The Sweetest Day

In present ,every individual is in the clutches of stress .May be rich or poor no one is untouched by the wave of stress.If you knock, almost everyone comes out with the tales of problems and difficulties.

Then who is happy? or what makes us happy? Does money really give us a real joy.It may be true for someone but is momentary. Happiness and joy are  not a part of money or wealth  and also has a very short period of life.The concept of joy lies in thinking about others, sharing moments with others .
The idea behind the celebration of the 'The Sweetest Day' is also the same.
     In 1922 Herbert Birch Kingston a philanthropist in Cleveland Ohio also wanted to help the orphans, lonely, isolated and so created the day 'The Sweetest Day'.This day is not popular all over the world but is celebrated in some parts of United states, like the Midwester United States,Northern part of Florida ,Northeastern United states on the third saturday in October. The sweetest Day is slowly spreading throughout the U.S. People share romantic deeds or expressions on this day.Gifts of candy, heart-shaped boxes ,greeting cards containing romantic expressions have been the part of Sweetest Day since its first observance. It is also the day that leaves candy companies salivating as the sales of sweets and candy increase multifold  on this particular day.Many believe that sweetest Day originated to promote the sale of sweets,cards and gifts,so has also been referred as a "a concocted promotion". The biggest sweetest Day celebrators are the cities of Detroit,Cleveland and Buffalo.
No doubt ,whatever may be the reasons but this day atleast brings smile on the face of many.

                    Lord Ganesha .

India is a country of festivals. Hardly ,do we  find a month when there is no festival. Holi, Diwali, Durga puja ,Ganesh chaturthi and many .Some festivals is popular in one part others in different part of the country.
In Hindu mythology Lord Ganesha holds a significant place.Every new project begins with the worship of Lord Ganesha.He is matchless .This is incorrect to say that He is worshipped only in India but the fact is different. Other countries like Sri Lanka,Bali,Thailand,Nepal etc.also have the images and temples of  Lord Ganesha.
Devotees of Lord Ganesha is present almost everywhere in India.Ganesh Chaturthi is the main festival of the people of Maharashtra.Basically ,this festival was started as a public festival   in Pune to bring different castes people under one roof.
     Ganapati, Sumukha,Vinayaka, Ek Dant, Vigneshwara are some of the popular names by which Lord Ganesha is known. He is Vigneshwara because He removes all the obstacles of life.As He has an elephant head so He is called Gajanan. He is a God with one Tusk so He got the name Ek Dant.
   The must to offer things that pleases Him are modak, ladoos and grass( Cynodon dactylon).It is said that grass is offered to  Lord Ganesha to bring good luck and prosperity.And in order to fulfill the  long -awaited desires devotees offer ladoos to Lord Ganesha.
        Shiva and Parvati are the parents of lord Ganesha.But the question is why did  parvati create Lord Ganesh?

There is an interesting story behind  the birth of Lord Ganesha .It is said that behind the creation of Lord Ganesha Parvati's two friends Jaya and Vijaya played the important role. They suggested to make Him.Nandi and others used to follow the instructions of Lord Shiva . And there should be someone who follow the orders of Parvati. So ,Parvati made Lord Ganesha from the dirt of her body.His body parts like long ears  signifies that everyone should listen more and talk less .The small eyes signifies importance of concentration and attention and a large head  is related to wisdom and knowledge.Lord Ganesha got married to Riddhi and Siddhi and has two sons Shetra and Laabh.

 Kawar yatra and Baidyanath Temple

In 2025, the Kanwar Yatra begins on July 11 and ends on August 9.

Out of countless Gods and Goddesses as is claimed by Hindu religion and supported by different mythological books ,Lord Shiva is believed as the supreme power and His divine power lies in Jyotirlinga, which is simply a symbol or a structure.

 

In India ,there are twelve jyotirlingas located at different places. Among them the jyotirlinga at Baidyanath temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand has its own significance ,also known as Kamna linga. The name itself reveals the meaning .Here ,Kamna means wishes or the linga that fulfills the wishes of an individual is called as kamna linga.

During sawan or monsoon season(July-August), also a sacred month of Hindus, thousands of pilgrims from different corners of  the world pay visit and offer holy water to the linga.The popularity of Baidyanath Temple is not only because of jyotirlinga but is also blessed with one more pilgrimage site. This is the only Hindu pilgrimage place in India where jyotirlinga and shaktipeeth are present at one place and very close to one another .

In the sawan month Baidyanath temple look differently because of kawar yatra Kawar is a wooden structure made of bamboo used to carry vessels full of holy water or Ganga Jal.Kawarias are the devotees of shiva who in saffron robes travel barefooted with kawar on the shoulder carrying the holy Ganga jal . 

Kawarias collect holy water or Ganga jal from Sultanganj in Bihar and after rambling through fields,uneven surface  covering 108 kms barefooted they reach Baidyanath temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand where they offer the Ganga jal to the Lord. Several help groups come forward and install makeshift camps along the way at different points to wholeheartedly serve the Kawarias by  providing free food and medical services along with space for rest. While trekking the route Kawarias chants hymns like 'Bol Bam' or ' Har Har Mahadev'.These words are used in praise of the Almighty .

During this sacred pilgrimage, Kanwariyas (devotees) follow strict rituals. While trekking, they avoid consuming salt, and if someone does eat it by mistake, they must take a ritual bath before continuing to carry the Kanwar. During the Yatra, devotees do not call each other by name; instead, they use the word “Bam” to address their fellow pilgrims, as a mark of devotion to Lord Shiva,

But the question is why do  devotees  offer holy water to Lord shiva mainly in the month of sawan ?

The answer to this question is very simple. As per the mythological books the Lord shiva is also called 'Nilkanth' because during churning of the sea many things came out like nectar ,precious gems etc and also a pot containing poison . Among gods no one accepted the same .Ultimately, Lord shiva drank the whole pot full of poison and kept it in the' kanth 'or the neck region and He got the name 'Nilkanth'.

The affect of the poison is more felt during monsoon season and to lower the affect or to cool down, water is offered .So, the holy water is poured during the sawan  month on the Lord or linga.This is the reason behind offering the holy water.  Safforn-clad pilgrims or the Kawarias do the kawar yatra ,which is an annual pilgrimage for or on fulfilment of wishes they had sought from the Almighty.

    

Where to stay during kawar yatra?

Many dharmshalas and temporary settlements are present  along the way which provide free stay option or paid services are also available.

Where to stay at Deoghar?

In Deoghar many dharamshalas ,hotel at pocket friendly prices are available. Luxurious and comfy stay options are also there.

What precautions are to be taken in Deoghar and Sultanganj?

Do bargaining before purchasing any thing and before performing any puja or rituals ask the priest or the panda in advance about the charges or fees to be paid.

Important phone numbers.

From Sultanganj the route to Baidyanath temple is not smooth but has variations. The journey of Kawarias begins with trekking on gravel road and then starts kucha road with inner bare earth surface and a thin layer of sand on top .When wet the road turns muddy and slippery and baked hard when dry.With the fall of rain the road almost becomes impassable and needs precautions to walk.

A large number of temporary stalls made of plastic sheets and some having thatched roofs lined up on both sides of the route that leads to the Baidyanath temple.After every ten to fifteen metres there are stalls where all kinds of stuffs one could get starting from a cup of hot tea to complete food.The Kawarias also relax and take rests in these stalls as they all have wooden beds or chowki called in local language.Some must to eat stuffs on the way are kela jaelebi ,a sweet dish prepared from the pulp of ripened banana,Dahi-rabri (sweet curd and condensed milk ),then hot pure fresh boiled milk .Perhaps ,all these things collectively make this 108 kilometers walk more pleasurable.

Certain rules

that Kawarias follow while carrying the holy water are 

(1)  Not to tell lie during the Kawar yatra

(2) Not to eat non-veg food .

(3) After every nature's call take bath.

(4) keep a distance from stray dogs so that it should not touch the holy water.

These are the important measures that Kawarias follow while travelling barefooted or kawar yatra.

The route to Deoghar from Sultanganj and distances in kms are given below.

 Ajgaibinath (starting point)----Kamrai    6KMS

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Masumganj    (  2KMS )

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Asarganj ( 5 KMS)

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Rangaon ( 5KMS )

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Tarapur ( 3KMS )

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Madhodih ( 2KMS )

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Rampur ( 5KMS )

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Kumarsar ( 8KMS )

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Vishwakarma Tola ( 4KMS )

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Mahadev Nagar ( 3KMS )

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Chandan Nagar ( 3 KMS )

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Jalebia More ( 8KMS )

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Tageshwar Nath ( 5 KMS )

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Suiya ( 3 KMS )

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Shivlok  ( 2 KMS )

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Abrakhia ( 6KMS )

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Katoria ( 8 KMS )

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Lakshman Jhula ( 8KMS )

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Inaravaran ( 8KMS )

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Bhulbhulaiya  ( 3KMS )

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Goryari ( 5KMS )

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Patania ( 5KMS )

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Kolkatia ( 3 KMS )

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Bhotbangla ( 5KMS )

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Darshaniya ( 1KM )

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Baidyanath Temple

With arrival to Baidyanath temple the Kawarias take a holy deep into Shiv Ganga ,a pond which is believed to be the part of sacred river ,the Ganga.After bath the Kawarias offer the holy water ,collected from Sultanganj to the Jyotirlinga at the Baidyanath temple.

After Deoghar the Kawarias visit to Bashukinath temple which is also a place of pilgrimage. A 50 minutes short drive from Deoghar will take the devotees to Basukinath. Like Deoghar this place also draws tourists from across the globe. Here, also the Kawarias offer  holy water to  the shiv linga .It is a belief that kawar yatra will be incomplete without a visit to Bashukinath temple.

What to buy at Deoghar ?

Here devotees  mainly buy peda ,a sweet dish made from milk, bitten paddy ,Elaichi dana made from sugar and powered form of plum also  known by name 'bare churna'

What to do before planning Kawar yatra?

Book railway tickets in advance or make reservations before planning as rush during kawar yatra reach at its peak and getting reservation be

Sultanganj  

0641-2492202 

Police control room 0641-2400701

Control room100

Ambulance 102

Women's Helpline 181

Disaster Management 108

Deoghar important  Phone   nos

Baidyanath Temple 916432232295

9431418752

S.p  06432 232733

06641 226100

A short trip to Mumbai city 1 .

Think a megacity and almost instantly Mumbai comes on the lips.The city that never sleeps .Be a day or night it works tirelessly, without any pause.Here, none of the train,bus or any transport problems come just everyone enjoys the hassle free journeys.  One day  I don't know how a crazy thought  got better of me and arose  my mental hunger to see this dreamland.This mega city has lured me and others in more ways than one. It would not be wrong to say Mumbai ,a land of superstars, beaches and colourful nights. 

   The next morning  ,I got up pretty early and the rental car sped me toward the railway station. After an hour and a half I reached the railway station a bit early the scheduled arrival of the train .As I stepped in the platform the Mumbai bound train entered. The platform was packed full.The closer I got to my coach,the denser the crowd became but I didn't lose my patience.Anyhow I continued to worm my way through and occupied my seat.

The train was flagged off on time.Next morning in the early hours the hustle and bustle going around, in the coach woke me up.I opened my eyes and saw outside. It was kalyan station ,the first stop close to the main destination. The time was 3.40 AM .The interesting part was that even at that time and early hours the platform looked alike office hours ,full of commutters, and office goers.Again, after a short halt the train headed towards  the main and final destination.Then, my eyes fell at the hill along the railway track which was flooded with light .The space of the hill was covered with slums, not an inch vacant where there was  no temperory settlements.

 The view was tempting but raised many questions like how do they live? What happens in case of landslides? .But I didn't ask anything to anyone and kept mum.After about an hour the train rolled into Dadar station that connects the main and western line.Here, the condition of the passengers was very pathetic .All the passenger trains that passed me was packed full .The ladies compartment too  had the same picture.Many a passenger found travelling with no precautions ,simply hooked the fingers and toes while rest body parts waving outside the coach.To see these pictures I remembered and prayed to the God for their long life. Taking in the sights,sounds and smells on way ,I reached CSMT by 5.30 AM,the main destination of my journey.CSMT is the abbreviated form of Chhatrapati Shivani  Maharaj Terminus which is the heart of Mumbaikars.The building is old enough and being a historical monument it is focus of  attraction for tourists and travel enthusiasts. 

The unique thing that we hardly get a chance to see anywhere is having platforms on both the sides of the coach which is really convenient for the passengers and also reduce rush .Out the station ,to find a proper stay option in small budget is not an easy task but my ten minutes walk ,mental work helped me a lot and brought me to a  hotel of my choice .Here, even with a tight budget I managed to get a room .So ,happily I checked into .As I was new to this place I was a little nervous .But thanks to the manager of the hotel who himself came to my help and asked ''Sir, what's your planning tomorrow?" "Nothing sightseeing" I replied " .He kept mum for a second and told " Get ready in the morning "Now the problems to hit the road got solved.

It is said that in the beginning the CSMT was named as Bori Bunder railway station ,then the name changed  to Victoria Terminus followed by CSMT.This station has historical background and is also in the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.Everywhere there was chaos .Every element that is required for calling it  a 'metro' like malls, markets, rush hour madness all is present here.

with sunset the city turns young and colourful ,fun ,parties all around that none wants to loose.Perhaps ,these are the reasons that attract travellers and tourists from different corners .

But ,here they come with different motives.Some keep a desire to experience the beautiful sights. Some come with a motive of shooting the images of the stunning beauty.Some come with a dream of becoming a  superstar.The wishes of some also get fulfilled here.

Post dinner ,I  strolled straight to  the busy street   crammed with traffic and I followed the way where the traffic were moving with slow pace .The route had a few restaurants to stay fueled and has some great places to stop.My slow  walk brought me to a place about which I had  only heard and read since childhood .It was Colaba. One of the most significant places for travellers.The Gateway of India and hotel Taj at the sea shore here are the main point of attraction that rejuvenate the heart and fill it with energy .Everyday scores of tourists visit these sites. About Colaba it is said that only affluent people live here.In  brief I could say that Colaba is a  blend of modern and old city.Tbe place bas a deep Portugal touch.It is said tbat Colaba was one of the seven islands of Mumbai which was ruled by the Portugal and was gifted to Charles II of  England as dowry when he married  Catherine of  Braganza.I devoted my first day to explore only  Colaba   but I was excited about the vistas that were about to unfold in front of me.

       A visit to Lord Jagannath Temple ,Puri (Odisha)

From time uncountable Puri and temples present there ,share a special bond.If you ask me I would only say that the true significance of this town lies in the presence of temples .These temples and pilgrimage sites make puri a special and is also believed as the earthly abode of Lord Vishnu also known by  name Lord Jagannath.Hardly, one would find a place here where there is no temple .Almost, every corner has temples.But this sacred town warmly welcomes , both the pilgrims and fun seekers as is also blessed with good weather, splendid beaches apart from pilgrimage sites. Perhaps ,this is the reason every year hordes of  visitors travel to these attractions to enjoy, offer prays  and experience the ultimate mental peace.
              Among Hindus ,Puri is famous for its Lord Jagannath Temple. The temple is so big and spacious that it is enough to keep one busy all day!. The huge temple is surrounded by fortified wall almost some twenty metres in height. But the main attraction lies in the carvings on the stone of which this temple is made of.To see this beautiful structure one thing always comes to mind how it would have been constructed.Each stone that has been a part of this temple weigh not less than tons and work of carvings is another unbelievable thing.All these features together, add a tag of uniqueness to this structure. Amid concrete buildings all around ,this heritage looks different and attractive.Four entrances in four directions named as Singhadwara, Ashwadwara, Hathidwara and Vyaghradwara.About Singhdwaram, it is said that while going in the temple one can hear the sound of waves on the beach but while returning the same sound is not heard.
In the sanctum sanctorum the deity which is worshiped is trinity i.e Lord Krishna, Subhadra and Baldev.These idols are not made of stone but are sculpted on neem's wood.On the top of the temple there is a wheel also called Nila Chakra made of an alloy of eight metals ( asta dhatu).It is said that during ancient times when untouchability was at its peak at that time untouchables were not allowed to enter the temple. So, from outside they used to pay obesiance to the chakra that also symbolises the God.This chakra when seen from outside appears facing the one who sees it no matter which direction one stares the chakra from.On top of the temple flag waves .Everyday around 4 pm a different flag is tied to a mast. The interesting part is that the man who climbs the temple to change the flag does not use any safety equipments and daily a crowd gathers around that time to see this courageous event.
Mahaprasad is offered to the deities of Lord Jagannath. Around fifty six food items also known as 'Chhapan Bhogs' is offered everyday. In a day six times bhog is offered to the deities here.The Prasad or bhog is prepared in a traditional way like water used to cook bhog is drew from well .Earthen pots are used as utensils ,firewood is used to cook food items. During preparations the earthen pots filled with raw food ingredients are placed one above the other on the traditional oven and it has been observed that the Prasad kept at the top gets cooked first .Here, Mahaprasad is treated as 'Anna Brahma' The temple kitchen is a mega kitchen which has the capacity to cook for a lakh of devotees .Mahaprasad is available at the An and  bazaar which is present on the outer enclosure where devotees purchase the Mahaprasad. There is a belief that one who eats the bhog sitting in the Anand Bazaar their wishes get fulfilled.

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.