Deepawali in India Sorry friends, I was not able to update my travel blog because I have not been traveling these days. But I went to my fiance's home during this Diwali vacation. I will get married coming December 2009.The occasion for which I have been there was Diwali or few people call it Deepawali. Diwali is an Indian festival which is celebrated with sweets and lights. It is mainly a festival of Hindu community but is celebrated by almost all the communities in India. During diwali people lit candles and play with crackers, exchange sweets and gifts with friends and neighbors.There are different stories associated with Diwali. In North India people believe that at this day Lord Rama came back from forests to Ayodhya (Rama's ruling capital) after 14 year. He promised his step mother and father that he will stay away from home for 14 years. His wife Sita and brother Laxman went to forests along with him. During last year of their stay in forests evil Ravana kidnapped Sita from their hut. Rama & Laxman fought with huge army of Ravana situated in Shri Lanka. They had a huge support of vaanars (apes with human body). With help of these vaanars they built unbelievable bridge between India and Lanka to win Sita back from Ravana. It was a 10 days sever fight between Rama & Ravana along with theirs armies. The tenth day Rama killed Ravana and won his wife from him. This day is celebrated as Dussera in India. After 20 days of Dussera, Diwali is celebrated.In South India people celebrate it as Naraka Chaturdashi. When Lord Shri Krishna killed evil Naraka who was harming people in this earth because he got a blessing from Lord Brahma that he can only be killed by his mother Bhudevi who was reincarnated as Satyabhama, Lord Krishna's second wife. It took a little efforts for Lord Krishna to make Satyabhama (Bhudevi) kill her son Naraka. South Indians celebrate this day by lighting sparklers and crackers earliest in the morning.Despite of different reasons everybody takes part in celebrating Diwali. I have enjoyed it very well. After marriage I will have a family of 12 members in same house. Now counting days towards my marriage. Will definitely go to new places in India for my honeymoon. So my upcoming posts will tell you about a North Indian wedding procedures and few more places in India. Keep reading me.Thanks

Sorry friends, I was not able to update my travel blog because I have not been traveling these days. But I went to my fiance's home during this Diwali vacation. I will get married coming December 2009.

The occasion for which I have been there was Diwali or few people call it Deepawali. Diwali is an Indian festival which is celebrated with sweets and lights. It is mainly a festival of Hindu community but is celebrated by almost all the communities in India. During diwali people lit candles and play with crackers, exchange sweets and gifts with friends and neighbors.

There are different stories associated with Diwali. In North India people believe that at this day Lord Rama came back from forests to Ayodhya (Rama's ruling capital) after 14 year. He promised his step mother and father that he will stay away from home for 14 years. His wife Sita and brother Laxman went to forests along with him. During last year of their stay in forests evil Ravana kidnapped Sita from their hut. Rama & Laxman fought with huge army of Ravana situated in Shri Lanka. They had a huge support of vaanars (apes with human body). With help of these vaanars they built unbelievable bridge between India and Lanka to win Sita back from Ravana. It was a 10 days sever fight between Rama & Ravana along with theirs armies. The tenth day Rama killed Ravana and won his wife from him. This day is celebrated as Dussera in India. After 20 days of Dussera, Diwali is celebrated.

In South India people celebrate it as Naraka Chaturdashi. When Lord Shri Krishna killed evil Naraka who was harming people in this earth because he got a blessing from Lord Brahma that he can only be killed by his mother Bhudevi who was reincarnated as Satyabhama, Lord Krishna's second wife. It took a little efforts for Lord Krishna to make Satyabhama (Bhudevi) kill her son Naraka. South Indians celebrate this day by lighting sparklers and crackers earliest in the morning.

Despite of different reasons everybody takes part in celebrating Diwali. I have enjoyed it very well. After marriage I will have a family of 12 members in same house. Now counting days towards my marriage. Will definitely go to new places in India for my honeymoon. So my upcoming posts will tell you about a North Indian wedding procedures and few more places in India. Keep reading me.

Thanks

Gurgaon is a "Good-Gaon" of India Now

Gurgaon is a city in India which literally means "sweet village". I have started commuting to Gurgaon from last few days because I got a job here. But I stay in West Delhi and daily travel 2-3 hours from Delhi to Gurgaon and see every small detail while traveling. To see core India one has to travel from small streets of these kinds of cities in India.

I was saying that Gurgaon means sweet village but it’s no more a village after rapid industrialization. Gurgaon is a hub for major IT companies of India and various multinational companies. When people talk about Gurgaon of 5-6 years back they say it was a land full of greens and goats. At that time very few companies have made their offices in Gurgaon and development was very slow. After few more companies ventured in Gurgaon government of India started improving the public utilities in order to encourage people commute easily for their jobs.

My office is near Khandsa village & close to Delhi-Jaipur highway. It is very difficult to reach to my office through public transports but government is working towards starting bus facilities through main bus stations in Gurgaon. I am using company’s cab to travel to my office right now and most of the companies in Gurgaon provide cab facility due to public transport problems.

When I was not been to Gurgaon, I use to think that it will be some Indian village with agriculture and cultivation as main business, but when I came here and spoke with the people here, I got to know the clear past of Gurgaon. Just because the term “gaon” is included in its name people think that it must be some village (“gaon” in Hindi means village), but it is a fully developed city. Metro line is also being constructed from Delhi to Gurgaon.

I would like to tell this to people staying in different parts of the India and world that if they are getting any opportunity to come to Gurgaon please do not reject that. You will definitely miss to see the decent and developed part of India.

"Jai Ho" Slumdog of India

Yesterday I saw the movie which has been in banners from so long because of its Oscar nomination and award winning for eight categories out of ten nominations in 81st annual Oscar academy awards. It was an awesome movie based on a persons life from childhood to youth (referred as slum dog of the movie).

"Slum Dog Millionaire" is the name of that movie in which a poor kid struggling with his slum life grows up without falling into wrong directions and finally makes it to win millions in a game show. But because he was from slums he was alleged to be a cheat. But then he proves himself clean by explaining that how the questions were associated with his past.

Every scene has been built & pictured so nicely that no one was getting up to take cold drinks and pop-corns. Though the film has expressed the extreme conditions of slum life in India, it has made a very good approach to Indian audiences. This movie may not entertain those who want to see love stories full of romantic songs and drama.


I give this movie 4 points out of 5 because it has been made me stick to my place in the cinema hall and I was there till last casting details were on the screen. I congratulate Mr. Danny Boyle for making such a good quality movie and hope to see few more feathers in his cap. The lead actor Dev Patel has done wonderful job and of course the Oscar winner music of the movie by A.R Rehman is a landmark Indian cinema.

Delhi Six or Bouncer

I have heard a lot about "Delhi 6" an Abhishek Bacchan, Sonam Kapoor & Monkey starer movie. It started with a good story line of Indian emotions of an Aunty(Waheeda Rehman ji) staying in abroad. She wanted to die in Indian land only. Then her grandson(Abhishek Bacchan) take the lead to take her to India. Then he lands in India and meets real India in a place called Delhi 6. Then story moves forward about how he accepted people of India and Indian people accepted him.

Though the story was good my expectation from Mr. Rakesh Mehra was much-much higher. After seeing his previous making this movie was just a subject of spending on movie tickets, popcorn and cold drinks.

The director has tried to stuff lots of Indian social backward mentality in the movie and at the end audiences were forced to be convinced that whatsoever our India is, people here are full of heart feelings, so we all should love it. I would call this movie an "overstuffed teddy".

Just because it had India as its main subject I will give it 2.5 points out of 5.

How Valentines Day is Celebrated in India

Valentine day in India has two mind sets to counter with: one side believes in love without any fear, it has place for everyone, let it be lovers, parents, relatives, friends or just acquaintances they don't give a damn to those who are on another side of the window. The people on the other side love to do only one thing: probe everywhere for boys and girls celebrating their love, and disturb them till the hell's end. Don't know where these guys go on other days when the things happen how it should never be.

Nowadays these so called revolutionaries are discovering new way to damage happiness of lovers on this day. The valentines day of 2009 in India was an example of their discovery. They decided that they will forcefully make the couples marry each other on the spot if they find anyone together on the public places. I really don't have any objection if it is for the well being of people & society. And if it was for the well being of people & society they should take the charge to do this exercise ever day of the year, not only for this one day to gain free publicity & appearance in the news channels.

India is a democratic country but people want to turn it to autocratic country. I have heard that to gain the best speed for moving forward one has to move a few steps back, might be these people have adapted that learning in their veins. I am waiting to see my country running with full speed towards full growth and development.

My Trip to Mekedatu

I have been to Mekedatu a few days back with my three friends and it was a great fun being there. It is just a simple picnic spot but a nice place for any get together. You get lots of space there to roam around. Mekedatu got its name from a story. Mekedatu in Kannada means "footsteps of a goat". It is said that once lord shiva has been to this place and he wanted to cross the stream which was very wide, there was only one rock in between. So lord Shiva incarnated as a goat and jumped stepping over that small rock and crossed the stream. From that time the small rock got the marks of those footsteps.

One branch of Kauvery flows through Mekedatu. It is around 80 K.M away from Bangalore. I know this very nicely because me and my friends have been there in two bikes, in between one of our bikes met with an accident and I rode the bike full 80 K.M. Next day my muscles were paining like someone is hammering all over my body.

The river water was full of colorful fishes, and the water was looking as clean as glass. You can find small snack centers around the river, which is not so expensive. As I called it a picnic spot, it is good for a day out, but there are no places available as accomodation, so don't make plan for more than a day for this place. I went there through bike so I don't know about the bus services from Bangalore to Mekedatu but definitely there are cab services available in various centers in Bangalore.

India is full of travel destinations and I have not seen even thousandth part of it. I am trying to visit all the places in India that are full of natural and heritage beauty. Keep reading me, I will get back to you!!!!!!!!!

My Vaishnav Devi Trip

Hi Friends here I am again to write about my personal travel experiences on various places in India. I have been to many places when I was a kid and my dad was a traveling freak. I don't remember much about all those places because it was just like a weekend outing fun for me and my brother. So I have decided to visit all those places again and appreciate the beauty of India and catch it in my eyes forever.

This time I am heading towards Jammu Tavi to see the sacred temple of Mata Vaishnav Devi. I remember I have been there twice with my family. First time when I was 5 years old and staying in Katni and second time when I was 7 years old and I was staying in Jabalpur. Both the time we took a train till Delhi and then changed to another train that goes till "Jammu Tavi". Jammu Tavi is the closest railway station around 50 k.m. from "Katra". Katra is the place of hault for the travellers who want to see Vaishnav Devi. The journey from Jammu to Katra can be done through private or public transport. I remember I vomited 5-6 times when we were in a bus from Jammu Tavi towards Katra. Buses moves like a roller coaster ride and the very experienced bus drivers forget that new comers are not use to it (I was not alone who vomited, my parents keep telling me when they talk about those trips). During this ride one can see the clouds flying below bus or the buses flying above clouds.

Commutation and accomodation is not a problem in Jammu because tourism is the main business there. People who own houses in Jammu build extra rooms for letting them on rent for the tourists. It is cheap and convenient, but for those who need extra care can book hotels in Katra.

Journey from Katra towards Vaishnav Devi Temple is a sacred journey. Admirer of Mata Vaishnav Devi walk for more than 25 k.m to reach the temple. People who are unable to walk can hire ponies, horses and palanquins etc. With a normal walking speed one can reach within 10 hours to the temple. Some more time can be added in the journey for the holy walk in "Ardhkumari Cave". It is said that goddess Vaishnav Devi stayed at this cave for 9 months to gain special powers for destroying the existance of a devil. One has to walk over the thread of fresh and chill water flowing through the cave. Ardhkumari is half the distance between Katra and Vaishnav Devi Temple.

It is said by the people that after godess Vaishnav Devi sliced the head of Devil Bhairav, his head fell some distance away from his body and it preyed with godess not to defame his existence on this earth because he has devoted his whole life worshipping godess Kaali (another part of Mata Shakti like Vaishnav Devi). Godess Vaishnav Devi agreed to his this plea and that place where his head was fallen became another holy place called as Bhairav Baba temple. The journey of Vaishnav Devi doesnt completes unless one has been to the temple of Bhairav Baba.

The final place Vaishnav Devi Temple is the place where godess Vaishnav Devi fought with and killed Devil Bhairav. Lakhs of people from all over the India come to this place to admire the power of godess Vaishnav Devi and request her to kill evil energies inside them. Three stone balls are placed inside the temple as an image of godess Shakti (better half of lord Shiva according to Hindi mythology), godess Kaali (a part of godess Shakti) and Vaishnav Devi (another part of godess Shakti).

Before entering the temple people take bath in the icy water flowing from the top of the hill. They think it is the purest bath of their life. After taking bath people move forward to see the stone balls which represents the limitless power of God.

There are facilities of staying at the hilltop at night in dharma shalas and hotels. It is always very cold at the hilltop in any season because ice glaciers are very close to this place. I am not going to go during cold season anyway because the breeze flowing from northern region in this season is very dangerous. It is good to go during summers because at that time breeze flow stops from northern region.

I dont know when I will visint any new place in India, but I will keep writing about the places where I have visited and forget to write about them.