Come spring, come Srinagar beseeches you

“Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin asto” (If there is heaven on earth it is here, it is here, it is here), exclaimed Emperor Jahangir when he visited the valley. He must have surely sojourned during spring.

After the dreary and cold winter comes the refreshing spring, the emerald green -grass emerges from the melting snow, refreshed after a long wintry sleep. One look at the emerald green meadows is soothing to the eye and refreshing to the mind. Everywhere there is a riot of colour-the dancing daffodils, majestic tulips, and eye-catching irises, smiling pansies, the vibrant roses, and the lively dianthus. The dainty daisies and the dandelions are smiling through the ground. The pristine natural beauty of Srinagar, with its indulging landscape, gushing water springs, and misty air, gives one sense of peace. William Wordsworth’s poem comes to mind,

“I wandered lonely as a cloud,

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

 Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

 Fluttering and dancing in the breeze”.

Drooping willows and the young leaves of the poplar dancing to the orchestration of sun and wind takes one’s breath away. The majestic chinar trees swaying in unison are enchanting. The apple, almond, apricot, and cherry trees are bursting with blossoms adding charm to the magnum opus of the Supreme Being. Nature has woken up, refreshed after a long spell of cold winter with its rainbow colours. Birds and butterflies are cherishing the sparkle of spring and are out enjoying it. It is as if all the elements of nature are in play to complete the symphony of nature. The intoxicating fragrance of night flowers hangs low and heavy in the dense night air is blessings from above.

 This vibrancy of nature reflects in humans. They are joyous, relaxed, and in tune with nature. This cheerfulness is shared by young and old in their way. From morning walkers to joggers to people going to work or those enjoying the walks in the late afternoon sun, there is a sense of refreshment on their faces. 

 

The Jhelum River with Dal Lake and the beautiful Mughal gardens surrounded by the Zabarwan Range of the Himalayas with Shankracharya temple on a hilltop add to the jewels in the crown of Srinagar. The serene waters of the Dal Lake dotted with quaint houseboats, flowers laden shikaras is a sight to behold. Badamwari and Baisakhi mark the onset of spring. The festivals bring the people to the world-famous gardens along the Dal Lake.

Shalimar Bagh, created by Emperor Jahangir for his wife Noor Jahan, is a work a genius with its gardens laid out along the shady trees and fountains. The Nishat Bagh, planned by  Asaf Khan, is a spectacular garden around the Dal Lake.

Emperor Shah Jahan’s Chasmeshai Garden is a picturesque place with freshwater springs, fountains, layered gardens full of vibrant flowers. 

New era Tulip garden with rows and rows of brilliant tulips is a tourist spectacle.

 Cheerful people in the gardens remind one of the famous poet Rumi’s words, this outward spring and garden are a reflection of the inward garden. Srinagar truly is a sublime, resplendent city.

 

Spring, a season of hope and renewal, brings in the optimism of the return of peace to the valley. The guns and the gory bloodshed are not only against man but violate the tenets of bountiful and magnificent nature. The locals have renewed hope each year with the onset of spring that their lives will be free from brutality and filled with contentment.

 

 

 

                                

 

 

 

                      GRATITUDE 

RAPPORT CHANGER PANDEMIC

 

               RAPPORT CHANGER PANDEMIC

 

Envisage September 2019. Could you have imagined staying at home for so long as we are doing today? Schools, markets, offices shut down. No air, road, or rail traffic. Would you have believed in maintaining social distancing, wearing masks while stepping out? At the beginning of the pandemic, everything seemed devastating, mind-boggling, and a nightmare. Slowly everyone started getting used to the new normal.

Pandemic has made us pause and rethink our priorities, particularly in relationships. It is an erudition. Any disturbance, isolation due to the crisis is preparing us to regulate and re-evaluate our lives to decipher which habit and relationships we want to embrace and which we want to abandon. Our resilience, optimism, and mindfulness will aid us in getting through this pandemic.

This exceptional social occurrence has had significant ramifications on our relations. Crisis experts maintain that in pandemic times, society gets exposed and it tears open the fabric of familiarity to divulge a new world. Relationships transform due to our existing situation. Social relations will improve or get worse is a question as we are social beings, and we need to meet people and communicate. Keep the channel of communication open with everyone around you, a prerequisite for a healthy living. Lockdown has either strengthened the families or has lead to stress and agony. The bond of the family and the individual strength plays a crucial role in this aspect. Families with a strong bond will emerge stronger. On the other hand, families with weaker bonds will disintegrate, resulting in conflict and abuse.

The pandemic has given rise to fear of disastrous possibilities. This haziness is scary with the uncertainty of the future. Meditation clears our cobwebs and comes to our aid in dealing with the stress. Healthy eating and exercise are equally important.

There is a sense of gratitude amongst people who have means of sustenance in these difficult times, are helping the needy in whatever ways they can.  Pandemic has given rise to a sense of community like never before. How people are going all out to help the needy is beyond imagination.

Working from home, online classes is the new normal. Most people have learned and adjusted to be at home with everyone 24/7 for long periods.

We are exploring our passions, prioritizing our dreams, goals, and health. Learning new hobbies or reviving old ones, spending quality time with the family playing board games, painting, etc. It is making us realize our capabilities and fulfill long lost aspirations.

The elderly who are staying alone have expanded their horizons. They have learned to connect with their friends and family through technology.

It is difficult for children to be in this time on online studying and interacting with friends and school virtually. It is the parent’s job to make it easier for them. Children are resilient and are wired to cope. The positive is that we can spend quality time with them.  I enjoy my daily cup of green tea with my teenage daughter  during a break in online classes. I feel we are connecting better and are enriching the connection.

We need to be connected with our core values and learn that it is okay to be disappointed. It is a litmus test; we will lose some relationships and gain some. Some will get bogged down with the stress. If they are worth keeping, they will come around. We have built good relationships with our neighbors and rekindled relationships with school mates. At times you become friends in extraordinary circumstances with the most unexpected people. For many, the pandemic has led to new bonds of friendship.

 It is a learning opportunity. We have to build our resilience and emerge tougher. We should be optimistic and remember better times will follow.

 

                     INTRIGUING PRAYAGRAJ

As our car entered the dust-laden, congested lanes of Prayagraj, it felt like any other old city at a first glance. But this is a mirage to the real city. As one explores it further, one sees the remnants and charm of rich history, the intricate designs of the churches, the fort, the old schools, the temples. The enthralling Sangam is a visual treat with its vast expanse of merging waters of the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. This city has a discernible rich past dating back to Ramayana with the ancient Akshayavat tree, the Ashoka Pillar, the Allahabad Fort, Khusro Bagh, Chandrashekhar Azad Park, and the Anand Bhavan. 

 

The ancient Havelis with impressively carved balconies, intricately designed temples, aesthetic churches are fascinating and inspire one to explore further. They speak of the glorious era gone by. These mute structures are emanating a time of yore. History lingers in the old houses like a long twilight, and the houses have aged with grace. Here the past is casually entwined with the present. The old and the new are so linked that they are living harmoniously. The ancient structures speak of the architecture, way of life, and tales of velour of the era gone by. The names of places like Dhobi Chauraha, Paltan Gali, Roshan Bagh, and Chowk speak about life lived a long time ago. 

 

 Khusrau Bagh with its attractive walled gardens, ornate carvings, and the three sandstone mausoleums present an exquisite example of Mughal architecture. All Saints Church (Pathar Girija) built in the gothic style is a major tourist attraction.

 

Majestic Allahabad fort with a medieval architecture built by the Mughal emperor Akbar on the banks of Triveni is a sight to behold. The mesmerizing Yamuna and Ganga shining in the moonlight and the imposing fort standing like a guiding force is spellbinding. The whole atmosphere is gripping as it brings out the ingenuity and makes an ordinary person a poet. The tranquil atmosphere near the indestructible Akshayawat tree within the fort premises is meditative. It is comforting just to sit there and watch the flowing Ganga. The Fort also houses the Saraswati Kund, source of the river Saraswati. The imposing Ashoka Pillar, in the fort complex, is a testimony of the era gone by.

The world’s largest religious congregation, Kumbh Mela at the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati, is an occurrence in itself. The Mela is a mélange of religious activities. Shahi Snan at sunrise in Sangam is a mystical lifetime escapade with multitudes of people taking a holy dip. Ganga arti at sunset with lights and chanting is a surreal experience. The whole place has a kaleidoscopic magical aura. It is a visual treat to watch birds in the merging waters at Sangam.

 

This sacred city also has an extensive tradition of learning. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Munshi Premchand, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Mahadevi Verma, Akbar Allahabadi, and many more writers, poets belonged to this city. Who can forget the famous Prime Ministers, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, and Chander Shekhar? The ancient magnificent building of the University known as the Oxford of the East was a learning center and continues to so though not on the same scale as earlier. In the early morning, it is common sight to observe people sitting in tea shops relishing the piping hot tea along with the quintessential newspaper and discussing world affairs. One of the first English dailies in India, The Pioneer, was published from this city. Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Laureate, worked at The Pioneer.

This city may have undergone a name change from Prayag to Allahabad to Prayagraj, but its character has remained the same.

With such rich history, no wonder Prayagraj has been important throughout history and continues to be so till today.

 

 

 

 

 

                                            GRATITUDE

                           

 

                 WALKING BENEDICTIONS

 “What a joy it is to feel the soft, springy earth under my feet once more, to follow grassy roads that lead to ferny brooks where I can bathe my fingers in a cataract of rippling notes, or to clamber over a stone wall into green fields that tumble and roll and climb in riotous gladness!” Helen Keller.

How true! While walking, one can revel in the true glory of nature, cherish the diverse colours of the sky, the splendor of the sea, the liveliness of flowers, and the grandeur of mountains.

 

 I started enjoying walking as a child during my summer vacation in Shimla and Kasauli. What a tremendous joy it is to hear the sweet songs of birds, see the soothing lush green foliage while out on a long walk in the hills! At that age, I never understood the benefits of walking and never bothered about it. It was just the sheer joy of discovering places leisurely on foot. I still reap the benefits of the seeds sown then, as I love to walk anywhere and any time of the day. When I was diagnosed with gastric reflux disease, walking benefited me more than any medicine.

 Apart from the utter joy of walking, it slows the aging process and increases the lifespan. It prevents the commencement of lifestyle diseases and helps an individual recuperate from diseases. Hippocrates rightly said, “Walking is a man’s best medicine.”  

Aristotle had most of his discussions while walking around Athens. For Bertrand Russell, prolific writer and thinker, walking was fundamental for his work. One can walk anywhere, any time and it is the simplest and easiest form of exercise for any age group. Walking briskly helps one accomplish advanced levels of fitness, leading to greater endurance and stamina. Muscles achieve greater definition, joints are lubricated and lung ability expands. All one needs is a pair of comfortable shoes and the will to step outside by putting one foot in front of the other. “Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it,” emphasizes Plato.

Several studies have confirmed the benefits of low intensity and high intensity walking. It helps in lowering bad cholesterol, raising good cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of diabetes, managing one’s weight, improving one’s mood, and helping one become strong and fit. It increases the strength and density of bones and also prevents osteoporosis. Research has proven that when you walk, your foot’s impact on the ground sends pressure waves through the arteries that increase blood flow to the brain.

 Our thought process becomes clear and we have an opportunity to rediscover ourselves.  “I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown; for going out, I found, I was really going in.” John Muir

Walking is linked to better cognitive function amongst individuals and helps in keeping the brain young and attentive. A walk in the countryside reduces stress, anxiety, and keeps depression at bay. It is a sure cure for a short temper. Frequent walkers experience an enhanced level of cheerfulness with the surge of dopamine. It is calming to stroll with friends enjoying nature and its wonders, dicovering and exploring places. Walking with umbrellas in the drizzling rain and enjoying a rainy day picnic will surely take the fatigue out of anyone. One sleeps better after a long walk, which helps energy to soar in turn prepares us to face the challenges of modern life.

 

 

 The creative process of any kind is enhanced by walking. Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher rightly says, “All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking,”

The creative juices start flowing after a good walk and one can reap the benefits immediately. This has been proved by various studies that creative levels were consistently higher for those walking compared to those sitting.

 So, “The sum of the whole is this: walk and be happy; walk and be healthy. The best way to lengthen out our days is to walk steadily and with a purpose,” Charles Dickens.