Aurovalley Ashram, Rishidwar in North India is a haven of peace and conscious living — and it also offers services to the local community. There’s a school for village children and a new playroom filled with toys and art supplies, for kids who have almost never played with toys before. To help fund the school and playroom programs, Aurovalley recently initiated an Adopt-a-Soul program. You can read more about it on my blog Help a soul to grow at Aurovalley Ashram.
School children at Aurovalley Ashram, Rishidwar, India
Tiger in Ranthambhore National Park, courtesy Tiger Watch director Dharmendra Khandal
Photograph of tiger taken in Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan, by Tiger Watch director Dr. Dharmendra Khandal. The Indian government recently announced the results of a tiger census, and reported an increase in the number of tigers in India from an estimated 1,411 to 1,706 (including 70 tigers in the Sunderbans never counted before) over the past four years; but in the same period there has been a significant decrease in the size of tiger habitat, and especially all-important corridors that allow the movement of this wide-roaming animal. In Ranthambhore, according to Tiger Watch, there are 27 adults and 12 cubs, but the park area size can only support 30-35 adult tigers.
In the old city of Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan
Enjoying time in traditional India
When I was in Sawai Madophur to visit Ranthambhore national park and tiger reserve, my host Satish Jain of The Farm Villa, took me on a tour of the old city of Sawai Madophur — the city the tiger tourists never see — with a stop at his home village to meet his family. This is the India I love, away from the backpacking ghettos, tourist attractions and big-city sophisticates. Click here for photos from my day in the market and a video of children mobbing me in a village. (more…)
Photograph of street in India courtesy Bruce Granofsky
Jaisalmer by Andrew Adams
This sublime photo by Canadian photographer Andrew Adams is of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan — a former trading outpost in the Thar Desert now known chiefly for tourism and camel safaris. This photo is of Gadi Sagar, the lovely water tank that was once the main water supply for Jaisalmer. Water in the desert takes on a mythical stature, especially in rain-starved western Rajasthan.
Jaisalmer is one of my favourite places in India. The fairy-tale fort in the centre of town rises like a mirage from the baked earth, and the power of the desert can fling open your eyes and your heart. It is a powerfully enchanting place. I have written about Jaisalmer several times. Once, in this post To Jaisalmer, and also in a feature article that is one of the 10 stories presented in my book, which you can read about here in Song of India.
photograph of people playing Holi in India by Dave Bouskill, PicturethePlanet.com
I love this photo by Dave Bouskill of Picture the Planet. It’s of Holi, of course, the festival of colour, a celebration that everyone in India loves and plays with unabashed gusto. Holi ushers in Spring, which is probably why it is such an energetic, even frenzied, celebration. I’ve been in India for Holi three times: I played once with my fellow ashramites in Rishikesh and twice with my family in Delhi. Like many of the holidays in India, Holi is a family-oriented celebration, and includes other rituals like eating sweets and — as always in India — just spending lots of time with each other, drinking tea and being together.
Silver carriage at the Art Gallery of Ontario exhibit Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts
Win passes to see a dazzling show
Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts is truly a magnificent exhibit. If you have any interest in India, world history, beautifully created works of art or expertly curated large exhibitions, you can’t miss this one. It’s all of these things, plus a very good time out. You can read my blog all about the exhibit here, and see pictures of some of the gorgeous treasures: Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts dazzles visitors.
To win passes to the Art Gallery of Ontario exhibit in Toronto, or a grand prize pack that includes a pass and the show’s catalogue, (total value more than $60) read on for entry details. (more…)
Sir Bhupindra Singh, Maharaja of Patiala © National Portrait Gallery, London
Taking pride in Indian culture
As I was leaving the gala opening for the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts exhibit, I met an Indo-Canadian couple named Andy and Barbara on the rose-petal-strewn stairs. They were very excited about the exhibit and spoke about the increase in awareness and appreciation of India’s culture over the past 20 or 30 years, since they’ve been in Canada. They were genuinely proud — and with good reason.
And it’s true, India has come a long way since independence was won in 1947. India’s growing economy is currently the envy of the world; yoga is a worldwide phenomenon; Bollywood movies are attracting an increasing amount of attention; and western celebrities are opting to get married in traditional Indian-style weddings in India. India is suddenly trendy — which is ironic, because it is one of the world’s oldest extant cultures. Also one of the most complex and fascinating.
To win a free pass to the show please read my blog entry Win passes to Maharaja show in Toronto.
Madina and her Mother, Ajmer, by photographer Lisa Field-Elliott, Doorwaystraveler.com
These photos were taken by photographer Lisa Field-Elliott of the beautiful photo blog Doorwaystraveler.com when she visited Rajasthan, India with Salaam Garage. (more…)
Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai, India
Ganesh Chaturthi takes place every year in late August or early September. It is the birthday of the popular Hindu elephant-headed god, son of Shiva and Parvati. This festival is celebrated all over India, but especially so in Mumbai where grand processions bear huge idols to the sea for immersion. Ganesh is the bestower of luck, the remover of obstacles and the god of safe travels. I always carry a small Ganesh charm with me while I travel in India.
On the morning of April 14 approximately 10 million people streamed into the sacred town of Haridwar in north India to bathe in the Ganga on the most auspicious day during the 2010 Kumbh Mela. I was one of them. Find out how I found myself alone, and at home, at the world’s largest spiritual gathering.
In Varanasi, where the veil between life and death seems very thin, a boat ride on the river can become a journey to the other side. Come along with me on a boat ride on the Ganges River in India’s oldest, holiest city and pierce the veil.
The Ganges / Ganga River is the Mother of India. The River speaks in many voices as she travels from the high Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. At the source, her song is joyous, full of the the jubilance of youth, the rush of fresh mountain streams, the sincere chanting of pilgrims and the excitement of the onward journey.
