, you feel the serenity and subtleness flowing along with the water getting embedded in your soul. An unprecedented feeling of cleanliness and satisfaction creeps to one’s heart. I would tag this activity as a part of a traveller’s bucket list as well as one of the must-dos before you die.
After the great bath, we went straight back to the aashram and hit the hay, dozing off to sleep as soon our heads touched the pillow.
The jolly dip in the holy river had charged our batteries for the day ahead. The electric charges had done the work by filling us with double enthusiasm and energy, which is the only component required for the glorious Ganga Aarti. Yes, this was our next planned activity and a special highlight of north India. The true spiritual behaviour and manner of India are vividly displayed in here. Tourists from all over the length and breadth of India visit Haridwar to be a part of this Aarti.
The Ganga Aarti begins at 7 in the evening when the sun has majestically settled over this town, and the sky resembles a painter’s canvass, where the painter has been playing with the shades of the sky; which adds on to the beauty of the Aarti. We saw an ocean of people at the bank of the Ganges and the bridges. The main bridge is the vantage points to view this magnificent view. Being comfort-seekers, we arrived at a bridge ahead of time to steer clear of the people and take a good spot on the bridge. Anyways, there is nothing to worry about if you are in a dense spot as the crowd is always innocuous and calm, as this place floods with devotees.
The Aarti initially begins in a dark-roofed temple with a spectacular statue of the Ganges. Proceedings inside are displayed on really big LCD screen to prevent the hundreds of people getting stuffed inside so that the temple doesn’t explode. This is also a plus point for all the short ones. So, my dear short readers here’s a message for you; the world is getting a better place and people care for others. This is the hospitality of our country, isn’t it? Well, coming back to the Aarti, a few minutes in the temple and then figures of orange with huge, tall stands with beautiful oil lamps or diyas mounted on each shelf start swarming out of the temple, onto the banks of the river. The people light oil lamps in dry leaf bowls and let flow away with the currents of the sanctified waters of the river. Very soon, the river is bedecked with lamps with flickering flames, at the sight of which one’s mood lights up at once. The vista created -people far away in the Land of Devotion; priests, waving the enormous stands, not caring of the heat blaring at them- fills one’s heart with strong and everlasting faith and emotion. I suppose the teeming devotion with which they are indulged in the activity gives them strength to withstand the heat.
The Ganga Aarti lasts only for 15 minutes but leaves a profound impact on one’s soul forever. It was an enlightening experience.
We were super-duper hungry and were craving for some masaledaar food, for I reside in Hyderabad and my taste buds have been looking for the typical north Indian food. I don’t say idli-dosa is not good as I am always happy to eat it, being a foodie. But the lustful desire that eats away inside me whenever I look at the photographs of Dal Makhani and Paneer Butter Masala is simply unbearable. We then went to a restaurant must-dos- I don’t remember as I was very busy in gorging the awesome food. There was a huge business group of foreigners who were doubtlessly having the time of their life. After all, this is Uttar Pradesh and here the cooks are master of all the cooks and their savouries are simply delightful and are known for real Indian food. Also, the Indian snacks are a special highlight. Mouths water instantly on entering a roadside shop selling freshly fried piping hot samosas and kachoris, when the aroma wafts finding its way to your nose, don't they?
Haridwar is a very meagre destination but the place but the place is so well packed with everything, that if ever visited once, you get the complete flavour and feel of India. Also, I would like to add Ganga snaan as one of the must-dos before you die!
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