Tuesday 29 April 2014

Y for Yatra

One of the first fellow bloggers I discovered was Arti's My Yatra Diary. The way she took me along on her travels and made it more than just travel - went straight to my heart. Arti brings you right there. She captures those valuable small moments of life, and is one of the most awesome bloggers I know. Kind, humble and she puts her heart out. Therefor I am thrilled to present a guestpost by her today. Thank you so much dear friend Arti for saying yes. And dear reader: I am sure you will be as blown away by her writings as I was. Buckle up for Arti's Y for Yatra:

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Let’s explore the letter Y today,
 “Y” … Y is for Yatra
But, what is a yatra?

Yatra is a journey;
Picture & Caption: Magh Mela Yatra
I was nervous as I had seldom seen crowds of such huge intensity, let alone be a part of it. But I was mentally prepared for the battle, if ever there was one and my gut feeling told me this was going to be deep and exciting. And thus, began a journey, on the auspicious occasion of Hindu festival Makar Sankranti, to the sacred confluence of the Triveni Sangam in Allahabad. A journey of me, with people – one in belief, one in faith, one in yatra.


Yatra is having experiences;

Picture & Caption: River Ganga in Himalayas
I sat rooted on the cold boulder, staring into infinity, mesmerized. From somewhere beyond, she seemed to rush forth in delight, dancing to the wind, tumbling over rocks, and singing to the mountains, even opening my senses to an exquisite experience. I witnessed all this in a small hamlet in the Himalayas when I touched her with my hand. She responded by softly comforting it back with hers. I was with mother, not mine but of the entire humanity that has ever been in existence. She was River Ganga, an enigma, so beautiful and pure, all set to take me along her own little journey of sharing, caring and loving since times immemorial.


Yatra is learning;

Picture & Caption:  Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi
Vishnu Kaka circled his oars up and down, patiently explaining the significance of each ghat as we crossed them. Until here, where as if in a silent tribute, he rested his oars down. Close the lens of your camera, he motioned to me and began explaining the significance of the place. Far in the distance, I could see fire leaping out towards the skies while a strange decaying odor billowed in the atmosphere. I was taking a boat ride in Varanasi, the land of salvation, and this was the Manikarnika Ghat, a place bustling with death… death here, I learnt, was not the end but a new beginning.


Yatra is a dream; alive and breathing,

Picture & Caption:  Mount Fuji, Japan
I had stood there on the airport with my passport in hand, wondering if this was indeed happening for real. Even before I could gather any answers, I felt a strong rush of emotions running down within me. My first visit to a land outside India, the land of the rising sun, Japan and little did I know then, that those 6 days, of a dream I had never seen, would make cherished memories of a lifetime.


What is a ‘Yatra’ … ?
Yatra, is a journey,
… of learning, experiences, moments and dreams …

Picture Collage & Caption: My Yatra diaries.


My journey, where I am getting lost, each day…

A journey where I will find myself… someday…



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I hope you enjoyed our yatra destination today, I sooo did. You can follow her travels at MyYatraDiary. Thanks again dear Arti:-)

So, we are almost at the end of our 26 dream destinations in 26 days challenge, dear reader. We have been a bit dreamy the last few days, so it's about time that we finish our world tour with a real rocking farewell party, I think! So please; gather your party gear, dancing shoes, dress up and let' me take you away to the amazing Z.........

1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs hereMy theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow, and that will be our last one for AtoZ - 2014. 

32 comments:

  1. Arti does take her readers on a lovely journey. The pictures and descriptions of the river Ganga and the ghat at Varanasi are awesome, thank you for taking me on this lovely journey.

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  2. Such an apt description of Yatra! Lovely photographs!
    Loved these lines the most:
    My journey, where I am getting lost, each day…
    A journey where I will find myself… someday…


    Elixired

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  3. Thanks Arti and Eli for taking me on a yatra. I've enjoyed every line of this vicarious journey. The pics are amazing too.

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  4. Loved the varnasi pic! Its true that we are all on a journey isn't it? Lovely post and enjoyed this series!

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  5. Great post. There's a simplicity and a feeling of peace despite being on the move. I've read Arti before and enjoyed her posts. Good to see her here.

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  6. Eli, so lovely that you have featured one of my favorite Bloggers- Arti.
    Wonderfully expressed. Can't agree more. Y for Yatra & Y for Yay & Yippee too - the feelings of joy & learning when we embark on the voyage of discovery :)

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  7. A fabulous post, Arti! Loved the way you took us all on our own yatra through your words and pictures. Thanks Eli for having her as your guest today. Beautiful pictures and even more beautiful are the accompanying thoughts. Thank you ladies!

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  8. This is beautiful Aarti! Great guest post and love reading your thoughts :-)

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  9. Arti! You've taken us through this Yatra and feel to be present there. Very beautiful and soulful post made so vivid as I feel to experience this place. Thanks to both Eli and Arti:)

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  10. That was a beautiful Yatra replete with learning, experiences, moments and dreams. Thanks Arti and Eli for taking us on this journey! Amazing clicks too. ♥

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  11. Wow...gorgeous writing! And now I have a new word...awesomeness! (http://www.reflectionsenroute.com)

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  12. That was an epic yatra

    PhenoMenon
    http://throodalookingglass.com/2014/04/yours-tastefully/

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  13. Thank you so much, dear friend Eli for giving me an opportunity to write something on Yatra for you! I thoroughly enjoyed writing for my letter - Y as much as I have enjoyed reading all the other letters by you. :) I can't thank you enough for the kind and moving words you have mentioned about me in the introduction, I am touched and they truly mean the world for me. I am so grateful to have connected with a down to earth and cheerful soul like you online. Here's sending lots of love and big hugs towards you. :)

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  14. Hvnt u introduced her before too as a part of the WT fest

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  15. Hi Eli, first of all, you can't feel that you're alone here while doing adventure work. Despite this over crowd, you have all done so easy. All picture is taken by separately as you're having a long experience. Specially, I loved Arti picture!!!

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  16. Dearest Eli,
    Very appropriate title for the Y.
    Yes, we all are on a journey and it is great for meeting others like you along the way.
    Sending you warm hugs and glad you almost got through with your mega task.
    Mariette

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  17. No matter where you go in life it is all about the journey and what you have learned along the way through the experiences you had. Brilliant!

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  18. Thanks to Arti and Eli for taking us on such amazing yatra...hope we all can enjoy our life journey the same way too

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  19. Yantra is wonder. Beautiful and insoitprational!

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  20. So lovely dear Eli that you brought us delightful gimpses into Arti's Yatra. See you tommorrow for the Z party :D

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  21. its the journey that matters more than the destination doesn't it?!
    beautifully written and lovely pics! :)

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  22. A very well philosophized post on Yatra from Arti. Thanks Eli for getting this to all of us. Wish you fall in love with your adopted country through a grand Yatra...

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  23. Yatra is every thing. Yatra rejuvenates us. I love Arthis blog too
    thanks

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  24. Beautiful post from Arti! I love the way she describes her travels as experiential and as a deep feeling, rather than just sightseeing.

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  25. Eli , Great to visit your blog through one my favorite travel blogger Arti's
    " My Yatra Diary " , Great to read Arti's wonderful post, Awesome photos Thanks for sharing.

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  26. Well it is good to see two of the blogs I read regularly coming together.. Great to see Arti here with such a wonderful post explaining her " Yatra"

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  27. What an interesting blog you have and of course its lovely to see Arti featured here, Its been nice meeting you, I've enjoyed my visit.

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  28. Every single meaning behind yatra so beautifully drawn out.

    Richa

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  29. "death here, I learnt, was not the end but a new beginning"
    Something to be experienced.

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  30. Arti this is a fab fab post as usual! Eli there couldn't have been a better Y!!

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  31. Great post Arti ! You have really defined Yatra so well !

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