A Golden Journey to Golden Temple

It was right after the mid sem exams in the first semester that we all got a leave for few days (for some holiday reasons) and it came into everyone's mind that we should use these days well and go somewhere. No wonder Amritsar came into everybody's mind with no time, being in Punjab definitely it'll be the first destination anyone would ever want to visit. Many times, l have seen in pictures the beautiful golden temple that shines like anything and also the huge langar there.

It was like almost all the first year students departed from the University. We got on the train and it was so much fun to see that the whole bogie was filled with CUPB students. By two in the morning we reached Amritsar, l still remember the first time l saw the temple, glittering it was in the calm night, reflecting on the water beneath. The spiritual and peaceful atmosphere l experienced there was entirely different. The melodious prayer that kept on playing there could make anyone sit there for any length of time looking at the temple and listening to it. We spent the rest of the night there, the temple was looking beautiful in the morning light also as the sun rose and the whole premise was filled with devotees. 

It was my first time visiting a langar and we had our breakfast there. Nothing is greater than providing food for the needy and the devotion and dedication with which people serve there, the way all were treated, how even devotees who come there for a visit join the workers and help them in the activities, all these together makes the temple more beautiful and in all the ways it's indeed a 'Golden' Temple.!

Row Row Row your Boat!

Let me take a deep breath and then write this. When l began this blog l had no idea what to write here, even now l can't say l have got any clearer. I just write what l feel at the moment. That's why this is the Musings of a blue moon Wisteria, an ordinary girl, her mundane thoughts, feelings and experiences. Let me tell you more about this name of mine, Wisteria. You can call her a plant or a flower. She is a climber with clusters of fragrant flowers that remain in blue or white colors, such a pleasure for eyes. I think she can make anything beautiful, anywhere a happier place, with a little bit of support she is able to spread her wings, full of flowers. she always looks up, reaches heights, then bends down beautifully. A blue moon is a rare phenomenon and a blue moon wisteria for me, beholds a very rare, enchanted but simple beauty. Flowers and flowers everywhere will be the only thing you will see from a wisteria who could turn any muddy rough roads to soft fragrant flower beds. She could shed you flowers all the time. It is a humble plant full of flowers, but it has given me a lot of meanings simply with its existence and that's why l would like to be a blue moon wisteria, trying to reach heights from an ordinary mundane life.
I remember an old nursery rhyme, 'Row, Row, Row your boat". We are all out here rowing our boats in the ocean and here l'll write more as l row my boat more.The thoughts, experiences, adventures l face while rowing my boat, l'll collect here. In this ocean's crust l would like to be a tiny little wisteria who keeps on trying, who keeps on rowing.
"Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream!"

Sound and Smell of an early morning Chai

I could say Punjab welcomed me with the sound and smell of a good morning Chai (tea). I was in Punjab mail, the train from Delhi to Bathinda, sleeping in the upper berth. It was early in the morning and the train was already live. Tea vendors were passing frequently waking me up, I looked down and found my father with a glass of Chai in his hands. Seeing me awake he called me down. "The chai turned tasty as we reached Punjab, that is it, this place is full of milk, butter and good food " he said. Later on I also bought one and yes it was indeed good, my first cup of good tea from the past few days, Punjab did welcome me well. It was around 5.30 only in the morning, but to my excitement the rising sun was there ( back in Kerala I was used to seeing the Sun by or after 6.30 only) From the windows I could see fields on both sides, very green in color and glittering in the morning sun's shower. Sometimes there were solitary trees in the middle of these fields who stood there like mighty guardians looking after those precious grains and land, this picturization made the sights outside more interesting and l got immersed into more of it.
Bathinda looked like an old dusty rusty city in the first look,(not that pleasing at all) making me feel like l have entered into a past tense. The human rickshaws, Auto rickshaws, horse carts, tractors, buses, shops everything looked old and different from the ones I have seen all these years( and I have never seen a human rickshaw or horse cart ever before), A wave of thoughts were lashing into my mind, The city that's going to be my home for the next two years, I was curious to understand it more, to catch more of its glimpses. I knew it was a choice I made and whatever I feel here, face here, I have to deal with it alone. I felt uneasy but I was sure that I would get used to this different atmosphere and i had a feeling that sooner or later I would like this place. I was not mistaken, within a short period of time I fell in love with this place like how I loved the cup of chai I had that morning.!

When life takes you back to a good old dream!

It says that some of our old childhood dreams will remain with us even if  we leave it. Coming to Punjab to do my post graduation here feels like something of that kind to me. In my childhood I had always seen those songs both in Malayalam and Hindi that showed Punjab as a land of vibrant colors, full of green, gold wheat fields, lanes of yellow mustard flowers, and people so welcoming and joyful. Thus after Kerala, Punjab became my favorite state in India and I always longed to visit this state at least once those days. Later on it faded away and I grew up, did all my schooling in my place only and it was towards the end of my final year in graduation that I heard about Central Universities. Universities built by the central government around many states in India to provide different degrees and doctorates. Going through the list of these universities, Central University of Punjab got on my eyes. Thinking of my old love for Punjab, I decided to keep it on top to apply, though coming to the place was not even on my mere thoughts and just for fun I applied.
I was surprised when I received the message that I got selected, but even then I was sure that I won't be coming this far from Kerala for studies as my Parents preferably will not prefer that. But making me astounded they were so happy for it being a central university. Everything happened so fast then and within 20 days I was on the train heading to Delhi, from where I would catch my train to Bathinda in Punjab. It was my first time on a long journey by train and all those three days I sat by the window looking at the different terrains of India as my mind wandered through many more things. I was anxious, super excited, and at the same time I was worried. I wondered what all would be awaiting me there,  this made me excited and worried at the same and I fell deeper and deeper into the pond of thoughts throughout that journey.

Green, Cold and Wonderful Chail

The second day in Shimla was a bit more warm, and our plan was to go to another place, to the top of another hill region, Chail. One place that all our friends who went to Shimla never mentioned. Don't know why but this name got into my head the first time l googled Shimla. It takes around two hour to reach Chail from Shimla town. We got on a cab and began our journey towards Chail, in between the journey was Green valley where we got out for a while to enjoy the view. A valley packed with cedars, thick and lush green, that could refresh any mind. We met an old granny there, who sells maggi and we bought one plate from her. Maggi in Mountains, best ever combo, one plate of maggi and five people, it was indeed tasty and funny. And the smile that granny gave us really filled our hearts.
The journey of two hours towards chail, those twist and turns to the top of the mountains was something that brought a lot of  nature and its heavenly beauty towards us. First we went to chail cricket ground which is the highest cricket ground in the world. To add on to our excitement it started raining when we got out there and the sun was also shining well , making as all remember one old Malayalam folklore which says its the wedding day of fox when the rain and sun comes together. From there we went to a Siddi temple, a place so serene it was. The temple contained big beautiful idols of many Hindu gods and from there we got a chance to taste ethnic himachali food also. I could recall visiting this temple as one among the best and beautiful memories of Shimla (though every moment was beautiful). Straight from there we headed towards the Chail Palace. It acts as a grand hotel now but the Palace has still got its charm and it attracts many people towards it. We were walking through the grounds of the palace and it started raining again, moreover, to our wonder hails also began to fall, tiny little ones, for a few minutes only. It was such an unexpected moment and thus all together I could say Chail presented us not only its cold breeze, but its warm sunshine, big droplets of rain and a little bit of its hail also. Making us enjoy all its weather together in one day. May be a goodbye gift. That night we left Shimla with over poured hearts and minds full of good memories!

One Soothing Night at Shimla

We reached Shimla railway station around 3.30 in the evening. It was such a pleasant sight to look down to the valleys from the station itself. Getting out of the station I expected a bunch of taxi drivers to cover us like every tourist attraction in India, but this was different, a peaceful place, met none. We got a room, got fresh, had food and walked towards mall road, one of the major attractions of Shimla. Walking up towards the mall road, we crossed many interesting buildings, churches, library, even shops that looked pretty.The Ridge where the road ends, kind of felt like some place out of the box where everyone looked so happy. From there got our attention, a big statue of Hanuman standing on the top most position of the hill, The Jakhu Temple! It looked so good that we decided to go there the night itself. First the plan was to walk all the way up as we thought of ourselves as young adventurous ladies capable of doing any thing, but the night was getting colder, the steep was getting steeper, the walk was getting longer and roads were getting deserted, so from the middle we got on a car and headed up. Out of words I'll go if I begin describing the beauty of that temple, that night and the night view of the valley deep down from there. The temple premises were full of monkeys, The massive Hanuman statue looked majestic and we felt kind of a satisfaction and joy standing beneath it which we saw as far away and atop the mountain from the mall road.
Getting out from the temple we went straight down to the ridge, which contained a very less number of people now. Thus it looked beautiful again, in a different and peaceful way. We found one good spot where we could sit the whole night looking down at the valley, to the night view it gave. The valley was full of lights, different kinds of lights that came out from different buildings and all together it was something alluring to look at. Playing some melodious songs from our phones, we sat there for a long time looking far, till half of the night was over. Away from all the ordinary worries, I can call it the most soothing and peaceful night I ever had in my recent past.
Tranquil it was!
( To be continued..!)