Picturesque Rajasthan

 Journey to the romantic paradise Rajasthan with its magnificent forts, aesthetic palaces, artistic temples, vibrant textiles, and immense deserts is mesmerizing. The rustic charm of the well-preserved culture gives a real picture of the bygone era in Rajasthan. Dry and arid land comes alive with bright coloured dresses and sparkling trinkets. The rugged environs yet inviting culture make it a tourist paradise. The architectural wonders and the number of tourists visiting the place uphold the pride of people in their culture.

 

While driving through the long stretches of arid land, one sees habitation. The indistinguishable pink-coloured shops and houses, lined on either side of the road, impart the Pink City, its unique feature. Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Amber Fort, trademark blue pottery, and its regalia of precious stones market are some of the treasures of Jaipur. 

 

 The iconic Hawa Mahal, a spectacular palace of breeze overlooking the busy Bazaar, is an artisan’s masterpiece with its over nine hundred sandstone latticed jharokhas emitting sunlight all over the place. The small windows of the façade and the cooling effects in the chambers show the mastery of the architects. The sunlight glimmering out of the colored glass looks enchanting. The fountains enhance the beauty of the place. The Jal Mahal, built in the eighteenth century and located amidst the Man Sagar Lake overlooked by the Nahargarh Fort, is an architectural masterpiece that was used by the royals for duck shootings. The charm of the city is still alive and appreciated by one and all.

 

Meherangarh Fort in Jodhpur is an architectural marvel atop a steep hill, commands rugged mountains, valleys, and the Blue City. The cooling blue color, a mix of the local limestone and indigo, is painted all over the city. One enters the fascinating world of the fort by the captivating music of the colorfully attired folk singers. Darbare Aam, Sringar Chowk, and Seesh Mahal in the fort complex are the work of great artisans. One cannot miss visiting the splendor of Umaid Bhawan Palace and museum with its lush greenery and glorious history.  

 Standing tall like a citadel in the middle of Thar Desert, intricately designed interiors, antique Jain temples, yellow sandstone Havelis, and a narrow winding bazaar full of artifacts is the Jaisalmer fort. Nature is merging beautifully with glorious history. Velour becomes a synonym of Rajasthani people when you hear the accounts of numerous battles. This fort has always remained in the limelight, initially built for security purposes, later its importance in trade, and now as a tourist destination. The Jain temples inside the fort, built in Dilwara style, are divine creations. This golden fort gleams like melting gold on sunset.

 On the outskirts of the Jaisalmer is a haunted village Kuldhara, abandoned overnight some three hundred years ago. The legend has it one of the ministers of the king wanted to marry the girl from this village, which was unacceptable by the people. They overnight left to an undisclosed destination. The eerie silence in the temple amongst rows of half-built houses makes one believe the saga.

 The sunset in the massive recurring dunes towards the border of the state has magnetism, a perfect way to conclude a memorable trip. The Sun and sand merging at the horizon look divine. The moonlit silvery dunes with musical performances add an aura of romanticism to this desert state.

 The experience in this spell-binding place will reverberate and reside forever in memory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                            

   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.