Trip to Vaishno Devi...

Reached back today morning at 5.00 a.m. Trip was as wonderful..did a nite journey and got down at Pathankot…then took another train and reached Jammu..looking at the city I found that it looks like a Volcano…I mean sleeping all the times and suddenly bursting out…anyways part of life…Reached Katra…and checked in a hotel. Started for the temple at 7.30 in the nite when it was dark. I thought of walking and some accompanied me while others took the horse to reach half way. 14 kms is the length of the stretch on the hill with a steep journey. First 3 kms were steeper than rest. After 3kms I realized that walking in a shoe was helping me only in getting blisters and shoebites on my feet. So decided to remove the shoes and walk barefoot. Rest 11 kms barefoot…there were many ppl barefoot..so that wasn’t unique…I decided not to wear a jacket or pullover to make it a tough one for myself..and at 12.30a.m I reached the temple with others…Cold icy breeze was enough to give me the idea of the toughness of the journey…After the Darshanam went to Bhairav temple(without visiting this temple the journey is not considered as complete) but we took a horse as we were short of time. We covered the whole journey in 12 hrs time…

Only thing which I hated was sitting on a horse..poor horse would have cried off when I sat but could not do anything…after getting down from horse I seriously apologized him and god…funny isn’t it...but I seriously felt bad…and worst of all after completing the whole yatra I wasn’t able to walk…wasn’t tired of walking but was tired of sitting on the horse….the lower part of body just did not move…I only know how I walked 2 kms to reach the rick stand…while coming back, I asked goddess “why this tough journey..is there any shortcut to have a meeting with u on one to one basis” but haven’t heard from her…seems like I am in a Queue and have to wait for some more time…jokes apart…but I wud not suggest anyone to sit on horse as the pain it cause is just not worth describing…try at ur own risk…

Then what finally were in train again and morning was in office..most ppl from the trip were absent but guess my body and energy level is stronger than others...i was in office at 12.00 and it takes 2 hrs to reach my office from my home…

Only thing I don’t understand is why god and goddesses preferred these mountains as their residence?? Tirupati Balaji, Vaishno Devi, Amarnaath…etc etc…and how did they manage to reach there without proper lights and roads…with lights also it wasn’t easy how without lights??? And how did they manage without wollens as I have never seen a single god’s pic/statue or portray with pullovers or jackets or sweaters.

But whatever I say, I saw so many things which will never go from my mind apart from the scenic beauty and the faith...i saw a person with just one leg and was climbing the hill with all his effort to visit the temple..i saw a newly wed couple in the wedding dress, going to take blessing from the goddess..i saw small kids walking faster than most of us in excitement to see the temple..i saw a dog..following the crowd to reach the temple..and mind u I saw the dog at 11th km also…I don’t know what drove him there..he wasn’t following anyone or was not chasing anybody…he was walking like any other worshipper..taking rest attimes..but at a constant speed…that’s something which I can not forget from this trip…that’s the faith which calls most of us…that’s something which is within most of us but some realize and some don’t. I never knew I could walk 14 km in hrs barefoot in the cold weather…will surely go if I get a second chance…

Going to Vaishno devi

vaishno devi, originally uploaded by ships.

Somethings never change with time and this something is my likings.

I am talking about exploring the places my dream to see my country in and out. This Friday I am going to Vaishno Devi..the most awaited trip of my life…Thankfully got a chanceJ. But heard that its very very cold out there so will have a tough time. Going with the office crowd and taking mom along with me. Next 2 months seems to be my months :) .After Vaishno Devi trip I have a working Sunday and then the last Sunday of the month I am planning to go to Banaras to attend a wedding but have not booked my tickets yet. Then Dec, this winters I will be flying to Tripura (the nexalite state) to meet my dad and to see where my mom dad stayed for 2 long years. Will probably see places around..most probably will go to Guwhati for sight seeing :) and will come back next yr J

God dont look at me..i am very very excited :)

The best part is I will be stepping in 3 states of India which I have not covered till now.
Jammu
West Bengal (as I have to halt there to take another flight for Tripura)
Asam
Tripura

Sounds interesting…some states which I have never been to are
Himachal
Uttaranchal
Nagaland
Mijoram
Meghalaya
Manipur
Arunachal Pradesh
Goa
Kerala
Andaman Nicobar Islands
Orissa

Himachal and Uttaranchal are next in my list after these trips and I am very sure that I will cover them soon.

Morning i was looking at this map and was trying to figure out how much time it will take for me to cover my very own sweet and big country...

Diwali Celebrations...

How did I celebrate my diwali?

Good question. I woke up early… at 11.00 a.m…that’s early coz I get up at 2.00 on holidays :P then took bath…prayed as mom said she wont provide me any food if she doesn’t see me standing against a temple.

Then what, I managed to be awake till 3.00 p.m and finally gave up my fight with awakeness and slept again…got up at 7.00 when mom forced me to light candles and other things. Again a Deepwali pooja at 8.00 and heard mom’s remix of the aarti…prayed and smiled …tried to sing but mom’s remix was just awesome (wish mom doesnt read this..otherwise wont get food for next 2 day ;) ). After the prayer, I thought of sleeping again but mom gave a very cruel look…and then finally my massi came to my place sat with her for sometime.

Crackers..well 3 big crackers were enough for delhi…isn’t it..well I don’t burst crackers…why???

Flashback

A 10th grader, standing in her balcony and enjoying the view of the deepawali and is just hiding herself from mom who might shout on her for studies…and all of a sudden her friends spotted her and called her for celebrating the festival with them. She slipped from the house like a thief and is on the road to enjoy. Like every other girl she is enjoying with sparklers “Phooljhaadi”…and when her friends challenged her for big crackers..she could not resist…a girl who was always ready to show her guts comes forward to burst a big noisy bomb and to show everyone that she is bold enough like any other guy on this earth. She places the big cracker in the middle of the road and tells everyone to stay far. With her trembling fingers she holds a match stick and lits it…but by the time she took it to the bomb..it got exhausted…in the meanwhile her mom comes down searching for her. She stands in the staircase and starts watching her. The whole gang stays little far as they knew the cracker was a big one and will make everyone numb for a sec. This time with all her guts she sits and lits the matchstick and finally give the cracker a start…

boooooommmmmmmmbbbbbbbbb

and whats this. lights went off…everything became dark and she was wondering why these electricity guy has to cut the power on an auspicious day…after 5 mins she heard ppl whispering…and then felt ppl around her…but why so much of darkness…her mom touched her shoulder and grabbed her arm…but how can her mom find her daughter in this darkness..must be a mom sense :). Her mom made her sit on the grass at the roadside…but she could not see her moms face…The girl asked her mom “ how can u find ur daughter in darkness when there are so many kids around…how did u come to know it was my hand” Her mom who was in anger till now on this naughty daughter for all her mischievous activities started looking at her in disbelief…yes she lost the sight as she forgot to run from the cracker and she stood there when it burst…everything was just like before in the surrounding...nothing much changed but she was not able to see…her mom gave her some water to wash her eyes…but the darkness remained the same…she realized the meaning of darkness…the meaning of “BLACK”.

She was almost in tears. Her mom put her in bed and told her to take rest. With her eyes closed she was imagining her board exam with a brail script…she was imagining herself with a stick and a black goggles…she imagines her life on the mercy of others and on sympathies…she could not stop her tears….and slept off…Morning a sunray woke her up and when she opened her eye she could see the dawn. She could see the beautiful morning…and then she realized how beautiful this world is and bad it is to not see the creation of the GOD...she felt the pain of a blind for a night…she for the first time realized the gift of GOD “Eyes”. She decided not to burst crackers again…not because she was afraid because she did not want to miss the opportunity of seeing the beautiful world and people around. Crackers gives us pleasure momentarily but if they take our precious things then they are no good …

I did not intend to post a message to not burst the crackers but wrote because like me I feel ur eyes are also important and u too want to see the wonders of the God and wonders of me in the coming posts!!! Isnt it????

Now dont ask me who this girl was :)

Bloodshed...Diwali Gift for Delhi

Day was going good and had nothing much to work today as most of the people were in festive mood and more over it was a weekend, blore office was closed and we were working as usual...Big Boss left office at 2 and then I went out for lunch with a friend of mine…everything was fine..came back and were planning to have some fun in office as no boss around mastis are always good…Monday we are working so I planned for ethnic wear and dropped a mail to all saying that it’s a compulsion. But I had not taken permission from boss..so called him at his place…asked him abt a doubt and then very sweetly asked for celebrating the ethnic wear day..he agreed in one shot itself…it just took 1 mins time and I got the permission…then what we were all excited upon this…

To add to our enjoyment one of our colleague had got cards and we thought of playing it…vow mann we played flash…and it was very exciting as we were playing with money…needless to say that Lakshmi mata is little allergic to my name…in between everyone got the impression that I was winning but end result was lost 100 bucks…but the show was wonderful..we all participated…Monday planning to have tambola..and this time big boss will be invited for it..hope he doesn’t scold us for all this nautanki which I am coming up with and every one is supporting to…

At 5.30 p.m my colleague came to know abt the blasts in delhi..and informed us abt the same…we got worried..we winded up the game..and I rushed to catch the bus…no rick was ready to come to west Delhi and moreover they were asking 3 times of the usual fare…When I reached the bus stop, a group of police man scanned the bus I was supposed to take and then gave the permission for further movement…I sat inside was little worried abt my other friends..called them up and found that all were safe…stopped one colleague from gng to SN where bomb blast happened, she was not aware of it. Got many sms and calls from friends all over the country…boss from Bangalore also messaged me enquiring abt my well being. Reached south X at 7 which is again a busy market place and could have been the next target for bombers…so I took the very next bus which was damn crowded…and reached home safely…

The terrorists have ruined the festive mood of all…and they have brought the fear on every face..there was tension all over...the police patrolling was of no help..3 bomb blasts in a span of one hour is not a small thing…my prayers for ppl who died in the blasts and also for those who got injured...

City is on RED ALERT and i feel that there can be few more tomorrow...So guys and gals..take good care of yourself and pls avoid staying for long in busy/market places..

Got detailed report here

Here are few images from the the bomb blasts:
Pic 1: shows an affected area
Pic 2: A distraught woman is escorted to a waiting ambulance at the site of one of the blasts.

lets talk "google talk"

I am using google talk to interact with my boss and colleagues these days as yahoo messenger was banned for sometime in blore office...what a lousy messenger..i never expected a google product with such features...i guess its still under development phase..there is no conferencing facility..no offline message leaving convinence..u cant maximize window..my god i wonder how much time they will take...the worst of all is u cant not manage ur buddy list...it will automatically arrange them in alphabetical order...a person like me with n number of friends and colleagues needs an organiser badly..its tough to see a list of 200 ppl without grouping...yahoo is still better...

I wish this google talk improves soon with additional outperforming features...only good part abt the google talk is its connectivity and speed...its no doubt better...

People who want to download it can download it from this link.

http://www.google.com/talk/

Happy talking..