The Magical Spell of the Shining Lamps

 

                                                      Photo by the author

Out of the world divine experience!!

Rishikesh, a quaint town situated at the foothill of the Himalayas, is known as the world's Yoga capital. It is also famous for Ayurvedic healing and water sports. 

Here the Ganga aarti is performed on the banks of the river.

The aarti is performed by chanting bhajans and beating drums and bells. It is an excellent spiritual experience.

It is a way of showing respect and gratitude to the river Ganga. 

Tourists from across the world gather at the river bank during sunset to observe this ritual. It's a mesmerizing sight with the lighted diyas spreading their shine on the calm waters of river Ganga.

During my visit to Rishikesh in 2019, I could attend and experience this ritual at Triveni Ghat, just about a 10-minute walk from my hotel.

The joyful harmony of the shining lamps steals your heart. The loving vibrations moved me.

The Ganga aarti was the most memorable part of my visit to Rishikesh.

Food is an experience to be explored and enjoyed.

 

I agree with what Andrew Zimmern has said. Food can connect people and is even more critical when experiencing a different culture. The ethos and culture of a place shine through the cuisine.

When travelling to new destinations, I always love to try the local cuisine. During my visit to Thailand, I tried Miang Kham in a restaurant in Bangkok. 

The name Miang means “ one bite-size wrap”. I had heard great reviews of this dish. The chef told me that this is mainly eaten as an appetizer. When he placed the lotus petals wrapped bite-size appetizer dish on the table, I was eating it in more than one way. The visual appeal was incredible, and before I could eat with my mouth, I had eaten it with my eyes. The carefully planned dish balanced taste, texture and colours. The lotus petals are the focal point of this dish.

Lotus is an incredibly versatile flower. Besides looking beautiful, it is also edible. It has many nutritional benefits and is used for detoxifying and nourishing health. 

I love seafood, so even though the beautifully plated dish with lotus petals was feeding my eyes, I could not resist the urge to eat it.

"The world is getting more connected through technology and travel. Cuisines are evolving. Some people are scared of globalization, but I think people will always take pride in cultural heritage."John Mackey

Hope sprouting after a major setback - A photostory.

 

                                                        Photo by the Author.

Setback is not end of story

I have met some amazing people who have been through major setbacks in their professional and personal lives and have made it through them.

Each of them has taken actions that have helped them power through setbacks. With grit and resilience, they have bounced back like the sprouting tree stump.

Setbacks happen to everyone. But like Stewart Stafford says, “ Every setback is a pitstop en route to nirvana.”

The tree stump teaches us a lesson. Never give up hope. Find a path to progress.