A trip to Puri (Odisha)-1


What does a tourist or a vacationer need? True, a comfy stay option, delicious food ,a guide and a vehicle that could be comfortable .Now ,the first task was to rent a vehicle to get out of the city.Here, at the beach a travel agency, Chakarborty tours and travels assisted us with information regarding Puri and other sites and even offered a friendly guide and a luxurious vehicle  at reasonable and affordable prices .Here, hotels are in plenty but the one that matches our pocket was 'Beach Bengal' close to the beach.
    Next day we started out early around 4.30 am for another beautiful and  tempting destination. Through the course of our 30 kilometres drive and with miles of  scenic coastal roads up to Chandrabhaga, an unmatched scenery and forest like appearance on both the sides passed through our eyes.The well maintained  road  offered a smooth ride  .   The time we reached the spot ,the sunrise had already occured and we missed it by a couple of minutes.The beach was calm and has no crowd like puri.But, even in the early hours ,the tourists were present and enjoying the nature's beauty.
Chandrabhaga is also an ideal vacation and tempting tourist spot.The best part is that this spot is far away from everyday noise .There is a music.Spending time here really gave us a type of divine feelings. The cool and fresh breeze , the calm surroundings boosted us with positive energy.This spot is not an ordinary beach but has rich history and many mythological stories are also connected to this place.As far as health and wellness purposes are concerned I could say that this place is the best one to travel.Here, hotels are also present but  fewer in number.A number of images of sea waves and the rising sun were photographed by us.There we all had a tea at the tea stall and also sipped fresh coconut water .
     The next destination was ' Konark Sun Temple'.This temple is made in the form of chariot with 24 wheels ,with  seven horses pulling the chariot. But  the image  of wheel is the main centre of attraction here.We saw tourists taking snaps of the wheel.It is said that the temple is built by King Narasimhadeva 1 who was the great ruler of the Ganga dynasty. Around 1200 artisans had worked day night for twelve years to
complete this temple.'Konark' consists of two words 'Kona' means corner and 'Arka means ' the sun'.Presently the temple is in ruined state and renovation work is also going on.We really enjoyed a lot there.

A trip to Puri  beach - 1 (Odisha).

 No doubt, Odisha has lots to offer to tourists beautiful beaches, rich history, culture and good food.That's what every tourist needs. Being a beach enthusiast I never plan my travels if the destination is a sea-side city like 'Puri'.

  So on a friend's suggestion who many a time has been to this city strongly advised me to travel here.And ,I packed my bags and quit with my friends for this pocket-friendly destination. After an overnight journey when the train headed towards Puri ,vast stretches of coconut trees along each side attracted our attention. The sight was captivating. Around 8 am the train rolled into the land of Lord Jagannath 'Puri' .A ten-minute short drive from the railway station took us to the pristine beach.There was no scarcity of hotels or lodges .They were huge in number. There all types of stay options were available from cheaper to expensive one.And we checked into a comfy and budget friendly lodge close to the beach. During summer season and 'Rath yatra' there is a heavy flow of tourists and vacationers. To find a stay option during that period is truly a tough task.

              As we walked along the shoreline the rolling waves lapped at our toes.As we had been there to enjoy so no one of our group members took any risk and safely played in the water. We didn't go deep into the sea instead enjoyed in knee deep salty water .We soaked up some sun on the beach and also saw the beautiful sunset.In this soft sandy beach, one can find all sorts of entertainment.At a rent beach chairs, tables and umbrellas are easily available .Popcorn, roasted groundnut....are the stuffs that one  could get  at the beach. Here, night is more colourful ,especially for the foodies . With the sunset many makeshift eateries line  the road that run along the beach and becomes a paradise for sea food lovers.
       

Stephen Hawking, a great scientist.

Stephen William Hawking ,a brilliant scientist ,a discoverer,a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and one who unearths many mysteries of the universe  passed away, in the early hours of Wednesday, at the age of 76.
             Hawking was born in Oxford, England on 8 Jan 1942.He did his schooling from St. Albans school ,Hertfordshire and university education from university college, Oxford. He earned his master's and PhD at Cambridge university.
          At the age of 21 he was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and was told that he had just a year to two to live but he lived for longer period. But the disease left him in a wheelchair and unable to speak .The disease made him fully dependent on others. With the help of speech synthesizer he used to speak in a computerized voice.
         

He was mainly associated with theoretical physics that explains and predict natural phenomena using mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects. He was author of many books related to universe and our existence. Some of his popular books are ,A Brief History of Time, The grand Design, The universe in a Nutshell, My Brief History, The theory of Everything and many more.
      He was famous for his work with blackholes and relativity. He discovered that blackholes  were not black and emit radiations and gradually evaporate and disappear. He used the word ' Hawking radiation' in 1974.He had at least 12 honorary degrees and was awarded Presidential  Medal of Freedom, Copley Medal, Albert Einstein Medal, Wolf Prize in physics and many more.

A tribute to Sridevi.

Sometimes an unbelievable thing happens to which the mind tries to understand but the heart doesn't. The sudden and untimely death of Sridevi in Dubai is one such example. The legendery actress who ruled the hearts in 80's and 90's shocked and saddened the fans and admirers all over the world.
     The beauty who started her career at the age of just four made her debut in Tamil film 'Kandan karunai'.In 1967, she worked with the top actress of that era 'Jaylalita'.In 1972 she worked as a child artist in Hindi movie 'Rani Mera Naam' and the turning point in her career came with the Hindi film'Solva Sawan'.In 1975,she also worked in the Hindi film 'Juli'.
     She worked with many superstars like Rajnikant,Amitabh Bachchan,Kamal Hasan.She has done 27 films with Kamal Hasan.Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi have jointly worked in 6 movies. Some of them are Bombay Talkies, English Vinglish,Khuda Gawah,Aakhree Raasta,Inquilaab etc.The movies she has done  with Rajnikant is  22.They are Farishtay, Chaalbaaz, Bhagwan Dada and many Telugu and Tamil films.With Jitendra she jointly did 16 films of which Himmatwala, Ghar Sansar, Tohfa,Jaani Dost are more popular.Rishi kapoor and Sridevi also gave popular films but very few in number ,only five ,they are Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha,Gurudev,Banjaran, Chandni(1989), Nagina(1986).The film Chandni was one of the biggest hits at that time.Her superhit films are Mr.India,Judai,Chandni,Chalbaaz and Khuda Gawah.She was one of the biggest female superstars who ruled countless hearts .
  She won five Filmfare Awards and in the year 2013 she was also awarded with Padma Shri.She also bagged 'Order of Afghanistan ' in 1991 for the movie Khuda Gawah.
True,she is no more but her work always reminiscences of her extraordinary qualities that none possesses.

Lord Shiva 

How Shivratri is connected?

Mahashivratri simply means 'the Great Night of Lord Shiva' . But who is Lord Shiva ?

 In Hindu religion the Lord Shiva is considered the God of destroyer ,but He is one who protects and runs this universe. He is everything. The entire creation begins and ends with the Lord Shiva .So, He is also called the God of the Gods or Mahadev.

 Lord Shiva also means life and life is present everywhere .That means He is Omnipresent.

Lord Shiva also refers to energy. Shiva is also a mantra. And chanting the name Shiva gives immense energy.
 Lord Shiva is also called 'swaimbhu' means none has created Him. He is self made.

 The great festival of Mahashivratri has a significant place in the Hindu religion. There are a number of stories connected to Mahashivratri. One such story is during the churning of sea or the samudra manthan, a pot containing poison emerged. Incapable of consuming  ,the Gods and the demons all rushed to Lord Shiva .Shiva drank the poison and held it in His throat that turned the color of His throat  bluish and so got another name Nilkanth.This event is also celebrated in the form of Mahashivratri.

 To please this supreme being, devotees offer holy water, milk, bel leaf,datura and many more and get His blessings.

A trip to Omkareshwar.

True,I have a consuming passion for travelling and when the destination is a holy place I never miss it.I am someone who usually soak in the culture and scenic beauty of a new destination.
      After Mahakaleshwar temple my next destination was Omkareshwar Jyotirling in Khandwah district ,some 138 Kilometres from the temple city Ujjain. This holy site is a great choice for Hindu pilgrims. Every Hindu want to visit this holy shrine atleast once-in-a-lifetime.Omkareshwar is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
    Early the next fine morning my rental car arrived on time and I head out to Omkareshwar. It was a special ride.The driver ,also my tour guide was very friendly and funny. Outside the road was not crowded .Except a few no more traffic was on the road.So,I easily left the Ujjain city and moved towards my destination.
  Every few kilometres of my drive introduced me to a inspiring and motivating beauty.The view was spectacular. The never ending mountains and green scenery was very attracting.After an hour drive I reached 'Sani' temple where devotees were found offering mustard oil to the Almighty. Then, a two -hour hassle free drive took me to the picturesque spot 'Omkareshwar'.
      The temple 'Omkareshwar' is located on the river Narmada. This temple belongs to Hindu religion and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.Omkareshwar looks like a part of island with water surrounding it on all sides and is connected to the main land by a bridge. Devotees also cross the river by boat .Since the island shape is like 'OM' the Hindu sacred symbol so, it is also known by name 'Omkareshwar' .To reach the temple certain number of steps has to be climbed .Here,it is also believed that the stones present in the Narmada river are also' Shiva Linga' and could be worshiped.
    On the other side of the river Mamleshwar temple is present which is also  dedicated to Lord Shiva. Hordes of tourists flock to Omkareshwar and Mamleshwar temple every year.No doubt, some moments that I have experienced while travelling would stay with me forever.

Republic Day, 2018

       26 January is celebrated as Republic Day in our country, India. On the same day in the year 1950 India celebrated its first Republic Day as the constitution came into effect.But why 26 January ?
 Because on the same day, in the year 1930 Indian National Congress proclaimed the declaration of Indian independence or purna swaraj.
       Every year foreign head of state is invited by the government of India as the chief guest to grace the occasion. The main aim that remains is to display the Indian culture ,military power and technological developments that is also the strength and backbone of any country.Different regiments of the Indian soldiers also do march-past on this occasion.
 This year Republic Day celebration is different from the previous years .Generally every year one guest is invited on Republic Day but this year Indian government is inviting two guests .At the same time ten heads of ASEAN countries have also been invited. One more important event that is taking place this year is that for the first time women power is given much significance. Women from BSF will display their stunts and acrobatics.

How 'Vasant Panchami' and the Goddess              'Saraswati'  related ?

                                          

It might surprise some but the fact remains that Indian festivals and festive seasons have their own colour, flavour and taste.Lots of changes could be seen around and excitement also attains its peak.Indeed, these festivals have got people hooked despite their busy schedule.

No doubt' Vasant Panchami ' or 'Sri Panchami' has a significant place in the long list of Hindu festivals. In Hindu mythology 'Vasant' is said to be the son of 'Kamadeva' the god of love.The word 'Vasant' marks the beginning of spring season when the climate is lovely neither hot nor cold and very touchy to body and soul.'Vasant' is also the king of seasons. Its arrival rejuvenates each and every cell and fill them with positive energy.

During this period the beauty is very captivating and captures the attention of all living creatures. On the very same day,the Hindu deity ,the goddess 'Saraswati' is worshipped all over India as well as in some countries like Nepal,Indonesia etc.The preparations for Holi also begin the same day.

 The Goddess 'Saraswati' is believed to be the goddess of learning, intelligence and knowledge. The idol of 'Saraswati' is seen seating on swan holding Veena, a musical instrument. She holds books in one hand and Veena in another.That signifies that like music we should make the reading also interesting.

 There is a belief that at the time of formation of universe there was no sound, everywhere silence persisted .Even all creatures were soundless .On 'Vasant  Panchami' the birth of sound took place by the Veena of goddess Saraswati.

It is believed that higher aspirations or wishes relating to  learning ,intelligence, art,music could not be fulfilled without the blessings of goddess' Saraswati'.
       

Martin Luther King Jr., Day (15 January)

In the world of uncertainities,no one knows who would create a history and one such example is Martin Luther King Jr.,a civil rights activist.

Born on Jan 15,1929 in Atlanta, Georgia was the second of the three children .At the early years, his parents used to call him by name Michael. Inspired by the leader Martin Luther his father named him Martin Luther king Jr.On his 89th anniversary people all over the world remembered him for his extraordinary work.
  In the United States Jan 15, is also observed as Martin Luther Day or MLK Day or King Day and is also a federal holiday .In America federal holiday means all the non-essential federal government offices are closed and at the same time federal employee also enjoy as paid holiday.
 In the real sense ,on this auspicious day people celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther king Jr.,
Many educational institutions arrange different types of programmes on this day.His struggle against racism proves that he was brave enough.Many a time he had mentioned about racial equality in his speeches.He had a strong desire to bring the blacks and the whites under one roof.He was also a civil rights activist who bagged a Nobel peace prize in young age in the year 1964.But this great and brave leader was assassinated at the age of just 39 years in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

Lord Shiva and Jyotirlingas

 A while ago, all at once a question did arise in my brainbox who has created this universe? Are the theories, laws of science working? Or the magical powers of centuries-old saints .True, the confusion persisted for a couple of minutes and then I came out in favor of compromise. In other words ,the result was a compromise .

Think God and almost instantly you think of Lord Shiva.In the Hindu regilion there are some sixty four thousand gods and goddesses and Bramha is the creator,Vishnu is the preserver and Shiva is the destroyer. Of them the Lord Shiva is given the supreme significance.

        The Lord Shiva is the God who gets easily impressed ,even by offering Him  only water.He is also known by name 'Mahadev'.But to please this deity the devotees offer milk, water ,belu patra
(Aegle marmelos) and Datura( Datura
Stramonium) .Belu patra is very favorite to the Lord Shiva.

The Hindu mythological books  describe that on the earth the divine power of Lord Shiva lies in the Jytoirlingas.Jytoirlinga is basically a symbol or sign or structure that has the divine power or energy of the Almighty.

There is a belief that one who pays obeisance here gets the blessings of the Almighty and also get all his wishes fulfilled. Another belief is that one who simply recites the name of Lord Shiva and twelve Jyotirlingas is relieved of all sins and becomes free from the vicious cycle of life and death.

   For Hindus these Jyotirlingas are holy sites of pilgrimage. Every Hindu keep a desire to visit these sites once in their life.These sacred places attract tourists from all walks of life.Every year thousands of pilgrims from all over the world make the pilgrimage to these Jyotirlingas .There are twelve Jyotirlingas spread all over India.They are

(1)Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga--  Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

(2) Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga---   Madhya Pradesh

(3) Vaidyanath  Jyotirlinga --  Deograh, Jharkhand

(4) Bhimshankar Jyotirlinga --Pune, Maharashtra

(5)Rameshwar Jyotirlinga---Tamil Nadu

(6) Nageshwar Jyotirlinga--- Gujarat

(7) Vishwanath Jyotirlinga--Varanasi,Uttar Pradesh

(8) Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga--- Nasik,Maharashtra

(9) Kedarnath Jyotirlinga--- Himalayan Range,Uttarakhand

(10) Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga-- Aurangabad,Maharashtra

(11) Somnath Jyotirlinga---Kathiwad district, Gujarat

(12)Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga --- Andhra pradesh also known as 'Kailash of the south'

An interesting journey !

A couple of days ago ,I was on my way to Patna .When my train pulled in and halted at Asansol jn ,in West Bengal a family consisting of two kids ,husband ,wife, grandparents boarded the train, with a  load of luggage .

As they got into it one of the two children ,very bold and smart rushed to my seat and said" Uncle 17,18,19,20,21,22 are our seats"I kept mum and didn't reply .In a flash his father came with two heavy bags ,followed by his other family members.They all arranged the luggage and occupied their seats.Then ,the granny asked the kids"Give the  luggage if any left" To that the kids shouted in unison "Take these two bags but the jute bag we won't give you granny, as this bag has food ,chips ,cakes and many more to eat ".

 Then, the process of eating started. Firstly, came the turn of tiffin box that they had .The aroma of the food spreaded  all over the compartment.They consumed the tiffin stuffs in no time.  Then, in the queue present were ready to eat food like chips ,cakes etc.The opening of packets continued up to the last minute of the journey .

During my whole journey of around eight hours their mouth kept doing the exercises, never paused for a second ,the chewing and biting process kept running. The most interesting part was that in that fest not only kids had participated but the whole members husband,wife ,grandparents all equally had taken part. I really enjoyed that journey and how the time ran out ,I didn't understand.

'Bhasma Aarti' of Mahakaleswar Temple

In ancient times ,Ujjain city was also known by the name'Avantika'.Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain is unique and has a significant place in the Hindu mythology.

 The description and reference of this holy place can be found in the pages of Vedas,Upanishads etc.It is one of the twelve jyotirlingams present on the globe.About this temple there is a belief that one who pays obeisance in front of this Shiv linga do not die a premature death.

Since ages,pilgrims from all over the country have been visiting this divine place. But the uniqueness is not only because of the jyotirlinga but lies in the fact that here a very uncommon ritual is observed i.e 'Bhasma Aarti'.

       'Bhasma' means 'ashes' and 'Aarti' is a ritual done to pay respect and to please the God.To truely experience the beauty of this' Aarti ' needs absolute devotion to Almighty. Concentration and clear mind are must to enjoy every bit of this function.

 Attracted by this divine ritual I also booked a free entry pass, a day in advance .Getting into also require a dress code and is strictly followed without fail.

The male devotees are allowed in traditional dress' dhoti' while females are permitted in saris .

Perhaps, this is because of the reason that in Hindu religion stitched cloth is not believed to be sacred.
 Next morning, I  left the bed earlier.Around 3.30 AM out the main entrance of the temple there was a long queue and I too joined the crowd. Gradually the serpentine queue moved towards the Sanctum Sanctorum .The path led me into a gallery lookalike a portion of stadium ,close to the Jyotirlinga.

After a short while, the door of the Sanctum Sanctorum opened and then began the chanting of mantras by a group of priests.The head priest bathed the Shiva Linga with holy water, milk,curd and many other things.

 At that particular instant 'Aghori' a man who lives in place where mortal remains are cremated stepped in with ashes of freshly burnt human body.The head priest accepted the ashes also called 'Bhasma' and adorned the Shiva Linga with it.The decoration was done in such a way that the Linga turned into a king wearing crown.

Really the images that passed through my eyes was fantastic sights to behold and deeply settled in my mind.

A trip to the temple city Ujjain-1

Travel enthusiasts are always in search of a new destination, a bit challenging but that really gives immense pleasure to them .Travelling always top their priority list.Their vacations are all about discovering a place of importance .They explore scenic beauty and experience the culture. They are always committed to travelling.Like them,I too have an appetite for sight seeing .No matter it may be a metropolitan city ,a temple town or a national park.Each sight gives a boost to my desire and always encourages me to hunt for another mesmerizing destination.
                 After a short stay at Udaipur city and with Vivid memories I returned Udaipur station when the day is done to catch Ujjain bound train.Many a time I have heard that the temple city Ujjain offers an unique experience of Hindu religion and more importantly is also a place of pilgrimage. It has a lot more than temples -rich history related to Hindu mythology like good food for both body and soul.And the friendly people with emotional touch.That's what attracted me a lot to tour there.

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           Next morning, my train pulled into this city and just 30 mins drive got me to the main entrance of 'Mahakaleshwar Temple' the temple of Lord Shiva.I was really enthralled to see the beauty of this temple. Since the days of the Ramayana Ujjain is known but by another name 'Avantika'
      In the vicinity many comfy hotels at pocket friendly prices were available and I chose one of them.Other stay options were also there.
     It is not just the temples that attract tourist from all over the globe but one thing that add a bit of excitement is to enjoy the 'Bhasma Aarti' performed in the Mahakal temple. To be a part of this Aarti a pass is needed that is issued a day in advance by the temple management.This is the Ujjain that has given birth to many stories relating to Hindu mythology.

A visit to Belur Math

Metropolitan cities rarely sleep and pretty much the same for Kolkata city.This city has a plethora of things to offer like historical places ,interesting sights ,ferry ride, delicious cuisines and the list goes on, that are enough to keep one busy all day!
Still ,there are a few important one that leave an indelible imprint on mind and one such example is ' Belur Math' a place of significance.
Really, Kolkata is blessed with fine place like 'Belur Math'.A 30 -35 minute short driving from Howrah station take one to this picturesque spot.
In the crowded and over -populated Kolkata city if anyone is looking for a quiet and must see place ,this is the best spot where one really satiates the soul.
          Founded by swami Vivekananda it is unique in architecture.The temples of Ramakrishna, Vivekananda and Sarda Devi here attract tourist from across the globe. And ,the museum is another point of attraction which has the collection of articles related to the life of Ramakrishna,Vivekananda and other sanayasis.
But, to truly experience the inner beauty of this place just vacate the mind ,disengage the senses ,stop diverting the mind and concentrate it that's what I have experienced during my short visit here.

What to eat in Kolkata?

Kolkata means two things for a traveller good food and best places or tourists spot to see. The true flavour of Kolkata could easily be experienced in its local delicacies. There, at short distances ,array of options are available to munch. Foodies needn't have to wander to get them.

To me ,it is a Paradise for foodies .The crowded street is filled with immense variety of mouth-watering dishes. The best place to try any new cuisine is Kolkata ,specially Bengali dishes starting from Jhal Muri, chat to sweet treat like sondesh,Rasogoolas etc. It is the best destination for travellers with a sweet tooth.Here, one can easily taste and enjoy the Bengali dishes ,in a string of stalls present in the busy streets at a pocket friendly prices.The list of delicacies in Bengal and Kolkata is never-ending.But a few must try items are

(1) Jhal muri
(2) Misti Doi
(3) Rosogolla of different flavours
(4) Rasmalai
(5) Rajbhog
(6) Radhabollobi
(7) Fish Curry
(8) Goja