Amarnathji Yatra 2012.

The toughest Yatra of them all – the Amarnath Yatra – the Hindu Annual Pilgrimage of Lord ‘Shiva Linga’ is here, beckoning all the strong-willed on a spiritual journey all the way up to13,000 feet altitude to the 130-foot high Amarnath Cave where the ice Shiva Linga naturally forms every year. The Amarnath Cave is set amidst snowy Kashmiri mountains where the air loses its oxygen count at -5⁰ Celsius.

Amarnath Yatra is open for 37 days this year between 25 June and 2 August. Registrations – online and over the counter are open. On-spot registrations are also possible.

Visiting the Amarnath Cave is practically an adventure sport in itself as it entails strenuous trekking-trails through challenging rocky, verdant and snowy mountainous terrain and camping in the mountain wilderness. Involving 50 kilometres of near-vertical mountain-climb and spanning 4 days (one way) is this mother-of-all-Yatras for Hindus all over the world.

The base camps for this Yatra are Chandanwari and Baltal. Both these places are approached via Jammu. The routes being:

1.    Jammu > Pahalgam (315 kms from Jammu to Pahalgam) > Chandanwari > Pissu Top > Sheshnag > Panchtarni > Amarnath Cave – 50 kms from Chandanwari to the Holy Cave.

2.    Jammu > Udhampur > Patnitop > Kud > Ramban > Banihal > Qazigund > Anantnag > Srinagar > Baltal (414 kms from Jammu to Baltal) > Amarnath Cave – 14 kms from Baltal to the Holy Cave.

Pilgrims can also complete this Yatra in a shorter span by availing of the Helicopter rides which start at Pahalgam and at Baltal and back. Ponies are another alternative for people who can’t walk or fly in Helicopters.

6, 34,000 people from all over India and the world visited Amarnath Yatra in 2011 – the highest ever!

Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department along with the Bhole Bhandari Charitable Trust are gearing up for more visitors in 2012. Registration Counters have been increased from 149 to 274 counter and additional tent-accommodation facilities are underway – being freely offered by Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department, Bhole Bhandari Charitable Trust and many other non-Government Charitable Organizations. Helicopter fare from Pahalgam and Baltal to Amarnath Cave has been slashed by 40% in order to make it more convenient for aged pilgrims who are daring this Yatra these days. Security has been revved up along the route to make it naturally safe for the pilgrims.

The one thing that is reiterated as mandatory by the Shrine Board is a fitness test and a medical certificate issued by Registered Medical Practitioner for the pilgrim, without which, the pilgrim is not allowed on the Yatra as 107 pilgrims lost their lives due to Cardiac arrest on Amarnath Yatra in 2011 and the Shrine Board is concerned for the safety of the pilgrims. So, take this seriously people.

Besides the Darshan of the Shiva Linga in Amarnath Cave, the amazing aspect of this Yatra is the route to the Holy Amarnath Cave which is awesome and overwhelming and gives a sample of the glorious Kashmir terrain. And reciting what my colleague recently taught me - Bol Har Har Mahadev!

Pix courtesy Wikipedia & Amarnathjiyatra.

Mother's Day - the day of the Juggler !

That day of ‘Saluting your Mom’ is here people and I hope you’re all set to make it ‘special’ for her. With just a couple of days to count down to Mother’s Day this weekend, take your hand off the panic button and breathe, as this pointer aims at giving you not just directions but also the ‘soul of celebrating’ Mother’s Day.

First let’s define ‘special’ before we decide on how to make it special for your mom. A popular survey conducted last year among moms asking them what they wanted for Mother’s Day revealed startling facts about how moms define the words ‘special day’. Here are excerpts:

§  Majority wanted an ‘NQA Day’ – a ‘no-questions-asked-day’. They just wanted to be left to themselves where they do their own thing without having to check with family first or give explanations later. When asked what they would do in that time, a big chunk of them said they wanted to stay in bed all morning and have breakfast in bed; get a facial, manicure, pedicure, and massage done at a parlour; meet friends over lunch at a fancy restaurant; stroll in malls and do some mindless shopping; watch a movie of their choice; and quickly return home and cuddle-up in bed and read magazines and take a nap. Some even wished that their homes got sorted and tidied-up before they returned home. Get the idea? The ladies want rest.

§  Some moms just wanted to be relieved of their glorified life-long careers of the ‘CEO of the household’ for a day: which meant no waking up at dawn and cooking for the whole family; no setting the ball rolling for everyone in the house early morning; no decisions to be made regarding what food to be cooked or what chores to done for the day; no packing your lunch; no dropping-off kids or grand kids at school; no entertaining your guests by cooking ‘maa ke haath ka mazedaar khaana’; no watering the plants and walking your dogs which she didn’t want in the first place. Basically, she wants ‘Time-Out’ from the daily grind.

§  Many moms wanted to be treated like a Queen. They wanted to be pampered and be made the centre of all your family’s attention for the day. They wanted to be hugged and spoken to. They wanted gifts, gift-coupons, flowers, chauffeur-driven car for the day, some spending-cash, lunch with friends and dinner with family – both in plush 5-star hotels. These ladies have got style.

§  Few moms wanted quality family-time - with all cell-phones off! Family meets at the end of the day in the living room; laze around talking about everything; browsing through photos shot recently when on a vacation or on a business-holiday; discuss important decisions to be taken collectively as a family; eat some nice home-delivered food; take photos together; invite close friends and relatives. Some moms also wanted their siblings and parents invited to the home-dinner. Craving for quality family-time says there isn’t enough of it right now. So get the drift.

§  And some said – and this is interesting – they wanted to do something different and be someplace different. They are talking different latitudes people.

Nett nett….your mom has a mind and choice of her own. On this day, let her have her way.

You can now fairly figure-out your mom and make a fairly good decision as to - what to gift your mom on Mother’s Day?

And as for moms who want to do something different and be someplace different – gift them the much-needed holiday. You could top it up with an extra ticket for her dearly beloved or her dear friend.

Here are a few suggestions:

1.    If your mom’s an adventure-seeker and has the knees and lungs for it then explore this.

       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/adventure-places-in-india.aspx

2.    If your mom would give an arm and a leg to visit her favourite Temple / Church / Mosque but just can’t get time or family to go with then check these options.

      http://www.hoparoundindia.com/religious-places-in-india.aspx

3.    If sea beaches and rivers excite her then this is where she ought to go.       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/water-gateways-in-india.aspx

4.    If she’s one with a green thumb and loves serenity and cool climate, this should be your pick.

       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/hill-stations-in-india.aspx

5.    If you want to surprise her with the real wildlife other than the ‘wildlife’ she feels she's got at home then….here you go.

      http://www.hoparoundindia.com/wild-life-in-india.aspx

6.    If she digs history and anthropology then send her here with a map and a spade.

       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/historical-places-in-india.aspx

7.    If your mom explicitly prides the national heritage all the time then plenty of options here.

       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/heritage-places-in-india.aspx

8.    If your mom seeks no-stress – no-plan simple relaxation outdoors then here are some options spreading across different types of landscapes and altitudes.

       http://www.hoparoundindia.com/picnic-in-india.aspx

So let’s get two things straight - the words ‘special day’ mean differently to different people. And your mom’s special day need not involve you or your family in it. And let’s be ok with that coz we’re in ALL of the rest of the days of the year.

The grand question here is – do we pack all the goodies in one day (which by the way lasts just 15 hours tops from day-break to her shut-eye time) or can we as a family take away few daily-tasks from her and clear out her calendar all year long and give some of her life back to her? She’s also got a life you know! Let’s help her live it up folks!

Cheers to Moms!

Panchala

Today my fond memories are taking me back to my maternal grandparents’ place, where my beloved mother grew up in the midst of greenery and water all around.

After gaining senses, I first visited the place when I was just 5 years old. I still remember the day though it is little faded, I was very happy and jumping around when my mother and father were packing the baggage and beddings; I suppose a day before the journey.

The day of the journey in Allahabad station, I was amazed to see so many trains whistling and the people all around. We boarded the train in the evening and reached Howrah station of West Bengal the next day afternoon. From the station we took a bus to reach our place named Panchala. From the bus stop we took cycle rickshaw to go to our grandparents’ house.

When we reached there almost all relatives of mine along with their neighbors came out to greet us with open arms. Initially I was taken aback seeing so many people around hugging and kissing me. It was almost dawn by then.

Next day my real adventure started when my elder cousins took me around the village, plucking flowers and fruits from different plants and trees. The sights which really appealed me were the ponds encircled by coconut trees. There were many fish moving around in the ponds and so I was little scared to put my feet in the water.

After that visit we visited the place once in every 2 to 3 years in my summer or winter vacations. Here the day used to start with the breakfast of Muri(raw rice roasted in sand ) with coconut sweet or Tele Bhaja (Pakoris) . Then the real fun time used to start, I used to roam all around the village with my cousins going to different houses of the locality. To my surprise most of the houses were having their own ponds named after the family surnames. None of us had watch with us but the biological clock of our body that is tinge of hunger and physical surrounding of people taking bath in the ponds used to remind us of lunch time.

In lunch most of the days, fish fry and fish curries were served along with plateful of rice and a bowl of dal with potato fry. After lunch each day my grandmother used to serve us with cool and sweet water of tender coconut, which I used to relish the most. These coconuts were not bought, they were dropped from the trees in our backyard each morning. 

In the evening after getting dressed, we used to go either to the village market or play in the big play ground, which was also beside a big pond. Sometimes our elder cousins used to take us  little further inside the village, where I witnessed  beetle leaf plantation and the huts made with mud and plastered with cow dung, having a thatched roof dry coconut leaves.

This place was like a different world to me, after going from Allahabad where I could hardly see any coconut trees or ponds except the river Ganga. This place was like the scenery drawn by me looking at the posters or the books.  

Panchala is situated near Ulluberia in Howrah district but it takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour from Howrah station by bus or taxi. This place is very famous for Kali Puja, which is celebrated every year with lots of devotion. People from different places visit this place during this time. They even perform the ritual of goat sacrifice, which I could never witness due to large crowd and my dislike to the ritual. The village is even famous for its Muggum work on saris, done by the Muslim craftsmen of the village.

When Man Goes For Mangoes

Mussoorie located near Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand state may be famous for all the good reasons as man goes to escape the summer and see many of its attractions like the Camel Back, the Mall Road, Kempty Falls, Bhatta Falls and Jharipani Falls…but as far as I am concerned Mussoorie is a Mango retreat for me. This small pretty hill station was just a hop for me and my friends during my younger days in Dehradun. The scorching summers of May month were just over and with all entrance exams done with…I along with my four friends got on to 2 bikes (triples are allowed) and headed towards Mussoorie to stay at Christ Church which had a dormitory (the dormitory doesn’t exist anymore ) behind it for 2 days. The parish priest knew me so accommodation was never an issue for only me but wasn’t sure for my friends.

Once we were out of Dehradun city limits we got on to the steep climb of Old Mussoorie Road and as we were nearing the MDDA Park enroute down came a hail storm from nowhere, we stopped our bikes and ran for shelter under the nearest tree. The storm was so intense that within no time we saw a volley of Mangoes (half ripe, full ripe and not ripe) falling along with the hails, we couldn’t believe it. None of us moved to pick up any of the mangoes as we thought somebody might be playing a prank with us because there wasn’t a single mango tree insight…but it was for real. The hails stopped falling but the mangoes didn’t. The storm stopped as we started to feel that we are standing in a ‘Mango Ki Mandi’. Each one of us ran (of course totally drenched) and started filling our haversacks with as many mangoes as possible before anyone could check us. We filled our shirts, jackets, bikes and what not with mangoes and more mangoes…took a ‘U’ turn and drove back to Dehradun.

So, remember Mussoorie is not just a place to escape the summer heat but also for free mangoes provided a mango storm takes you by surprise.