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Arjunpur, a small village...

Relax

I had developed a bond with my village, with the farmers that drudged in the fields, with the women who drew water from the well, with the cows in my barn, with trees in my garden, with the old men who played cards under the neem tree, with the woman who exchanged mangoes for grains, with the shop keeper who used brick as a measure, with the mad beggar who wandered unshaved and unclean, with the sound of the bell ringing in the far temple, with the evening air and the rising sun, with hot summers and chilly winters.... I was in love with my village.
Tags: India, musings, village
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Stories from Vrindavan's Banke Bihari temple

Travel

Banke Bihari and his parda have a romantic history. A princess from Rajasthan came visiting the deity - Banke Bihari at Vrindavan, and found herself so enamoured by the prince of Vrindavan that she wanted to remain with Him for the rest of her life. Her family forced her to return.  With teary eyes, she last saw Shree Banke Bihari ji and left. Mesmerized by her love for Him, Bihariji followed the princess, and was found missing at His temple home established by Tansen’s guru, Swami Haridas...
Tags: India, travel, Vrindavan, Uttar-Pradesh, Krishna, Banke-Bihari
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Joys of cruising from New Orleans to Mexico

Travel

Shalini and Yogesh Chandra had a great time cruising from New Orleans to Cozumel Island in the Gulf of Mexico. They enjoyed the seascape, local cuisine, culture, hospitality, and attention showered on them for being the only Indians on board other than some of the crew-members.
Tags: USA, Mexico, Cozumel, cruise, travelogue, traveller
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Lucknow - From Awadhi cuisine to a South Indian menu

Travel

If there is any cuisine that has given the erstwhile Avadhi food some serious competition and that too on home turf, it is the lip-smacking ensembles from down south. But then the idli, dosa, vada, sambhar have been tantalising the Lucknowi palate for over 30 years now. Surprised? So was I when I set out to find out options in the city for those who love trying something simply southie.
Tags: India, Uttar-Pradesh, Lucknow, South-Indian-food, food, travel-guide
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Weekend in Leh, Ladakh

Travel

On the highest motorable road to Khardung La pass at 18, 380 feet, near Leh in Ladakh, Professors Neerja and Anadi Pande along with their daughters Sachi and Priyam were mesmerised by the chip-chocolate snow and rock landscape in this part of the Himalayas. AnandWay gets a peep into their summer holiday…
Tags: India, Jammu-Kashmir, Leh, Ladakh, Buddha, travelogue
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Why Yoga? - BKS Iyengar

Books

Yoga is a timeless pragmatic science evolved over thousands of years dealing with the physical, moral, mental and spiritual well-being of man as a whole. The first took to systematize this practice was the classic treatise the Yoga Sutras (or Aphorisms) of Patarijali dating from 200 BC. I consider it important as well as interesting that the reader should know the origin of asanas, and I have, therefore, included legends handed down by practising yogis and sages.
Tags: Books, yoga, wellness, spirituality, India, mind, mental-health
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Stopover at Joshimath, Garhwal Himalayas

Travel

The bazaars of Joshimath at first sight are full of fresh fruit and dry fruit. Street vendors selling blankets, shawls, eatables are seen in abundance. The blankets and shawls, many of them from Mana, a village beyond Badrinath are not only very warm, they are also low-priced, (or become so after a bit of bargaining). A really warm, traditional hand-woven shawl from this part of the Himalayas can be picked up for as little as Rs 100!
Tags: India, Joshimath, travelogue, Uttarakhand, Rishikesh, Ganga, Himalaya, Spirituality, travel-guide, Auli
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Auli in June

Travel

I have never seen such high mountains. They are majestic, gigantic and intimidating. These mountains are a part of the Nanda Devi Range in the Garhwal Himalayas. The most amazing thing that I realize here are the electric-line towers situated at places which seemed unapproachable from all sides! How were they put there? How were the electric cables pulled through the towers? Man is indeed amazing!
Tags: India, Auli, travelogue, Uttarakhand, Rishikesh, Ganga, Himalaya, Spirituality, travel-guide, Joshimath, Ganga, Garhwal-Himalaya
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Butterflies in our midst

Relax

Dyed yellow by the June sun, Himalayan butterflies accompanied me inquisitively all the way up the hill to Neelkath. To them, my open jeep was just another drab-coloured flying insect may be, but faster.
Tags: India, musings, Rishikesh, Himalaya, spirituality, travel, fauna, Lucknow, Uttar-Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Art-Of-Living, Gardening
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Vrindavan visit - Saavan and Jhoolan

Travel

Swami Haridas, who was also mentor to Akbar’s court musician Tansen had worshipped Krishna through classical music and self-composed verses. His followers still follow suit at a lesser known place to visitors.Tatiya-wala sthan as the Brajwasis know it, is on the Parikrama marg, behind Rangnath ji temple. It is an ancient forest grove, where Sri Kunjvihari and Sri Haridas are revered. Classical music, to the verses of Sri Haridas soothes the ear here. A camphor-sandalwood tilak is given to all visitors here. It is electrifying yet soothes the mind and body
Tags: India, Vrindavan, travelogue, Krishna, spirituality, Uttar-Pradesh, travel, Saavan
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French Allure - An Indian perspective

Travel

Rekha and Colonel Shradhanand Dhondiyal spent 80 days in the French countryside. Fontainebleau, Moret Sur Loing and Paris enchanted them with their infectious leisurely, laid back lifestyle and the heady smell of wine at all times of the day. They share with AnandWay their special experience with all things French in the fresh French air…
Tags: France, Paris, travelogue, cruise, traveller
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Summer blooms - Amaltas

Relax

In his books, Ruskin Bond talks about his longing for the jolly sight of Amlatas, Gulmohar and Jacaranda during his jaunt abroad. Sure enough, he returned to India as soon as he had made enough money for the journey home. The Amaltas  adds many a mellow moment to a casual onlooker’s perceptions in this big beautiful world!
Tags: India, musings, nature, flora, flowering tree, Gardening
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Nostalgic epiphany - Janmashtmi

Relax

We waited for Janmashtami and participated enthusiastically in the celebrations. The special mithais made of coconut, lotus seeds and peanuts would tempt us no end. But all goodies meant for the prasad were forbidden fruit till the puja was through.
Tags: musings, festival, India, Krishna, Bhakti-Yoga
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Why Herb-gardens find a place in city life

Ayurveda

Urban homes are discovering the benefits and joys of growing medicinal plants and herbs in their gardens. Medicinal flora like shankhpushpi, sadabahar, brahmi, amla, tulsi, pudina, ajwain, lemon grass, neem, haldi, kali mirch, aloe vera and wheat grass curry favour with green-fingered health freaks.
Tags: Herbs, Ayurveda, relax, Lucknow, wellness, health, Jim-Corbett-National-Park, India, Uttar-Pradesh
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