#Mother Narmada river flows here

[telecomnewsindiainfo]

मध्य प्रदेश को जहां भारत का हृदय कहा जाता है वहीं इसे नदियों का देश भी कहा जाता है।नदियाँ  बता दें, यहां कुल मिलाकर 207 धाराएं हैं। इस राज्य में छोटे से लेकर बड़े तक हर प्रकार के जलमार्ग का पता लगाया जाएगा।मध्य प्रदेश को जहां भारत का हृदय कहा जाता है वहीं इसे नदियों का देश भी कहा जाता है।नदियाँ  बता दें, यहां कुल मिलाकर 207 धाराएं हैं। इस राज्य में छोटे से लेकर बड़े तक हर प्रकार के जलमार्ग का पता लगाया जाएगा।

मध्य प्रदेश की नदियाँ: 

मध्य प्रदेश से तात्पर्य देश की केंद्रीय स्थिति से है, जहां भारत के लिए प्रसिद्ध स्वर्गीय स्थान की ऐतिहासिक पृष्ठभूमि जुड़ी हुई है, संस्कृति, स्थलाकृति सभी परिवर्तन इस राज्य में पाए जाते हैं।नदियाँ  यहां लोग हर उत्सव और संस्कृति से सराबोर हैं,नदियाँ  यही कारण है कि मध्य प्रदेश को देश का हृदय कहा जाता है। लेकिन क्या आपको इस बात का अंदाज़ा है कि मध्य प्रदेश को जलमार्गों की मातृभूमि भी कहा जाता है। वास्तव में, मुझे बताओ, यहाँ कुल मिलाकर 207 धाराएँ बहती हैं।नदियाँ

मध्य प्रदेश की नदियाँ: 

यहां ऐसी असंख्य जलधाराएं हैं, जो देश की पीने और पशुपालकों के लिए पानी की जरूरतें पूरी करती हैं। मध्य प्रदेश मुख्य स्थान है जहाँ छोटी से लेकर बड़ी धाराएँ बहती हैं। नदियाँ   इस राज्य को जलमार्गों क��� देश क्यों कहा जाता है, इसके पीछे यही प्रेरणा है। इस लेख के माध्यम से कुछ महत्वपूर्ण धाराओं के बारे में बताएं।

Mother Narmada river flows here:

Mother Narmada river flows here

मध्य प्रदेश की नदियाँ: 

नर्मदा जलमार्ग देश की प्रमुख नदियों में से एक है, यह जलमार्ग लोगों के विश्वास से भी जुड़ा है। आपको बता दें, जलधाराएं तीन राज्यों में बहती हैं, जिसमें मध्य प्रदेश, गुजरात और महाराष्ट्र आते हैं। नर्मदा जलधारा को वैसे ही देश का अस्तित्व कहा जाता है। अमरकंटक से नर्मदा की धारा प्रारंभ होती है, जो खंभात के प्रवेश द्वार में गिरती है। नर्मदा धारा की कुल लंबाई 1312 किमी है, जिसमें से यह लगभग 1022 किमी इसी अवस्था में रहकर तय करती है।

mother betwa river:

बेतवा मध्य प्रदेश की प्रमुख नदियों में आती है, जो रायसेन क्षेत्र के कुमरा कस्बे से भी शुरू होती है। बता दें, यह जलधारा यूपी के हमीरपुर में यमुना जलमार्ग में भी मिलती है। बेतवा जलमार्ग की कुल लंबाई लगभग 480 किमी है, जिसमें से 380 किमी परियोजना मध्य प्रदेश में चुनी गई है। बेतवा धारा के पोषक जलमार्ग बीना, केन, धसान, सिंध, देनवा हैं, इसे मध्य प्रदेश की गंगा भी कहा जाता है।

मध्य प्रदेश की नदियाँ: 

चंबल नदी के बारे में:

चम्बल (चम्बल) जलधारा मध्य भारत में यमुना जलमार्ग की पोषक है। यह धारा “जनापाओ पर्वत” बांगचू पॉइंट महू से शुरू होती है। इसका प्राचीन नाम “चर्मन्वती” है। इसकी पोषक शिप्रा, सिंध (सिंध), काली सिंध और कुनु धारा हैं। यह धारा मध्य प्रदेश के धार, उज्जैन, रतलाम, मंदसौर, भिंड, मुरैना आदि इलाकों से होकर भारत के उत्तर और उत्तर-केंद्रीय भाग में राजस्थान के चित्तौड़ गढ़ के चौरासी गढ़ सेकोटा और धौलपुर सवाईमाधोपुर से होकर गुजरती है। यह जलमार्ग दक्षिण की ओर मुड़ता है।

कार उत्तर प्रदेश प्रांत में यमुना में शामिल होने से पहले राजस्थान और मध्य प्रदेश के बीच रेखा बनाती है। इस जलमार्ग पर चार जलविद्युत परियोजनाएं – गांधी सागर, राणा प्रताप सागर, जवाहर सागर और कोटा टोरेंट (कोटा) चल रही हैं। यह राजस्थान का सबसे ऊँचा झरना है। सामान्य लंबाई में 135. राजस्थान का आधुनिक शहर कोटा इसी नदी के तट पर बसा है।

[pooma-satsangam]

தமிழில்

Adi Shankaracharya’s Divine Realization by Observing a Snake Protecting a Frog

Around 1,200 years ago, in the beautiful village of Kaladi on the banks of the Poorna River in Kerala, lived a Namboothiri Brahmin couple, Shivaguru and Aryamba. They had been childless for a long time and undertook severe penance, worshipping Lord Shiva with pure devotion. Pleased with their devotion, the compassionate Lord Shiva blessed them with a son, who was named Shankara. They lovingly raised him.

At the age of five, Shankara underwent the sacred thread ceremony. Soon after, his extraordinary abilities began to manifest.

One day, while seeking alms, Shankara encountered a poor woman who, despite her poverty, did not want to send him away empty-handed. She searched her house and found a single dried gooseberry, which she offered to Shankara. Touched by her generosity, Shankara prayed to Goddess Lakshmi, and golden gooseberries rained down in her house.

On another occasion, seeing his mother Aryamba struggling to bathe in the Poorna River due to her health, Shankara prayed to the Ganga River. Miraculously, the Poorna River changed its course to flow behind their house.

By the age of eight, Shankara had mastered the four Vedas and six Shastras, and his fame spread far and wide. Even the local king came to see him.

With his mother’s permission, Shankara embraced asceticism to fulfill his life’s purpose. He became a disciple of the great sage Govinda Bhagavatpada on the banks of the Narmada River and served him devotedly.

Following his guru’s instructions, Shankara went to Kashi, where he defeated various scholars in debates and established the Advaita philosophy, which teaches that all living beings are manifestations of the divine.

Shankara wrote numerous works, including commentaries on the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Sutras, Vishnu Sahasranama, and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. He also composed many devotional hymns and texts like Vivekachudamani and Atmabodha to make these teachings accessible to all.

He established the Panchayatana form of worship, which involves the simultaneous worship of five deities: Shiva, Ambal, Vishnu, and others. He also defined the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy.

One day, while walking along the banks of the Tungabhadra River with his disciples, Shankara witnessed a remarkable sight. A snake was shading a frog in labor from the sun with its hood. Astonished, Shankara thought, “In nature, a snake preys on frogs. Yet here, a snake is protecting a frog in distress. What a divine place this must be!”

He decided that this auspicious place was perfect for establishing his first monastery. He drew the Sri Chakra on a rock and meditated on Goddess Saraswati, who appeared before him.

“Mother, you must reside here permanently as Sri Sharada and bless the devotees,” prayed Shankara.

The goddess, pleased with his prayer, agreed.

The monastery established by Shankara on that day, with Sri Sharada as the main deity, came to be known as the Sri Sharada Peetham.

Shankara designated the Yajur Veda as the principal Veda for the Sri Sharada Peetham. He also provided the Sri Chandramouleeswara Spatika Lingam, the Sri Ratnagarbha Ganapati idol, and the Mahameru Yantra from Kailasa for the daily worship at the Peetham.

Shankara entrusted the administration of the Sri Sharada Peetham to his chief disciple, Sri Sureshwaracharya, who was considered an incarnation of Lord Brahma.

At the age of 32, Shankara reached the sacred site of Kedarnath in the Himalayas, worshipped Lord Shiva, and then disappeared into the snow-covered mountains.

தவளையை காத்த நாகத்தை பார்த்து தெய்வீகத்தை உணர்ந்த ஆதிசங்கரர்

நிறம் மற்றும் எழுத்துரு அளவு மாற்ற

கிட்டத்தட்ட 1,200 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் கேரள மாநிலத்தில் பூர்ணா நதிக்கரையில் காலடி எனும் அழகிய கிராமத்தில் வாழ்ந்து வந்த நம்பூதரி பிராமண தம்பதியான சிவகுரு - ஆர்யாம்பாள் ஆகியோருக்கு, நீண்ட நாட்களாக குழந்தை பாக்கியமே இல்லாதிருந்ததால் அவர்கள் கடும் விரதம் பூண்டு,

சிவபெருமானை துாய்மையான பக்தியுடன் ஆராதித்து வந்தனர்.அதனால் மகிழ்ச்சியடைந்த கருணாமூர்த்தியான பரமேஸ்வரன், அவர்களுக்கு தம் அம்சத்துடன் கூடிய ஓர்ஆண் குழந்தையை அருளினார். அக்குழந்தைக்கு சங்கரன் எனப் பெயரிட்டு பாசத்துடன் வளர்த்து வந்தனர்.

ஐந்து வயதில் உபநயனம் செய்து வைத்தனர். அதன்பின், ஸ்ரீ சங்கரரின் அபார சக்திகள் வெளிப்பட துவங்கின

ஒரு நாள், தாம் பிச்சை கேட்ட ஒரு வீட்டில் வறுமை தாண்டவமாடியபோதிலும், அந்த வீட்டு பெண்மணி தன்னிடம் பிச்சை கேட்டு வந்த பிரம்மச்சாரியை ஏமாற்ற மனமில்லாமல், வீடு முழுதும் தேடி உலர்ந்த ஒரு நெல்லிக்கனியை கண்டெடுத்து, அதை ஸ்ரீ சங்கரருக்கு பிச்சை அளித்தாள் அந்த ஏழ்மை நிலையிலும் அவளுக்கிருந்த உயர்ந்த மனப்பாங்கு ஸ்ரீசங்கரரின் இதயத்தை பெரிதும் தொட்டது.

அக்கணத்திலேயே அவர் ஸ்ரீ மஹாலக் ஷ் மியை வேண்டிக்கொள்ள, அப்பெண்மணியின் வீட்டில் தங்கநெல்லிக்கனிகள் மழையென பெய்தனபின் ஒருமுறை, தம் தாயார் ஆர்யாம்பாள் பூர்ணா நதியில் தினப்படி நீராடி சென்றுவருவதற்கு அவரது உடல்நிலை ஒத்துழைக்காததைக் கண்டஸ்ரீ சங்கரர், கங்காதேவியை பிரார்த்திக்க, பூர்ணா நதியே தன் ஓட்டத்தை ஸ்ரீசங்கரரின் இல்லத்திற்கு பின்னால் இருக்குமாறு மாற்றிக் கொண்டு விட்ட அதிசயம் நடந்தது

எட்டு வயதிற்குள்ளாகவே நான்கு வேதங்களையும், ஆறு சாஸ்திரங்களையும் கற்றுத்தேர்ந்து விட்ட ஸ்ரீ சங்கரரின் பெருமை எங்கும் பரவத் துவங்கியது. அப்பிரதேசத்தை ஆண்ட மன்னரே ஸ்ரீ சங்கரரை நேரில் வந்து தரிசித்து சென்றார்

தம் பிறவியின் நோக்கம் நிறைவேறும் பொருட்டு, தம் தாயாரின் அனுமதியுடன் துறவறம் ஏற்ற ஸ்ரீ சங்கரர்,

நர்மதை நதிக்கரையில் வாழ்ந்து வந்த மஹானாகிய ஸ்ரீ கோவிந்த பகவத்பாதரை தம் குருவாக ஏற்று அவருக்கு சேவை புரிந்து வந்தார்

தம் குருநாதரின் ஆணையை ஏற்று காசிக்கு சென்ற ஸ்ரீசங்கரர், பல்வேறு மதத்தினரையும் தம் வாதத் திறமையால் வென்று'உலகில் உள்ள அனைத்து உயிர்களும் இறைவனின் அம்சங்களே' எனும் அத்வைத மதமே பரம்பொருளை பூரணமாக அறிய உதவும் மதம் என்பதை நிலைநாட்டினார்

உபநிஷதங்கள், பகவத்கீதை, வியாச முனிவரின் பிரம்ம சூத்திரங்கள், விஷ்ணு ஸஹஸ்ர நாமம், பதஞ்சலி முனிவரின் யோக சூத்திரங்கள் போன்ற பெரும் தெய்வீக படைப்புகளின் உட்பொருளை அனைவரும் எளிதில் புரிந்து கொள்ளும் வகையிலும் விவேக சூடாமணி, ஆத்மபோதம், சதச்லோகீ போன்ற பற்பல கிரந்தங்களையும், பக்தி மார்க்கத்தை விரும்புவோருக்கு உதவும் வகையில், பக்தி ரசம் ததும்பும் நுாற்றுக்கணக்கான ஸ்லோகங்களையும் ஸ்ரீ சங்கரர் அருளினார்

வேதங்களை சார்ந்து பரம்பொருளை அறிவிக்கும் மார்க்கங்களாக அத்வைதம், யோகம், சாங்க்யம் முதலான ஷட்தர்சனங்கள் எனப்படும் ஆறு மார்க்கங்களை நிர்ணயித்தார்

பஞ்சாயதனம் எனப்படும் சிவன், அம்பாள், விஷ்ணு முதலான ஐந்து கடவுளர்களை ஒருசேர வழிபடும் பூஜை முறையை ஏற்படுத்தினார்.

சைவம், வைணவம், சாக்தம் முதலான ஆறு ஆதாரப்பூர்வமான மதங்களை அறிவித்தார்

காஷ்மீரில் பற்பல பெரும் பண்டிதர்களை வாதத்தில் வென்று, புகழ் பெற்ற சர்வஜ்ஞ பீடத்தில் அமர்ந்தார்இந்தியாவின் நான்கு திசைகளிலும் நான்கு பீடங்களை தோற்றுவித்தார். அவரால் முதலில் தோற்றுவிக்கப்பட்ட பீடமே தென் திசையில் உள்ள சிருங்கேரி ஸ்ரீ சாரதா பீடமாகும். இதர பீடங்கள் புரி - கிழக்கு, பத்ரி - வடக்கு மற்றும்

துவாரகா - மேற்கு ஆகிய இடங்களில் அமைக்கப்பட்டன ஒரு நாள் தம் சீடர்கள் பின் தொடர, துங்கா நதிக்கரையில் ஸ்ரீ சங்கரர் வந்து கொண்டிருந்த சமயம் அங்கு தென்பட்ட ஒரு காட்சி, அவரை பெரும் ஆச்சரியத்துக்குள்ளாக்கியது.

வெயிலில் பிரசவ வலியால் அவதிப்பட்டுக் கொண்டு இருந்த தவளைக்கு, நாகம் ஒன்று தன் படத்தை விரித்து நிழலை தந்து கொண்டிருந்தது.

இதைக் கண்ட ஸ்ரீ சங்கரர், 'இயற்கையிலேயே நாகத்திற்கு தவளை உணவாகும்.ஆயினும், இங்கோ தன் இரையான தவளையைஇரையென காணாது, அதன் இன்னலுக்கு இரங்கி அதற்கு உதவ ஒரு நாகம் முற்படுகிறதென்றால், இந்த மண்ணின் மகிமை தா��் என்னே!' என எண்ணினார்.

மறுகணமே, 'என் முதலாவது பீடத்தை அமைக்க இந்த புண்ணியம் நிறைந்த தலமே மிக பொருத்தமான இடம்' என உறுதிபூண்டார். பின் அங்கிருந்த பாறையின் மேல் அம்பாளின் எந்திரமான, ஸ்ரீ சக்கரத்தை வரைந்தார்.

அதன்பின் அவர் ஸ்ரீ சரஸ்வதி தேவியை தியானம் செய்தார். தேவியும் உடனே காட்சி தந்தாள்.

'தாயே... ஸ்ரீ சாரதை எனும் பெயரில் நீ இவ்விடத்தில் நிரந்தரமாக குடிகொண்டுபக்த ஜனங்களுக்கு அருள்புரிந்து வர வேண்டும்' என சங்கரர் பிரார்த்தித்தார்.

தேவியும், மகிழ்வுடன் அவரின் பிரார்த்தனைக்கு சம்மதித்தார்.

ஸ்ரீ சாரதையை பிரதான தெய்வமாக கொண்டு அன்றைய தினம் அவரால் தோற்றுவிக்கப்பட்ட பீடம், ஸ்ரீ சாரதா பீடம் என்றே அழைக்கப்பட்டு வரத் துவங்கியது

ஸ்ரீ சாரதா பீடத்திற்கு பிரதான வேதமாக யஜுர் வேதத்தை அறிவித்தார், ஸ்ரீ சங்கரர். கைலாசத்திலிருந்து தருவிக்கப்பெற்ற ஸ்ரீ சந்திரமவுலீஸ்வர ஸ்படிக லிங்கத்தையும், ஸ்ரீ ரத்னகர்ப கணபதி விக்ரஹத்தையும் மற்றும் மஹாமேரு எந்திரத்தையும் பீடத்தின் நித்ய பூஜைக்கென ஸ்ரீ சங்கரர் அளித்தார்

ஸ்ரீ சாரதா பீடத்தின் நிர்வாகத்தை தம் முக்கிய சீடரும் சாட்சாத் நான்முக பிரம்ம தேவனின் அவதாரமாகவே கருதப்பட்டஸ்ரீ சுரேஸ்வராசார்யாரிடம் ஸ்ரீ சங்கரர் ஒப்படைத்தார்

தம், 32 வயதில் இமயமலையில் உள்ள கேதார்நாத் திருத்தலத்தை அடைந்து, சிவப��ருமானை வழிபட்டு பின், பனிபடர்ந்த மலைகளூடே சென்று மறைந்தார்.

[athenaion]

water, ritual purity, immersion

i. 

i dream of water: being immersed in water, water running down my hands, water washing away the miasma of my life. 

ii.

when i first began honoring the greek gods, i dutifully mixed tap water and salt, lit a bayleaf on fire, doused it in the water, and sprinkled it over my head and neck in my mother’s bathroom. khernips. this would wash away the miasma, and i could approach the theoi with clean hands, with a clean heart.

yet i felt silly, and the droplets would crust over on the mirror, and my mother would later yell at me, ask me what on earth i’d been doing in the bathroom. i looked at the burnt particles of the bayleaf floating at the bottom of the bowl and thought to myself, this doesn’t feel very clean.

i no longer sprinkle myself with khernips when i approach the theoi. instead, i wash my hands, rinse my mouth, and cover my head with a scarf. i dream of lustral water that dances with light, sparkles with purity, as clear as water taken from the mouth of a spring. it is not the khernips of hellenismos. it is something entirely different. 

my world is not made of salt and sea, rocky crags and mediterranean winds. my world is of appalachia, shadowed by endless trees, free flowing rain and landscapes carved by more creeks, streams, and rivers than one could ever imagine.

iii.

i read, enviously, of the jewish custom of mikveh, dreaming of a space where i can go and wash away my own impurities, and emerge, cleansed. i know this is not the complete picture of what mikveh is and what it means to the jewish faithful, but i long for the feeling of stepping slowly into water, thinking of the blessings i have, thinking of that which i want to cut away from me, to be made holy by the embrace of living waters.

it occurs to me that my heritage, hinduism, or at least the hinduism given to me by ethnicity, time, place, and caste, has a rich and storied symbiosis with water as well. 

i think of gangajal, the water from the river ganges, flowing from the tresses of lord shiva’s hair. i think of the penitent and the holy, immersing themselves in the banks of rivers, in temple pools called theertha, prayers on their lips, seeking release from the cycles of this world. i think of ganesh chaturthi, how statues of ganesh are immersed in water to release him back to his heavenly abode; of how both the sacred and profane are carried away, whether through the disintegrating clay of statues, or the ashes of our bones after our deaths, into the water, by ganga, and into the life beyond. i think of the way the priests at the temple offer water as prasad, spiced with saffron, and cardamom, and how the remnant droplets after i’ve drunk are passed over my hair as a blessing. i think how eagerly i’ve always bathed the shiva lingam at the temple, how lovingly i’ve accepted the water flowing from the yoni, and touched it to my throat, my lips, and my forehead.

i am in the united states, and there are no temple pools for me to immerse myself in, no holy rivers beloved by communities over millennia, no worship of the water itself. here, i make jokes about how our rival city has a river that once caught fire, how if you jump into the monongahela river, you’ll grow a third limb, how ew i would never swim in the ohio river...  further west, the indigenous guardians of the land and water we occupy fight for their right for clean water.

water is life. 

i think of what has been taken from me, growing up in the west. i think of how the allegheny, monongahela, and ohio rivers would be deified, as though goddesses like ganga, yamuna, narmada, or whether they would be more like river nymphs. i wonder what the indigenous peoples of the area saw these rivers as, because the peoples who lived here were not static, and some of them have been long lost. i wonder what it would be to worship and honor our three rivers, in their way, in my way.

iv.

we slip into the waters of the allegheny river, and the silt on its banks grabs us, holds us. we fight to cross the threshold into swimming in the allegheny’s waters. though we have swimsuits on, being in a river we never think of unless we’re crossing a bridge carries with it its own kind of nakedness, a re-imagining of what it means to be in pittsburgh, which sparkles just around the bend of the allegheny. above, meteors streak the sky, and we cheerfully keep count of the ones we catch sight of. i try to swim out to the 40th street bridge and am caught in the wake of a passing boat instead. i’ve never felt this deeply connected to my city.

in a lake, lake norman, under a new moon, four of us swim, old friends, each other’s found family, dressed in nothing but each other’s laughter. i am being carried on the back of a man i love but cannot be with; we silently take joy in the feel of our skin against the other’s. i bury my nose in the back of his neck. he squeezes the back of my thigh, in acknowledgement of what is passing unsaid between us. his long-term partner and my best friend are treading water in the distance, giddy with the joy of skinny-dipping in a wine-dark lake. i love him so much, and the warm water lapping at my feet remind me it’s okay to love him, still.

in yet another lake: i ask some friends -- friends i haven’t known for very long, treading in the brisk, late summer waters of skaneateles lake, bathed in only the silvery light of the almost full moon -- ask them what they wanted to let go of, and in the rough ebb and flow of the waters, pushed and pulled by the moon, we let our insecurities and self-hurts be taken away. nothing changes between us, but i feel closer to them, as though we’ve glimpsed each other’s spirits.

v.

as the summer ends, i will dream of being in the water with my friends, over and over and over. soon, it will be too cold to be outside, and artemis will reign as the queen of winter. the waters around me will freeze, and i will forget about them, until artemis’ reign ends and persephone returns from the underworld. 

i will wish for a place to ritually immerse myself. i will battle with the thoughts of properly preparing khernips or creating something that is more personal and profound to me. my spirituality itself feels like a confluence of rivers, endlessly flowing, bringing to my heart the waters of hinduism, the tides of hellenismos, and the waves of my own gnosis. 

i will wonder, dreaming endlessly of floating in water, as a child still in its mother’s womb, what water means to me.

fin.

this reflection inspired by this article: https://www.hinduismtoday.com/environment/indias-profound-kinship-with-water/

[altughuner-blog]

They say there are only three things from the time of Sri Krishna – Govardhan Parvat, Land of Braj and river Yamuna.

The Yamuna with her dark waters is like Krishna in her looks. She is one of his wives and in Mathura, she is the Pattarani or the chief wife. Your visit to Braj Bhumi can not be complete without visiting the holy river.

Boat Ride on the Yamuna river in Mathura

Taking a boat ride on the holy river is a popular pilgrim and tourist activity. So, one morning I also took a boat to admire the different ghats of Mathura from the waters of the river. I probably wanted to see what the river gets to see every day.

Video of the Boat ride

As I was walking towards the ghat, I heard a group of young boys chanting Vedas, repeating after an acharya, sitting under a small canopy. The bazaars were still opening up, but temple bells could be heard just about anywhere.

Vishram Ghat

Vishram Ghat

We started from the famous Vishram ghat on a colorful boat. It is believed that Sri Krishna took rest here, after killing Kamsa and that is how it got its name – Vishram Ghat. It is located bang in the middle, there are 12 ghats on either side of it.

Boats here have colorful flags all around them and an equally colorful carpet to sit on. The boatman told us stories of Braj Bhumi in Braj Bhasha. Poems and saying just flow from his mouth. They add to the joy of a boat ride on a warm March morning.

Kamsa Qila Fort

Kamsa Qila or fort

He tells us about different ghats and their stories as we row towards the left of Vishram Ghat towards Kans ka Qila or the Kamsa’s fort. I am keen to go inside and see the fort, although I know at best it could be the place associated with Kamsa. The fort in red sandstone is obviously recent. Everyone tells me, there is nothing inside to see. From the river, it looks a fairly large fort. Reflecting on the waters, it looks even more majestic.

Colorful Boats on the river

Holi

Rest of the river is lined with colorful ghats buzzing with activities. I was visiting a few days before Holi when the historical city is already in Holi mode. I saw many families playing Holi with the Yamuna. Yes, you heard it right. Playing Holi with the holy river. They would sing Hori or the Holi songs, throw some color in the river and then play among themselves. In fact, this was a ritual inserted in almost every ritual taking place on the ghats. The mood was that of joy and celebration – which is the eternal mood you associate with a place that was chosen even by Sri Krishna to play and do his Raas Lila.

Do read – Govardhan Parvat Parikrama

The only distinct feature I can remember is a tall tower in red sandstone built in Rajasthani Jharokha style called Sati Burj. Apparently, a queen, who was also the mother-in-law of Akbar, did Sati here and this tower was erected in the memory of that.

Verses of Puranas talking about Yamuna and Mathura

Verses from Puranas

Across the ghats, there are boards with verses from Puranas talking about Mathura in Sanskrit with Hindi Translation. I loved it. Hope other places also replicate this practice of putting the Sthal Purana or the literature on the city in public places.

Do read – Making of Mathura Peda

Unfortunately, the ghats of the river are not clean. I saw the sewerage flowing right into the river. The garbage lines up like a threshold between the steps of ghats and the water. It is a painful sight to look at dirty water.

Having said that, there is no dearth of stories when you sit by the river quietly flowing along the moon-shaped ghats of Mathura. Just sit back and let the Brajwasis regale you in the stories of the land.

Chunri Manorath ritual – When the Yamuna Wears Sari

On the boat ride, my guide told me about this unique ritual that is performed on the holy river. As luck would have it, the boatman informed us that a couple of Chunri Manorath is planned for the day. I quickly reworked the plan for the day and made sure I see this unique celebration.

What is the ritual?

Manorath means a wish. Chunri is the scarf that is worn with Indian dresses. On auspicious occasions, women are offered Chunri as part of festivals or during auspicious functions like weddings and engagements. It is generally a sign of acknowledging the auspicious aspect of the divine feminine.

Chunri Manorath Ritual for the holy river

At Mathura, the ritual involves offering a Chunri to the Yamuna, for she is the most auspicious goddess of the land. Families bring rolls of many Saris stitched together, usually 101 Saris but sometimes as many as 400 saris stitched together. This long roll of clothing is then taken on multiple boats to the other end of the holy river. The long cloth is held in a way that it looks like the Yamuna is wearing a Chunri.

Do read – Holi Festival in Mathura Vrindavan

It is usually done by families to mark an occasion or to say thanks for a wish fulfilled. I saw two Chunri Manoraths that day. A family of 90-100 people from Gujarat was celebrating the 60th birthday of the patriarch, who performed all the pujas with his wife. Another family of 10-12 people of Rajasthan was welcoming the new bride in the family.

Who Does Chunri Manorath?

Families performing Chunri Manorath

Chunri Manorath is mainly done by Vaishnavs from Gujarat and Rajasthan who follow Pushti marg. For the followers of this sect, Yamuna is the prime deity. However, there is no restriction, anyone can do it. Priests there will tell you stories of their famous MP Hema Malini doing this ritual here. I assume for winning the parliament seat.

This ritual can be done almost around the year. A shelter has been built on the steps of a ghat to enable people to sit while the ritual is performed. The ritual is long and can take many hours.

Story of Chunri Manorath

It is said that the Gopis of Braj while playing with Sri Krishna developed a sense of pride that Sri Krishna listens to them and would do anything, they ask him to. As soon as Krishna sensed it, he wanted to correct it. He vanished in the waters of the holy river leaving Gopis in a dire state. They were lost and in despair sang Gopi Geet.

They went from forest to forest, from pond to pond looking for Krishna. Finally, they went to the Yamuna and asked his whereabouts. The holy river was moved by their desperate state and she requested Krishna to come out and bring the joy back on the faces of Gopis.

Gopis thanked Yamuna Ji by offering Chunri to her. Since then this ritual is followed by people who want to thank the holy river for fulfilling their wishes.

Video: Watch the Chunri Manorath ritual

Ritual

Families come in a procession, carrying the Chunri or the roll of Saris on their heads. They are dressed in their best clothes. One family has all the women wearing red bandhani saris. Another one has women wearing heavy silk saris and best of jewelry. I guess most of them were wearing new saris. They come to the ghats of the holy river dancing and singing to the love music. As they pass through the markets, everyone knows that the river is going to look beautiful once again.

They sit on the steps of the ghat as the priest prepares for the Chunri Puja. A platform is a setup to perform the following Pujas in sequence:

Ganesh Puja Kalash Puja Matrika Puja Krishna and Yamuna Puja

Sri Krishna and the Yamuna Murthis

Two pots are painted as Krishna and Yamuna. They are decorated like a bride and groom. Every person participating in the puja offers them clothes and jewelry. They are surrounded by sweets of all kinds. I watched the Murtis being decorated with lots of love and affection by the priests as well as the family members.

Offerings to the Holy river

The holy river at its edge is offered various things that are offered to any deity in temple worship like milk, curd, Haldi, Kumkum. Since this was also the Holi time, they also offered her 5 colors as if playing Holi with her.

Colors to play Holi with the river

Once all Pujas are done, people start boarding the boats in a sequence holding the Saris, Challenge is to keep the Saris high up in the air. It is a beautiful scene to see the colorful Saris unfold as the boats move slowly across the river, adding color to it. However, the best part is the joy on the faces of people offering the Chunri. It is like they are living a dream.

In between the instructions for the boatmen, we could also hear ‘Yamuna Maiyya ki Jai’. Once done, everyone congratulates each other for the task well accomplished.

Long ritual

Going by the amount of time spent on doing the Puja or number of things offered, I am sure it is a pretty costly ritual to undertake.

I spent a good 3 hours observing this ritual. The big family was kind enough to invite me to join in for a part of Puja where you offer color to the river. They even invited me to come on board for taking the Chunri on the other side. I said thanks but stayed back to look at from the ghats.

It is one of those serendipitous experiences that make you present at the right time and right place. Till a day before, I had no idea of this ritual. In the morning, I just thought we will look at the ghats on the boat ride and then go on with exploring the rest of Mathura. The holy river has other plans for me. She wanted me to see her draped in colorful Saris. It could not have happened without her grace. These are moments when you feel fulfilled as a traveler.

I later learned that a similar ritual is done at the Narmada as well. Let’s see when the Narmada decides to include me in her glorious moments.

Do try to witness this unique ritual as and when you get a chance.

Stories of Krishna and Yamuna

On the ghats of Mathura, you hear various stories.

One story says that it was the Yamuna who got to touch his feet first, just after he was born. As we know, when Krishna was born, his father Vasudeva carried him in a basket across the Yamuna to Gokul to the home of his friends Nand and Yashoda. When he was carrying the waters of the river came till his neck. This is when Krishna took out his feet from the basket and let the Yamuna touch them. The waters receded and Vasudeva could easily cross the river.

Another story is if various acts of Krishna, all of which were done on the banks of this river, including his Raas Leela and Playing of Flute.

Yet another story depicts the river appearing in her human form with a garland of lotus flowers to marry Krishna.

The Yamuna, as we know is the daughter of Sun and sister of Yama – the God of death. She is also considered the Shakti of Krishna in liquid form, sometimes called the form of Birja Devi.

Read more here.

Travel Tips for Boat Ride

You need about an hour or so to leisurely enjoy the ghats here, including the boat ride.

I paid Rs 400/- for an exclusive boat ride for an hour. It can easily seat 15-20 people.

Try visiting in the morning when the ghats are buzzing with activity and the sun is favorable.

The post Chunri Manorath Ritual – When Yamuna River Wears Sari appeared first on Inditales.

[travelwisesr]

Happy to be today at the center of this beautiful country, India. We are in ‘Madhya Pradesh’, a land of timeless wonders and incredible nature.

In fact we landed up yesterday morning from Kolkata and spent the day enjoying being in a nice little Thermal Power township. And when you are back after long in the company of a part of your family, it is always going to be a lot of fun. It was in fact.

We were in Jamnipali, in Chattisgarh, a state carved out of it’s neighbour, Madhya Pradesh sometime back. And today morning we took this four hour car journey to reach this historical city, Amarkantak.

The last few hours of the journey going up the mountains with beautiful nature all around was just awesome.

Situated at an altitude of 1000 m, Amarkantak is a well frequented Hindu pilgrimage center that is popularly known as ‘Teerthraj’, ‘the king of pilgrimages’.

The Amarkantak region has a rich natural heritage. It is the meeting point of the Vindhya and the Satpura Ranges, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum. Three rivers – the holy Narmada, the Sone and the Johila – emerge here. And they each set out in different directions. The Narmada to the Arabian Sea. The Sone to the Bay of Bengal. And Johila merges with River Sone.

The forests surrounding Amarkantak have a rich variety of plants with medicinal properties, which make it extremely significant from an ecological point of view.

The exposure to fresh air perhaps made us feel hungry and hence just after checking in to our hotel, we decided to venture out for lunch. By the way, this town is entirely vegetarian and even eggs are not available. I quite liked the idea and the change from the normal non-vegetarian food we are used to gorging on.

We chose the clean looking eating joint on the main road which was owned by someone named Brij. A name so familiar, as it was the same as my next door Delhi neighbor, while I used to stay there till a couple of years back. I was happy and more so because of hospitality shown by not only Brij but the entire clan. His wife, sons & daughter. They together ran the place. We were offered to feast as much as we could, at a fixed price. Only Rupees Fifty. And the food? Just awesome Have a look

After lunch we went back to our hotel for a while to relax before we went out exploring the town. The one place that touched my heart was the flower and plant horticulture garden with it’s beauties all around. Enjoy nature beautiful 🌿🌲

After a spin around and as it was approaching evening, we visited the pilgrimage attraction, the Narmada Temple. There are as many as 16 small temples within the temple complex of Narmadakund. What a beautiful peace heaven.

Narmada Temple

We kept sitting there and enjoying the tranquility of the place till the “Aarti” or evening prayers started at 7 PM and went on till late in the evening.

It is here inside this temple that the holy River Narmada originates from

Ma Narmada Temple (Mother Narmada Temple)

The Aarti. It is here, the Kund, from where the Holy River Narmada emerges. So very fascinating

Wish to get a real feel? Let’s see.

A group of devotees from Andhra Pradesh, another state in India, who have come down to perform Yagna for 7 consecutive days, an offering ritual in Hinduism done in front of a sacred fire and chanting of mantras.

Enjoy this experience

The evening was was well spent with a sense of fulfillment before heading off for our dinner and retiring back to our hotel. It was such a beautiful spiritual experience.

The next morning we got up early at 5 AM, spent some relaxing moments and then got prepared to visit the temple back to offer our prayers and offerings.

The Kund where Narmada River emerges

And We feeling so happy & refreshed after offering our Puja (Prayers and offerings)

Enjoy a walk around this historical masterpiece, the Narmadakund Complex

After a wonderful breakfast of Puri Subzi, Aloo Parathas & Curd followed by some special local touch tea, we set exploring.

Just opposite the Narmadakund complex is the historical “Amarkantak Group of Temples”. It dates back to 8th Century when Shankaracharya built a Surya Kunda to specify the origin of the Narmada. The complex has the Pataleswar Mahadev Temple, Shiv Temple & Karan Temple besides other temples.

Pataleswar Temple

Shiv Temple

Karan Temples

We now head towards the other attractions and first to the complex which again has a number of temples including the “Kunda” from where River Sone emerges.

The Kunda from where River Sone energes

It moves ahead..

And then it goes down into the mountains below. And all this while we were going around we had all around us, these ladies & gentlemen to give us company. In return all they expected was some snacks & a few fruits

Let’s proceed now to have some more fun and much more of nature.

Shri Yantra Temple

Amarkantak Gurudwara

And now the scenic beauty which will make you feel we are blessed to be born human & living.

The Narmada flows on..

And this is a fall..

Kapildhara Fall

The beauty around is just mesmerizing. Have a feel.

Let’s now go down into the valley to experience Narmada even closer and then go down even further to another fall, the Dugdhadhara fall. Time to check our fitness 😁

A lovely bridge that we cross to go down into the valley

Kapildhara Fall

Dugdhdahara Fall

Back where we left from after a trek up, it was time for some refreshing Shikanji (Lemon Water) before we moved further towards some other attractions.

Jaleswar Dham and Kundh from where River Johila emerges

Annapurna Dham

If you are coming to Amarkantak there are various options for accommodation available. You have the Holiday Homes from MPSTDC but it is a little away from the center. You also have few resorts & hotels including the one we stayed in. And there is also Ramakrishna Mandir cottages, not far away from the center of town but very beautiful.

The hotel that we stayed in, Hotel Shreemata Sadan was not too fancy but very neat and clean with a lot of greenery around in the campus. It was also very strategically located very close to the Narmada Temple with most other places that we visited, except the falls, within close vicinity. It looked like the best around too.

When you are coming over to Amarkantak, you could plan to visit the other places of interest nearby which are Royal Bandhavgarh, a place of mythological and legendary significance. The ancient Bandhavgarh Fort here is of great importance as it is believed to have been gifted by Lord Rama to his younger brother Lakshmana. Also, the Kanha National Park. Spread across 940 sq.km, Kanha National Park is one of the largest parks in Madhya Pradesh where the majestic royal Bengal tigers are found in good numbers. Both these attractions are approximately four hours away from Amarkantak by private transport.

Jabalpur Airport is the nearest airport to Amarkantak located at about 300 km from Amarkantak. Pendra Railway station is the nearest rail head located about 40 km away. It is also well connected by regular bus/cab service with Jabalpur, Bilaspur and Pendra Road.

Amarkantak. Truly a land of timeless wonders and incredible nature. Come over. Experience “India Beautiful”.

Amarkantak Happy to be today at the center of this beautiful country, India. We are in 'Madhya Pradesh', a land of timeless wonders and incredible nature.

[altughuner-blog]

India Travel is unique. There is so much you can explore that you can get lost in the options. Most of the times you are not even aware of the options available and you end up going to cliché places only.

Stock Photos – Shutterstock

While your India Travel plan should definitely have the famous monuments like Taj Mahal, it is the experiences that would give you the real flavor of this nation.

Top 12 India Travel Experiences

So, let me take you through some Indian experiences that you can include in your travel itinerary.

1. Explore the Wildlife of Indian Forests

In the culture that is overwhelming, sometimes the countries wildlife takes a back seat. Remember India is home to unique species including Tigers, Lions, Single Horned Rhinos, Elephants. Indian forests and jungles are full of animal species that would amaze you.

Collarwali Tigress at Pench National Park

Most forests come under the forests department who are responsible for conserving and preserving them. This means the entry is restricted. It is usually accessible through guided safaris, where a forest jeep and a forest guide will take you around and show you flora and fauna of the forest. Some national parks also offer elephant safaris, walking safaris and boat safaris too.

All safaris are worth exploring. Imagine sitting in a boat surrounded by lush green forest and animals just doing their regular business and birds flying all over.

Single-horned Rhinoceros grazing at Hollong

Some national parks like Pench, known for being the setting of Mowgli allow you to live in tree houses. There are some forests with lovely tribal villages or forts and this where you get to explore nature and ancient aboriginal culture.

Read More – Our Complete Guide to Planning Wildlife Holidays

2. Understand the Indian Temple Architecture

Growing up in the northern state of Punjab, I grew oblivious to the stunning temples that exist in most of India. I discovered the temple architecture pretty late in life. However, once enticed, I can not just get enough of them. The more I visit an ancient Indian temple, the more I discover, an architecture that is soaked in stories, legends, philosophy, aesthetics, and history.

I highly recommend that you visit at least one set of ancient Indian temples, whichever part of the country you visit.

If you are visiting for the first time and doing the most popular Delhi, Agra & Jaipur circuit, consider extending it to include Khajuraho.

Kandariya Mahadev Temple at Khajuraho

Heading to the Himalayas? check out Jageshwar Dham in Uttarakhand or Stone and Wood Temples of Himachal Pradesh.

Southern States

If you are doing southern states, you would be spoilt for choices, wherever you go, you will find beautiful temples. My favorite cities to explore south Indian temples would be Kanchipuram and Thanjavur. Both present the two prominent temple architecture styles – Pallava & Cholas. Kerala has its own slanting roof architecture dominated by wood.

Brihadeeswara Temple popularly called the Big Temple or Thanjavur Temple

In the West, you should not miss Kailash temple at Ellora or Kopeshwar Temple in Khidrapur.

Eastern states, check out the lovely Terracotta temples of Bishnupur or the Puri, Bhubaneshwar, and Konark in Odisha.

In the North East, there is Kamakhya temple near Guwahati and then the temple town of Sibasagar.

Even the touristy Goa has its own style of Goan temple architecture.

Look for the material used in the making of a temple, the motifs used, the stories carves, the style of Shikhara or the superstructure, the presiding deity and local folklore when you visit an Indian temple.

Check out our series on Temples of India

3. Visit a Museum for some time travel

Museums are not really our strong point when it comes to popular tourist places. Having said that, to meet India of a different space and time, you do need to check out some of our museums. Your travel cannot be complete without visiting a few museums.

Shiva Lila from Tanjore Gallery

Archaeological Survey of India has many museums full of ancient artifacts, specially excavated sculptures that are like a treasure hunt. Ask a curator to take you around the museum, and you will discover the stories and technologies of good old days of the nation.

Delhi, I highly recommend the National Museum and Sulabh Toilets Museum

Mumbai check-out the Bhau Daji Lad museum that documents the city of Mumbai and its rich & diverse history

Chennai – the Egmore Museum has the best of Chola bronzes

Kolkata, we have the oldest of Indian Museums called India Museum

Hyderabad has Salarjung museum for history and a very innovative Sudha Car Museum

Jaipur has the Albert Hall Museum

Ahmedabad has Calico Museum

Vizag has a submarine museum

Every state capital and major archaeological sites have impressive museums. Mathura museum has some of the best gems of Mathura school of Art.

Buddha statue in Mathura School of Art style in Red Stone at Mathura Museum

Do not hesitate & request the staff to show you the museum. The documentation and guided tours are still in the making. Hopefully, this should change soon.

4. Enjoy Indian Cuisine in a Thali

You would probably eat Indian food primarily during your India tour. However, make sure you try a local Thali whichever part of the country you set out to explore. A Thali is a full platter that comes with many dishes, sometimes as many as 30+.

Rajasthani Thali

Thali meal usually comes in a round plate, with different bowls carrying different dishes. Some items are common but Thali from every region is different. It is full of local cuisine, local and seasonal vegetables and side dishes like pickles, lassi or sweets.

You must experience a local Thali whichever part of the country your India Itinerary takes you to.

Satvik Thali in an Indian Ashram

I also recommend that you try a meal at a local temple or an ashram. This would be simple yet wholesome food that is served with a lot of gratitude. It is almost always served free though you are free to contribute to the temple after the meal.

Check out our detailed post on – 15 Best Indian Thalis to explore Indian Cuisine

5. Converse with an Indian River

Ancient Indian Civilizations grew on the banks of rivers. Even today, almost every major city or town has a river or two flowing through it.

Rivers are considered Goddesses for their life-sustaining waters or mothers for they nurture us with their water. The tradition today lives in the form of river worship. In many places, you will see temples dedicated to major rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, and Kaveri.

Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi

I strongly suggest that you attend at least one Arti of a river that you may be passing by. The most well-known river Artis are:

Ganga Arti at Dashashwamedha Ghat in Varanasi

Ganga Arti in Haridwar & Rishikesh

Saryu Arti in Ayodhya

Yamuna Arti in Mathura & Vrindavan

Narmada Arti in Maheshwar

Tapti Arti in Burhanpur

Most of these Artis is done in the evening, just after sunset. Lit up lamps reflecting in the waters of the river look beautiful. This is not a formal event where you need an invitation. Just land up at the place where Arti is performed, and be a part of it.

Sunset time over the mighty Brahmaputra river, Guwahati

You can also take cruises on rivers like Ganga and Brahmaputra or boat rides on rivers like Chambal and Mandovi.

6. Go Shopping in Indian Bazaars

Markets are a microcosm of a culture, an indicator of what is consumed by that land. Now, of course, we have new age shopping malls in almost all big and small cities.

My favorite go -to places are old style markets where small vendors bring their stuff to sell. You will be surprised how these markets are dominated by women.

Colorful Hyderabadi Bangles

Old markets have areas designated for different types of merchandise like one lane for clothes, another for jewelry and a different for spices. So, you get all your options in one place to choose from. In Goa, Mapusa market is even designed to make sure that you can buy the fish just before heading home.

Brassware at Chawri Bazaar

Indian markets are crowded and chaotic and buzzing with energy. I can bet this is the best place in the world to hone your negotiation skills. If you are not in a mood, just stand in a corner and see the ongoing negotiations. They are just a treat to watch.

Some of our favorite markets across the country are:

Delhi – Bazaars of Old Delhi or Chandni Chowk

Hyderabad – Laad Bazaar and the lanes around it

Goa – Anjuna Flea Market

Jaipur – Bapu Bazaar

Varanasi – Thatheri Gali

Chennai – T Nagar

Highly recommend that you spend a few hours in a local Indian market during your India Travel, no matter which part you travel to. You see a transactional world that is so much a part of any culture.

7. Hike to a Fort

In Sanskrit or Hindi, Fort is called Durg meaning something that is not easy to reach. So, the forts are usually located on hilltops from where the soldiers can keep an eye on any approaching danger of any kind. There are forts all along the long coastline of the nation.

Landscape view of Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan

Many forts are as large as a mid-sized city with villages living within the fort walls. Fortified with tall strong walls on which you can literally walk, these forts are a living heritage. Each fort has some unique construction to admire like Vijay Stambh in Chittorgarh Fort or the second longest wall of Kumbhalgarh Fort.

There are sea forts like Sindhudurg that have been standing in the middle of the see for 400+ years with a source of sweet water. There are forts like Jhansi made famous by the queen who ruled from here. And there are living forts like Orchha and Jaisalmer Fort.

India was made up of many small kingdoms until 1947. So, it is not difficult to find a fort anywhere in the country. Check out our series on – Forts of India

You can also try and live in a heritage hotel, which may have been a palace or a house of a noble family once upon a time.

8. Taste Street Food & Let your taste buds go wild

I can live on Indian Street Food. You find it everywhere, in the streets, in public places, outside colleges and universities and just about anywhere.

Ravi Gol Gappe Wala – Lucknow

Indian street food is generally tangy with a generous dose of spices. They work perfectly on the tongue, though on the stomach the effect may vary from person to person. The list of street food is exhaustive, but here are some popular options:

Pani Puri also called Gol Gappe or Puchkas Pao Bahji Aaloo Tikki Wada Pao Samosa Kachori Bhelpuri or Jhalmuri Bhajjis or Pakodas Bhutta or roasted corncob

My favorite cities for vegetarian street food are Indore, Lucknow & Ahmedabad. Though every city has something unique to offer in their platter of Indian street food.

Kalkatta Dahi Wada – Mouth watering Street food in Jaipur to try

9. Weave in a Textile Stop in your India Travel Plan

India has a long history of textiles and everything to do with textiles. The world came to us for textiles, for the dyed cloth in indigo. There are different weaves and patterns that have evolved over a period of time, over which we paint and we do embroidery, sometimes even with gold and silver and gemstones. Textile heritage of the country is incredible and one that you must explore beyond just shopping.

Colorful Handloom Saris – Maheshwar

Popular weaving hubs are Varanasi, Kanchipuram, Sri Kalahasti, Pochampally, Patan, Paithan, Bhagalpur, Maheshwar, Bishnupur among many others.

You can also see weaving being done at some of the Khadi Ashrams. Try to understand how the threads are woven together to make patterns on the garment.

Saris are the most beautiful example of the textile tradition of the nation. However, the woven cloth is used to stitch all kinds of garments and home linen.

Do include Textiles in your Indian tour – it is one of the few continuously living heritage of the country.

If you are a jewelry enthusiast, do explore the jewelry along with textiles. From tribal jewelry in beads and silver to gem-studded jewelry to junk jewelry on the roadside stalls – it is a world in itself to explore.

10. Fruits – Have you tasted our Mangoes?

Fruits thankfully still belong to their respective geographies despite all the initiatives to plant them elsewhere. Mango is the king of fruits for us and the best time to enjoy them fresh is peak summers.

Mango Fruit stalls in Panaji Market, Goa Summer Delights

Sometimes I feel we manage to tolerate the summers only because it brings Mangoes and other juicy fruits like melons with it. Most Indians would have fond Mango stories to tell.

We all fight about which Mango variety is the best. Everyone likes the one they grew up with. I love Banarasi Langda while my spouse thinks Alphonso is the best mango. There are mangoes that you cut and eat, the ones you suck and eat, the ones you make drinks from and eat and the ones you pickle to savor for the rest of the year.

Litchi and Bel are some other summer fruits found mostly in the foothills of Himalayas.

Enrich your India Travel by tasting these yummy fruits.

Read More – Pink & Purple Fruits of Goa

11. Explore the Rural Life and Artisan Villages during India Travel

You might have heard that real India lives in its village. I do not agree with that. I think urban areas may have similarities with urban pockets around the world. Rural regions are little more rooted in the culture and traditions.

Gateway to the fort at Bishnupur

I recommend spending some time in a small village. Check out this list of Rural Tourism Companies that offer experiences in Indian hinterlands.

National award winner Dhokra artist Smt Budhiarin Devi at Ektaal crafts village

You can also choose to visit artisan villages like Bishnupur in Bengal, Raghurajpur in Odisha, Pochampally near Hyderabad or Firozabad near Agra. Again these places are not too difficult to find. You just need to budget some time in your trip itinerary to stop at a village and explore the simpler life of agrarian society.

12. Soak in a bit of Living Art Forms during India Travel

Culture is best communicated through native art forms and the country has so many that I always lose count. Here are some ideas for you to connect or pick up. Check out the local newspapers for ongoing shows and tickets.

Kathakali performers mix with the audience to engage

Watch a classical or a folk-dance performance

Watch a Bollywood Film – you can even take a Bollywood tour in Mumbai

Attend a painting or a Rangoli making workshop

Visit an Art exhibition

Take a Yoga class

Join a cooking course

Haleem Khan performing Kuchipudi

India Travel is all about discovering a new facet of the country at every step. We have a local saying that translates – Every 3 km the water changes and every 12 km the language changes and along with them changes everything else. This is the nuanced diversity this country holds.

Yoga Practice on the beach?

Do include some of these experiences if not all when you plan your India travel.

Best India Travel Experiences, Stock Photos – Shutterstock

Do not forget to share your experiences with us.

The post Planning India Travel? 12 Unique Experiences To Explore appeared first on Inditales.