Visit to Jagti Township- Meeting Prerna

I wanted to visit Prerna & her family, which I did with the help of mam. The most enjoyable event was to drink the Kashmiri tea in the traditional way. Her mom & Prerna took me to Kondoli mata temple. It is believed that visiting Vaishnov devi temple is only after getting blessings from Kondoli mata. It was a very good treat from Prerna.        

Visiting Vriti & her family

I can never forget this beautiful daughter of Jammu,whose laughter spreads her beauty to others. I was so glad to see her dad, mom, brother and grand mother. Vriti has joined the pre- PH D program in the Jammu university. I enjoyed her mom's cooking. I wish she could visit Kerala. The grand mother looked good. Even though I was unable to communicate in Hindi, we were able to express our regards for each other. She talked in Hindi and I responded in English. Occasionally, Vriti, the translator helped us to feel better. I prayed for this family during my trip to Kashi. 

Trip to Kistwar

It was a very unexpected trip. When Atul, the Tehsil of Marwah in Kistwar, the district close to Anant Nag, which is in the extreme south of Jammu, described the scenic beauty of Mini Kashmir, I started to imagine  about the place. He spoke of very poor quality of primary education, lesser educational opportunities, difficulty in accessing help, and about other administrative difficulties, I thought of visiting the place.I was with Dr. Arti and Dr. Bhakshi who had to visit the govt. hospitals of  Doda and Kistwar. We started our journey at 7 pm from Channi Himmat. Bhakshiji was a very good driver who safely manipulated the uphill travel. I enjoyed the car ride very much. We travelled close to 50% of the distance to Kashmir. We visited the two hospitals.  Sher-E- Kashmir- Dist. govt. hospital  appeared to be a hospital serving mostly Muslim population as majority of the inhabitants  were Muslims. I could see most o the female patients and by standers wearing purdah. Hygiene seemed to be a concerning problem. While traveling to Kistwar, I saw long lines of Goats and sheep on the road. Dr. Bakhshi explained to me that basically sheep rearing is done by 'Gadees', who are Hindus and goats were reared by 'Gujers', who were Muslims. They were labelled in the communities as nomads as they move with their sheep and goats anywhere in Jammu and Kashmir, depending on the seasonal requirements. He said in summer they even move to Amarnath.  He was a veterinary doctor who enjoyed offering his expertise to the goats in danger due to sickness in high ranges. He also told me that sheep are led by goats and the whole battalion by dogs like German Shepperd for guidance to safely walk on the road. I  interestingly saw the moves of this battalion on the roads.
we visited the Bhaderwa campus of the Jammu University, which was exquisitely beautiful. It is 200 kilometers away from the main campus.This campus runs the M.B.A. program. we met the Director and spent time with him and other faculty members. While walking to the guest house for the night stay, I could pluck apples from the trees, which was another exciting event for me. I was surprised to see huge apples, of course, the product of artificial integration, with less sweetness with nearly .600 gms weight.
Kedi Singh, a former PhD student and his wife took us to Mini Kashmir and to the temple near Gupth Ganga, which is a tributary of river Ganges and which is situated 3 kilometers from the campus. From the top, looking down, I could see a big colony with innumerable houses. I wished to live in one of those houses for at least for a day. In my conversation with one of my friends in the Women's studies center at Jammu university- Priya, I realized that it would be a possible event in my next trip to J & K.
We passed through the Dulhast hydroelectric project which uses water of river Chinab. In the next morning we visited Vasuki Nag temple.               

Reunion with P.G.D of Psychology of the University of Jammu

Dr. Arti welcomed me to her department. I felt very happy to meet Sarita as Dr. Sarita Sood, Vritti, Dr. Chandrasekhar and others in the department. I promised to address the pre- PhD scholars and take few sessions on group dynamics as an effective learning technique for the students of psychology.

I needed rest from the intense journey I started on  first, September. I met Manisha  Kohli in the after noon. I promised her to offer my expertise to work with her thesis.

I comfortably ate and slept in mam's house, getting energy for the next lap of productive work.
I again met Prof. Vijayalakshmi from Rajasthan. I attended her session on research methodology. It was a very good session.

I took a book that interested me a lot. It wrote about certain famous women in Jammu & Kashmir. Two of them were Ms. Santha Bharti & Dr. Ved Kumari Ghai

Shanta Bharti:

River Ravi, slowly and lovingly soothed Jammu’s unforgettable veteran, humanist daughter, Shanta Bharti, born in December 1925 who is remembered vividly and proudly as the bright, bold, righteous, patriotic Mandhera village girl.  Later she became very familiar to Jammu and the rest of IndiatoHer fame flowed all over Jammu through river Tawi. She led a very simple and dignified life. She worked hard to impart changes in positive direction to eradicate evil practices of her society. Her messages to women made ripples of hope.

Shantaji’s call to women was to overcome difficulties in life to realize the full potential for personal growth.

She emphasized accomplishment of value of work. She reminded of the need for rebirth in optimism to attain social justice. I saluted her during my extension lecture at Gandhi Nagar Women’s college in Jammu organise by Manisha after 2 weeks of my arrival to Jammu.  

Dr. Ved  Kumari Ghai, the daughter of the land of Dogras, born in November 1932, had an illustrious career. She was the embodiment of Sanskrit Shakti. An illustrious scholar, women social activist, and holder of doctor of Philosophy, Professor in Sanskrit at the University of Jammu until retiring from service excelled in professional and literary career. She projected the need for education of the disadvantaged and economically backward communities.  She was groomed in Gandhian philosophy. Her contributions to art and literature were appreciated all over India. She worked as a teacher with great zeal, enthusiasm & dedication. She served as a teacher in the University for 29 years. I saluted her when I delivered the extension lecture in the psychology department of the University Of Jammu.

Uttrakhand- the thapobhumi- visit to Haridwar

Haridwar, the city of great religious significance is one of the holy places for hindus.  It is believed that Devas and yakshas had their darsan from lord Maha Vishnu at Haridwar. An amzing experience is in Haridwar at the time of Kumbha mela, which is a festival conducted every 12 years. Ardh kumbha mela is conducted every 6 years. For both these events,millions of  believers assemble for pooja held at the shores of river Gangesand they take dip in the river to clean oneself from all sins.Places to visit are Brahm Kund, subhash ghat, gaughat Kushavart ghat, sharavan nath ghat, Bhim Goda Tank, Sapta sarovar, Mansa devi & chand Devi temples, Kanhal , and Dasheswara Mahadeva temple. There are many more temples to visit.Aarti of each temple is different according to the practices of each Mandir.
Usually pilgrims are very paricular to start pilgrimage from Haridwar to seek blessings from Lord Shiva from Badrinath and Kedaranath. Haridwar is with so many ashram and Dharmasalas.

I wished to start  my religious tour to holy shrines of  Himalayas in this year, although I  had to postpone my visit to Badri Nath and Kedara Nath to next tear due to very bad weather. More over,  visit in next year will be with Dr. Gairola of Sreenagar, whose presence will be really worthy from the spiritual perspective.
I reached Haridwar on an intense rainy day. As directed by my beloved friend Dr. Latha Gairola, I reported to the office of Santhi Kunch ashram at 6 am. I left my suit case in the designated room and rushed to the temple on the banks of river ganges. I waited until the poojari could finish his morning rituals at the temple. He guided me to offer the farewell rituals of my dad. After finishing those rituals guided by poojari of  the temple on the banks of river Ganga, I took snan in ganga, offered pooja in the temple, gave bhiksha to all of those sitting on queues on both sides of the foot path, received prasad and returned to ashram.

After my visit to Haridwar, I proceeded to Irishikesh. It was a trip in rain. Before I reached Irishikesh, the driver took me to several temples. I got paid service from a tourist guide who explained everything to me.

I reached the Haridwar railway station at 5 pm to board Hemkunt expres to Jammu Tawi. Early morning at 4 30 the train reache dJAmmu. I was given a ride to Dr. Aarti 's house.   

Jakhu temple at the mountain peak of Shimla

Neha and I travelled one and half hours from Solan to reach Shimla.We visited the famous scandal point.Hundreds of people were there enjoying the scenic beauty of Shimla.We took photographs wearing the traditional dress.As the climate wsa very beautiful, we decided to visit the Jakhu tepmle of Lord Hanuman. It is also known as Sankad moksha temple.Hanuman's idol was the biggest in India. It is believed that HAnuman took rest in this mountain peak while bringing Maha Meru, the mountain that contained mrithasanjeevani, the medicinal plant to save Lakshmana who fell unconscious during Ravana's arrow attack. It is also believed that by visiting this temple, one will leave all sorrows and once again become ready to lead a happy life. The driver who rode us to the peak asked me to remove my eye glass to protect it from the attack of monkeys. It was hard for me to climb steps due to the injury on my left leg. There were 108 steps to be climbed by a person to reach to the top most place. I slowly with the help of a stick climbed those steps and prayed to lord Hanuman. We were escorted by a battalion of monkeys. We walked back  to the base at 4 pm and  returned to Solan to take rest at her house. I liked alloo paratha, chapati, rajma and Kadi which Neha and Krithika had given me. I enjoyed Chanshil's companionship. The little girl was so smart and sweet. All of them boarded me to Dehdarun at 10 pm from Solan.  In the early hours of the next day I reached Dehradoon. I got out of the luxury bus to get totally soaked.The suit case was dipped in water in the dicky. A series of cloud bursts embraced me until Dehradoon.I thought the glass doors would at any time  be broken and we would be in natural calamity. Right from the very start of our trip, the rain threatened the driver and the passengers. My friend Dr. Latha Gairola cancelled her trip to Haridwar due to heavy rain which blocked the road to Haridwar for few days. A series of cloud bursts struck Uttarkhand so badly triggering land slides and flash floods that left 33 people dead, 35 missing,and several injured in parts of the hill state. Ukhimath area in RudraPrayag district was the worst hit place as rain and clod bursts in the wee hours flattened dozens of houses in eight villages killing 29people during their sleep.Villages like Chunni, Mangoli, Kimana, Sansasri, Giriya, Brahman, Kholi, Prem Nagar, And Juatok in Ukhimath area were severely affected. I realisesd that I traveled on a dangerous day. As the calamity struck the region, authorities launched rescue and relief operations with the help of the army. But rampant rainfall hampered relief work.I decided to stay in Santhi Kunch Ashram. I felt positive energy while entering to the Ashram.  Thanks to Dr. Latha.     

Solan and Shimla- 2012

 I set off my journey to Shimla from Banglore after seeing off Lakshmi and grand son Abhinav to Canada  on 3rd September 2012.   I went to the airport with my sisters Ambujam and Pankajam. We had a very nice day in Pankajam's house. Kannan, Pankajam's husband was also in Bangalore.  All of us enjoyed Abhi's presence. When they left to Canada, i felt very sad.
 I saw Manu and Coral on the next day.  Manu gave sumptuous lunch. It was a very good treat from both of them.  On 6th, I started my north Indian trip. I had an aching right hand and a lot of enthusiasm at heart as I love to see all of my young and aging friends spread across different states in north India.
I continued my journey to Kalka in Himachal Pradesh from New Delhi on the same day after reaching Delhi on 8th September. When I reached Kalka by Paschim express at 8 30 pm, Neha and her friend were there to receive me. The car ride to Solan was very beautiful. neha and Krithika and their dad were at their house where as their mom was in a hospital admitted for treatment after an unfortunate fall during her visit to her in law's house. I visited her the next day and spend good time with her. I & Neha  later visited Shimla. It was a wonderful experience. We visited Sankat Hanuman temple on the tope of the highest hill in Shimla. I walked slowly with the help of a stick. Lord Hanuman's structure was so huge. I offered my prayers.  After finishing my expected work, they boarded me to Dehradun.