Travel | My Journey So Far….

Itni Khushi kabhi pehle nahi mili…
Jai Siya Ram!!!

Today marks a day of unparalleled joy, a celebration that feels like a culmination of a lifetime of anticipation. I waited my whole life for this day. I am so happy that I want to shout from the rooftops, sing, dance, and wander the streets of Ayodhya today.

Here is one of the videos of me singing Ram Bhajan on this occasion https://youtu.be/c8VqPy11PbY

Ram Lala has rightfully taken his place in the newly built grandeur Ram temple in Ayodhya, India. This is the truest form of Diwali as Ram returns after a long period. In Treta Yug, his exile lasted only 14 years, but in Kalyug, we kept Ram in exile for 500 years. How many generations have waited to see this day today? We are so blessed to see this auspicious occasion in our lifetime and be able to feel this blessed moment in our hearts.

I had the privilege of visiting Ayodhya 14 years ago. I explored Dashrath Bhavan, Kaushalya Ji’s place, Hanuman Garhi, and more, but there was no sign of a temple for Ram. Barricades and armed forces dominated the scene. Moving forward, I saw a small tent from a distance on what seemed like a construction site. Police officers guided us, indicating that this makeshift tent temple is where we should pray. In that tent, my baby Ram sat in harsh weather.

At that time, I didn’t feel devotion; instead, I felt guilt seeing my Ram in a tent under such conditions. Today, that feeling has dissolved into tears of joy. I am blessed to witness this day.

This day hasn’t come easy. It follows numerous sacrifices, including unnamed individuals and many in their prime youth. Saints and devotees, never expecting to be killed by their own people in their own country, sacrificed their lives.

This struggle went on for years but I specifically remember the time around 6^th December 1992. There was a curfew everywhere after Shaurya Divas and I remember when a few people joined at our place and we watched an unedited video recording of how those events unfolded. Hundreds and thousands of Karya Sevaks beaten up and many of them were shot at; most of them were unarmed and with folded hands praying and taking the name of Bhagvaan Ram with their last breath. To see those dead bodies floating in river Sarayu, filled with youth of India and Mulayam’s goons in police derogating their corpses. To see the Saadhvi and Saints beaten up by police with their lathis, seeing the marks of this beating on their body and the shame it brought to us to see them treated this way in independent India. Shameful!!

All this struggle and sacrifice have led to today’s celebration. As you celebrate Diwali, please light a Diya in memory of those who lost their lives, enabling us to witness this joyous day.

Ram as a Suryavanshi is not only a Bhagavan to me but also my ancestor my father. Seeing Ram Lala in the temple today felt like I was seeing my parampita my father in her baby form. The love it emanates is unimaginable and cannot be expressed in words.

Ram Rajya, the dreams of many Bhartiya have come true today. I congratulate all of you as this year, we are fortunate to celebrate not just one but two Diwalis with our beloved Ram Lala.

As we revel in the joy of this momentous occasion, let us cherish the significance of this day and the unity it brings to our diverse and culturally rich nation. Jai Siya Ram!

What is the worst thing in having a Vacation? — Disneyland and Us

It’s been almost a week when I wrote my last post “What My Kids Want From Me?”, and it seems harder now to write this one. As if I have lost the touch or that writer’s block kind of feeling. So after going through a blank mind for last two days I thought of writing about why I didn’t write for a week. Smart idea hmm….

I was vacationing. Yup, that’s the reason. Our fifth anniversary is coming up and also second birthday of my twin sons, so to celebrate, me and my husband decided to pamper ourselves with a holiday. A dream vacation. I am a mother of three now, but still if you would have asked me what is my dream vacation? My top three answer would definitely gonna carry Disneyland as one of the option. Still a kid from heart 🙂

Our trip included Universal Studio‘s theme parks, Disneyland and then we went to Miami and key west island. It was amazing. A really beautiful and wonderful experience. But this post is not to tell you about my vacation but rather to write about what part I didn’t liked.

What I didn’t liked was – The Preparation for Vacation.

Yes, here I said it all. It was too much tasking when you are going for a week long vacation and that too with small kids. Specially when you are something like me, a control freak. I need to have everything in control, and everything planned before I do anything. So when we sort of decided to go on a vacation, it was a nightmare for me. Nightmare because I was making plans even in my sleep.

From finding the flight tickets to booking a nice hotel and then to find out what are places that you should see. Not to forget canceling out what you can not see, because of small kids or time crunch. But above all, it was the clothes. Like all women, I have whole cupboard full of clothes, in fact I have taken over a part of my kids cupboard too (just don’t tell my hubby :P). But, still when we decided to go on a trip, I found out that I do not have anything good to wear. Yeah, I know it happens with all the girls out there. Mission shopping started…

After doing a lot of shopping for me and kids I realized maybe my husband need some new clothes too. It’s always a good idea to buy something for him too, in case you don’t want to focus his attention on the shopping bills 😛

Shopping done. Now to pack. Phew!

What to pack and what not to. By the way there should be an app for this. It’s so hard to pick something and leave the rest. If only we can pack everything in seconds and it won’t even consume any space in your bag. I wish. Alas, it doesn’t work that way.

We had an early morning fight, I have packed my stuff and kids stuff by the night, hubby was still chatting on FB, and I was not even sure if I have packed everything necessary. You know that feeling when you feel like what if you have forgotten something. That feeling along with why you are the only one who seems to be worried about everything. That’s when I panicked.

Now I even had a headache. Wow!!!

I don’t know what happened maybe a miracle or something that good senses prevailed into my husband and he came to the rescue. In time, I guess. So, I went to sleep after he promised me that he will handle everything and I can rest.

Well, he did. So in the morning I saw the bags all packed, every document in place, every bag placed in the hall near the door and my hubby tiredly sleeping on the couch. I was smiling. Grinning actually from one ear to another after seeing him like that. I knew from that moment that my vacation has started.

Love you sweetie.

(xoxo)