BreatheDreamGo » Indian culture

Win passes to see the dazzling MAHARAJA exhibit in Toronto

Mariellen — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:40:15 +0000

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.

Photo of BreatheDreamGo's Mariellen at the opening gala by Amanjeet K. Chauhan

The Art Gallery of Ontario exhibit runs from November 20, 2010 until April s, 2011. It features more than 200 objects made by and for the maharajas — great kings — of India, from the 17th century to 1947, when India declared independence, became a secular democracy and abolished the feudal power of the maharajas.

This is a major show for the Art Gallery of Ontario in more ways than one. It opened with a $1,000 a plate gala dinner; was the recipient of the gallery’s largest donation to date; and is reaching out to the community like never before. In fact, the large donation from three major Canadian corporations is making it possible for the AGO to let people under the age of 25 in for free. Yes, you heard that right: if you are under 25 years old you get in for free. There are also lots of cultural events related to the show taking place throughout the run. Check the Art Gallery of Ontario website and the Art Matters blog for details.

How to enter

The adult (over 25) ticket price is $22. BreatheDreamGo has 10 passes to give out, and one lucky winner will also receive the catalogue to the show, worth about $40.00. I will hold a random draw on December 15, 2010 and contact winners by email.

To enter the contest you must:

1. subscribe to BreatheDreamGo either by RSS or by email (see SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL box and orange RSS button on the home page)

2. post the BreatheDreamGo blog about the exhibit to either Facebook or Twitter — click here and use this link: Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts dazzles visitors — OR click the Facebook LIKE button below

3. leave a comment at the end of this post and tell me why you want to see the show

Thanks for entering, good luck!

centre piece at the opening gala for Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts

Thank you for reading. Please visit BreatheDreamGo or stop by my Facebook page at Breathedreamgo.

Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts dazzles visitors

Mariellen — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:45:00 +0000

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.

The Maharajas of Hyderabad and Mysore during the 1911 durbar in Delhi (fragment of a painting on display)

This show is a celebration of one facet of the kaleidoscope that is Indian culture — and it is a very dazzling facet. Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts will be on exhibit at the AGO from November 20, 2010 until April 3, 2011. It features more than 200 objects made by or for the maharajas of India from the 17th century to 1947, including jewelry, paintings, furniture and prized photographs by artists such as Man Ray and Cecil Beaton — as well as a saffron-coloured Rolls Royce and a silver carriage. It was was organized in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and we are lucky to have it, this is a Canadian exclusive.

Meeting my first maharaja

The exhibit is much more than simply a collection of dazzling objects. It is the first exhibition to celebrate the opulent world of the maharajas and their unique culture of artistic patronage. The curators and interpreters have done a wonderful job of presenting the treasures in a historical context. As you walk through the elegant rooms, you walk through about 300 years of Indian history, learning about the “maha rajas” — great kings — of India and how they lived, what they valued, the political role they played and how, ultimately, the forces of history circumscribed their powers.

Yuvraj Saheb Mandhatasinhji of Rajkot and the Star of India, Rolls Royce Phantom II

I was lucky to be among the media who got to visit the show with a real maharaja. Yuvraj Saheb Mandhatasinhji of Rajkot told me the story of the legendary Star of India, the world’s only saffron-coloured Rolls Royce, which is one of the treasures on display. The stunning automobile was commissioned by his great-grandfather in 1934, who requested that it be painted the sacred colour of Hinduism and adorned with the Gurjurat family’s crest. It is twice blessed, as it carried Mahatma Gandhi sometime during the 1930s. The car was sold to a British collector in the 1960s, and Y.S. Mandhatasinhji bought it back on May 1, 2010.

Maharani power and a gem of a story

I was very interested and gratified to see that women featured more largely in the exhibit that I expected. Here is an example, the description for the painting of Chand Bibi of Bijapur shooting with her ladies (Deccan, circa 1750):

Chand Bibi of Bijapur shooting wiht her ladies, Deccan, circe 1750

“Women of the court were also sometimes skilled at battle. This is a posthumous image of Chand Bibi of Bijapur, a warrior queen from the 1500s who defended her realm from Mughal forces. As well as being an accomplished soldier, she was also a skilled poet and musician. This idealized and elegant representation shows how her fame endured 150 years after her death.”

Patiala Necklace, 1928 Nick Welsh, Cartier Collection © Cartier

I loved the Cecil Beaton and Man Ray photos, the fairy-tale-like silver carriage, the enormous painting of the durbar procession of 1911 passing in front of the Red Fort in Delhi, the black-and-white footage of the durbar, the elegant 20th century saris, many of the smaller paintings and the jewelry. The jewelry is stunning, especially of course the restored Patiala necklace — another piece with a fascinating story. In brief, the Maharaja of Patiala — who owned the yellow De Beers diamond, the seventh largest cut diamond in the world — commissioned the necklace in 1928. It was the largest single commission in Cartier’s history. The centrepiece of the elaborate necklace was the De Beers diamond. Sometime after the Raj ended, in about 1948, the necklace went “missing” and was found in 1998, in pieces, in a vintage jewelry store in London. Cartier bought it and spent four years restoring it, substituting synthetic stones for the original De Beers diamond and some of the rubies.

The legacy of the maharajas of India

Howdah, 19th century Courtesy of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust © David Dunning

For me, the Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts exhibit was something very special. I walked through the rich rooms agog, stirred by the artistry and splendour of the treasures, the engaging and beautiful presentation and the Indian classical music playing in the background. I was reminded of the many maharaja-built forts and palaces I have been in India; and also of my life-long fascination with the culture of India and my childhood obsession with the 1,001 Tales of the Arabian Nights. This is the aesthetic that captures my imagination, and always has. It is of course fantasy — but it is also reality. Maharajs were — and are — real, and Indians really do feel pride in their culture.

I share the Art Gallery of Ontario’s hope that Indo-Canadians will flock to the exhibit. Pride can be a positive force for change, and perhaps the positive energy created by events like this will help India to overcome some of its social and image issues. As always, I hope others will see the beauty of India’s culture. I certainly do.

To read the blog I wrote for the exhibit, and to find out why this exhibit means so much to me, see If these walls could speak.

Procession of Raja Ram Singh II of Kota and his son at Kota, c.1850 ©V&A Images/Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Thank you for reading. Please visit BreatheDreamGo or stop by my Facebook page at Breathedreamgo.

In defense of Delhi and India

Mariellen — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:53:11 +0000

Lodhi Garden, Delhi, India

Commonwealth Games at a tipping point

In the days leading up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Delhi has been vilified in the western media for lack of preparedness, unclean facilities, unfinished and potentially unsafe stadiums (a bridge collapsed, injuring dozens) and security lapses. The international community called it a “fiasco” and is putting a lot of pressure on India to rectify the situation. I feel heart-broken about this because I know and love the city of Delhi; and it pains me to see that the western media seems to take particular glee in exposing the “filthy” conditions. Sports columnist Stephen Brunt in Canada’s national Globe and Mail newspaper wrote a very thoughtful column about the situation, a column that should have been in the front section of the newspaper: Huge shadow looms over New Delhi.

In the column, Brunt rightly pointed out, “… this kind of shortfall was inevitable, eventually. It has been coming. And were it not New Delhi now, it would be somewhere else in the very near future, in a city and country that paid too much, that promised too much, that was unwilling or unable to divert the necessary resources, that simply bit off more than it could chew….

In India you had the perfect storm: a colossus of a country, but still one facing Third World challenges; an event that is costly to hold, but that doesn’t produce Olympic-scale revenues; and the bureaucratic and political intransigence that Pipe mentions, which has now caused gentle prodding to escalate into de facto threats from major players to pull out.

Because the consequences of walking away would be grave, in terms of sport, in terms of the future of the Commonwealth Games, in terms of political relationships with a growing economic power, here’s betting that in the end everyone tries to make a go of it.

But it won’t be pretty. And it may well be a tipping point.”

Sunrise from rooftop, South Delhi, India

Delhi is in many ways a magnificent city, filled with historic sites — including three UNESCO World Heritage sites — gracious tree-lined boulevards, the visionary planned city of New Delhi and a cornucopia of upscale stores, colourful markets, fine restaurants and rich cultural events. Delhi and India have a lot to offer the world — which I write about often on this site — BUT not by playing a first-world game and holding modern mega-la-palooza sporting events.

Personally, I think the corruption in India and the myriad social issues should be cleaned up first BEFORE attempting these monster events. In fact, I wonder if any country can really afford these things — and that includes the G20 summit, the World Cup and the Olympics. There are millions of people around the world who don’t get enough to eat every single day of their lives; there is rampant injustice and serious environmental degradation. Shouldn’t we be attending to these things before we start spending billions unnecessarily?

Odissi dancer in Delhi, India

It all seems ironic to me. If you read my article Sharing India’s wisdom with the world, or if you know anything about yoga philosophy or the essence of Hindusim, you will know that the wisdom India offers is diametrically opposite to these expensive, hubris-driven extravaganzas. Simplicity, contentment and going within to find answers and satisfaction are just some of the values India’s wisdom espouses.

India has a continuous, ancient culture, rich religious and cultural traditions, diverse and stunning geography, glorious art and architecture (including of course the world’s most beautiful building), and some of the most warm, generous and content people you could ever meet. These are some of the things India should cherish and promote — while also recognizing that the corruption and social inequality is a disgrace, and should be addressed very vigorously. In my view, this is where India should be directing resources and energy.

Thank you for reading. Please visit BreatheDreamGo or stop by my Facebook page at Breathedreamgo.

Shopping in India: Top 10 things to buy

Mariellen — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:11:21 +0000

Photo courtesy Amanjeet K Chauhan of GalleryAKC.com

There’s no bling like Indian bling

India is a shopper’s paradise. You just can’t beat the combination India offers: an incredible variety of gorgeous items, often hand-made, at temptingly low prices. For higher cost items, such as pashmina shawls, make sure you know what you are buying; and that the dealer is reputable. Here’s a list of the top 10 things to buy in India.

Shopping in India: Top 10 things to buy

1. Textiles. India is famous for cotton and silk clothing, bed covers, table cloths and wall hangings. Many of these come adorned with hand beading and/or hand embroidery and will make you feel like a princess.

2. Jewelry. Indian women love jewelry, and the bigger and more ornate the better. There is an astounding variety of real and costume jewelry – to go with your princess look.

3. Pashmina shawls. Real pashmina is a type of cashmere wool that comes from pashmina goats in the Himalayas. It is very costly. So, if someone offers you a pashmina for the equivalent of $10, it’s probably a blend (at best).

4. Shoes. From inexpensive leather juttis (traditional embroidered slippers) to crystal-beaded, high-heeled evening sandals, shoes in India are fun and frivolous … and very tempting.

5. Scented products. India is, of course, the land of incense. And attar, a type of natural perfume extracted from flowers, herbs, spices, or barks, has been in use in India since ancient times.

6. Tea. The champagne of tea, Darjeeling, comes from the hills of North-east India; and Assam and Nilgiri teas are excellent too.

7. Arts and crafts. Throughout India, traditional artisans make lovely rugs, furniture, pottery, clothing, textiles, jewelry – usually with unique regional variations. And all of it is for sale in Delhi, so you can buy at the end of your trip.

8. Books. India publishes a LOT of books in English, at very affordable prices (though quality is sometimes sacrificed).

9. Ayurvedic products, such as skin care and herbal remedies. Several commercial brands, such as Biotique, Himalaya and Shahnaz Herbal, are readily available.

10. Music and movies. Classical Indian and devotional music CDs, and Bollywood DVDs, are a great buy and make for a long-lasting souvenir.

Happy me, shopping in the Karol Bagh Market, Delhi

If you enjoyed this post, you can….

Get updates and read additional stories on the Breathedreamgo Facebook page.

Buy Song of India, a collection of 10 feature stories about my travels in India. E-book version is now only $1.99.

Subscribe to the free — and inspiring! — e-newsletter, Travel That Changes You.

Thank you for reading. Please visit BreatheDreamGo or stop by my Facebook page at Breathedreamgo.

Video Friday: Sita Sings the Blues

Mariellen — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:28:17 +0000

Video Friday: Trailer for Sita Sings the Blues

The greatest break-up story ever told

Oooops, missed Video Friday on BreatheDreamGo because of the Eat, Pray, Love juggernaut. (btw, did you know that juggernaut is a Hindi word? It refers to Lord Jagganath and the massive chariots pulled through the streets of Puri during the annual Rath Yatra festival. Apparently, the frenzied faithful used to throw themselves under the chariot’s wheels to be crushed to death — much to the dismay of the British Raj.) This video is a trailer for the delightful full-length feature film, made by cartoonist Nina Paley, about both her break-up and the Indian epic The Ramayan. You can watch the full-length version and read the true-life story behind this inspired creation and how Paley decided to release copyright on it on her website, Sita Sings the Blues.

Thank you for reading. Please visit BreatheDreamGo or stop by my Facebook page at Breathedreamgo.

A long walk on a hot day in India

Mariellen — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:34:52 +0000

Aarti (evening ceremony) during Kumbh Mela Festival in Haridwar, India, 2010

The Kumbh Mela Festival in India

“No,” said the khaki-clad policeman. “You don’t have the right pass.” It took me a moment to grasp that I was not going to be able to join my colleagues on the media platform. The spectacle of hundreds of naga sadhus parading into the centre of Haridwar, India was the pinnacle of the Kumbh Mela, the largest spiritual gathering on earth, and I wanted to see it

That morning, I rose before dawn and walked 13 kilometres into Haridwar with a group from the ashram to take a dip in the Ganges River. It was the most auspicious moment to bathe during the festival, and millions of devotees were streaming into the city to take part.

After bathing, I separating from my ashram group to join my journalism colleagues on the platform. When I was turned away, I was stunned. The sun was climbing in the sky, I didn’t know the route back and the city was completely closed and packed with pilgrims.

Buoyed by the intense devotional energy, I somehow found the winding route back to the ashram. Arriving, I felt exhilarated and realized I would never be the same.

That morning, I discovered the truth and power of ritual. It’s not about the achievement. It’s about how a peak experience can change our idea of who we are and what we are capable of. Which is a lot to get out of a long walk on a hot day in north India.

This post has been entered into the Grantourismo and HomeAway Holiday-Rentals travel blogging competition.

Thank you for reading. Please visit BreatheDreamGo or stop by my Facebook page at Breathedreamgo.

Video of dance to Krishna chant

Mariellen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:04:22 +0000

Video Friday

Graceful dance, with hoop, to kirtan music

Every summer, ISKCON (International Society of Krishna Consciousness — otherwise known as the “Hare Krishnas”) holds a picnic on Toronto Island called the Festival of India – Feed Your Soul. It’s a wonderful event and I never miss it. Everything is free — even the food! — and people of all ages attend. You can join a free outdoor yoga class, have your astrology chart done, enjoy the vegetarian feast, buy Indian clothes and trinkets and best of all, sing and dance along to incredibly happy, joyful kirtan (sacred) music. The event wraps up on Sunday late afternoon with a rousing kirtan session that everyone joins in. It’s basically a celebration of god, a spiritual rave — and no drugs or alcohol are needed to send everyone in a frenzy of joy. I took this video while everyone else was in the kirtan tent chanting along to the music. More pictures from the event follow.

Woman giving at ISKCON Festival of India, Toronto Island, Summer 2010

Blue turbans at ISKCON Festival of India, Toronto Island, Summer 2010

yoga class at ISKCON Festival of India, Toronto Island, Summer 2010

temple at ISKCON Festival of India, Toronto Island, Summer 2010

and for those of you who think "spiritual people" don't have a sense of humour ...

Thank you for reading. Please visit BreatheDreamGo or stop by my Facebook page at Breathedreamgo.

Video of India festival in India

Mariellen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:10:10 +0000

Video of Kumbh Mela ceremony

This is a video of the aarti (ceremony to honour the Ganges River) that happens each day at dusk in Haridwar, India. I took this during the Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering on earth. I was standing on a media platform in Har-ki-Pauri, the sacred centre of Haridwar. Notice how the Indian authorities set up the media platform with a electrical wires marring the view of the aarti! But still, I think I got a lovely shot of women int he crowd when I panned down across the river to the side I was on. Of course, a modest video like this in no way captures the heat, the smells, the enormous size of the crowd and the intense devotional energy that was palpable in the air. It was an amazing experience to be there. A privilege, really.

Thank you for reading. Please visit BreatheDreamGo or stop by my Facebook page at Breathedreamgo.

What is “authentic travel?”

Mariellen — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:50:23 +0000

Me, during Diwali puja in the family prayer room, Delhi

Authentic travel in India

I have been thinking about the concept of authentic travel for the past few days, ever since seeing the 76-second Travel Show with Robert Reid on this subject. He actually filmed one shot for the show at TBEX, the travel bloggers conference, and I was one of the audience members loudly saying “no, it’s not” in response to his statement: all travel is the quest for difference and the more exotic the better. But even though I went along with the gag, for the video, I do think a lot of people go to India because they perceive it to be so different and exotic.

India is one of those places where the question of authentic, or “real” often comes up. I have heard backpackers say that Pahar Ganj – the backpackers ghetto in Delhi – is the “real India,” whereas the Delhi-ites I know have almost never been there, and would probably be happy if it was bulldozed.

My own feeling is that backpacker culture is an import, and far from being “authentic” or “real” has actually caused the local culture to morph around it. It unwittingly creates a scene in which poor local people learn to cater to foreign tourists. And thus you find the Pink Floyd Café in the sacred town of Pushkar, and foreigners happily sipping beer in a place that is supposed to be entirely free of alcohol.

Authentic travel in India to me is:

- sitting on the living room floor around an open fire during the naming puja (religious ritual) for my partner Ajay’s nephew,

- going shopping for diyas (lights) and flowers during the pre-Diwali madness in Delhi with Ajay’s Mother,

- trying to wrap my head around teacher Swami Brahmdev’s answers during satsang (question and answer period – literally translated from the Sanskrit as a search for truth) under the mango trees at Aurovalley Ashram,

- watching the effect love and play has on the Tibetan refugee children in the Art Refuge program in Dharamsala – they become children again.

For me, “authentic” travel is about engagement. The more deeply involved I am, the more “authentic” it is.

But my experience of travel in India is rooted in my involvement with an Indian family, and has given me perhaps a different lens through which to view India. When I first landed in India in December 2005, Ajay picked me up at the airport and I stayed at his family home. (I had met him through a mutual friend about 13 years earlier, in 1992, when he visited Toronto.) We fell in love about three days later, and I was lucky to be warmly welcomed into his family.

So I live with my Ajay’s Indian family when I am in Delhi and try to blend in as much as I can – I am essentially Indian in Delhi. I live in non-touristy south Delhi, wear Indian clothes, rarely see or speak to non-Indians and move around the city as a local, not as a tourist. But of course I am not Indian so there is bound to be moments of friction as I assert my individuality or need for privacy. (Luckily his family is very tolerant.)

with my Indian family in Delhi

But the moment I start traveling and staying in guest houses, I am perceived as a foreigner and I can really sense the difference. In Delhi, I feel like I have crossed the cultural divide; I feel accepted for who I am. But on the road, I feel a bit like a target. I can sense a slightly condescending attitude (until I say I am married to an Indian, and the attitude completely evaporates); and of course I am often confronted with what one pundit called the “white tax” – inflated prices for foreigners.

Personally, I don’t like being a tourist in India – probably because I do have the experience of being in an Indian family for much of the time I am there. But I don’t know how to get around it when I am on the road.

In the end, if you have a profound and meaningful – or fun and enjoyable – personal experience, who is to judge whether it is authentic or not? After all, reality is perception.

Would love to hear about others’ experiences with authentic travel and thoughts on the subject.

Thank you for reading. Please visit BreatheDreamGo or stop by my Facebook page at Breathedreamgo.

Yoga as a window into Indian culture

Mariellen — Thu, 20 May 2010 00:35:01 +0000

Outdoor yoga class at temple, Varanasi

India hits most foreign visitors with sensorial overload, especially during the first few weeks after arrival. It takes time to become acclimatized to the crowds, noise, pollution, language, culture, religious practises and the way people relate to each other, and to foreigners.

When you visit or move to any new country, there are so many things to get used to. This is especially true if the new culture is extremely different from what you’re used to. And India is about as far from orderly, efficient, sparsely populated, wealthy and cold Canada as you can get.

However, one of India’s most popular cultural exports, yoga, was readily available in my hometown (Toronto) and I practiced and studied it for well over 10 years before I set foot in India for the first time.

Shiva, Rishikesh

On my first trip to India, I was lucky enough to stay with family friends in Delhi and was somewhat shielded from the inevitable culture shock first time-visitors to the subcontinent experience. But I will never forget the first time I traveled by car.

My friend drove me to one of his favourite restaurants, and I felt like I was on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. A simple drive to a restaurant a few kilometres away left me feeling lucky to be alive! As we careened in and out of traffic, cars and trucks honked noisily around us, motorcycles carrying entire families zipped by, cows strolled lazily along and no one was paying any attention to their lane … it was madness.

Yoga helped me feel more at home

Knowing yoga seemed to pave the way for me to gain a quicker understanding of India’s culture. It made my adaptation easier and my stay (12 months in total) much more satisfying. As I traveled throughout the country, I visited several yoga ashrams and studied with several teachers. I felt calm and confident in these environments and the experience gave me a deeper insight into the country’s spiritual life than I might have had.

Top floor yoga hall at Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram, Rishikesh

Yoga is one of the six schools of Hinduism, and India is a predominantly Hindu country (85% of the population is Hindu). Through yoga, I was introduced to the spiritual philosophy of Hinduism, which is very different from the Judeo-Christian worldview I was brought up with.

Through my yoga studies, I arrived in India already familiar with many spiritual and religious practices. I was very familiar with the om symbol, which is both the symbol for Hinduism and yoga; and I knew the Gayatri Mantra, which is one of the primary prayers in Hinduism. I also knew some common chants, and was familiar with Hindu imagery, some of the more popular gods, such as Shiva, and the “bible” of Hinduism, the Bhagavad Gita – which is also one of the most important books in yoga.

Yoga hall at Aurovalley Ashram, Rishidwar

Yoga also gave me some familiarity with the language. Many of the terms used are in Sanskrit, the language Hindi derives from. For example, surya namaskar (sun salutation) is a common yoga practice, which taught me the words for sun (surya) and hello (namaskar).

Without my yoga studies, I would have had a much harder time understanding the behaviour of people who are not as achievement-oriented as we are in the west. Many people who go to India cannot understand why a shopkeeper would rather go home and have tea with his family than sell you something. India’s systems often seem archaic, inefficient and slow to us – but it is because they run on different values.

Yogi Vishvketu, cow, Ganges, Rishikesh

There is a big difference in the mindset and culture of a people who believe that you only live once, as compared to people who believe that you live again and again. Such an expansive view of time and opportunity seems to make people much more relaxed about things!

Yoga gave me a window into India’s culture. But I believe that studying dance, a musical instrument, history or some other aspect of the culture could have provided a similar window.

Finding something specific in a new culture and studying it before you arrive is a bit like creating your own welcome committee. And it can work with any culture.

Where to go for yoga in India

Yoga students from the west are extremely well received in India and there are lots of programs developed specifically for them. Sincerity is the only requirement; experience is not necessary. There are an unaccountable number of yoga ashrams in India, but many of them cater to Indians and would therefore be unsuitable to most foreigners. Listed below are some of the best ashrams and organizations for foreign students.

Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram, Risikesh

Rishikesh is the yoga capital of the world and foreign students flock there all year ‘round. There are many, many ashrams, courses and programs available – some are more suitable for foreigners than others. I stay at Anand Prakash, which was founded by an Indian yogi and his Canadian wife. Best of both worlds!

Aurovalley Ashram, Rishidwar

This is my “home” ashram. Situated between Rishikesh and Haridwar, the ashram is a garden, surrounded by meadows and ringed by a national park. Founder Swami Brahmdev teaches the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother: all life is yoga. There are no programs or courses here, and it is in a somewhat isolated location: it is an ashram best suited to people who do not need structure.

Art of Living Foundation, Bengaluru

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is one of the leading spiritual figures in India and his Art of Living courses are highly regarded. Headquarters is in Bengaluru (Bangalore), but there are courses in many places.

Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, Mysore

K. Pattabhi Jois developed Ashtanga Yoga, which became a world-wide phenomenon. The highly venerated teacher passed away recently, but his yoga shala is still going strong. It is situated in beautiful Mysore, which is also a yoga centre. You will have to sign up in advance for courses as they fill up.

Auroville, Tamil Nadu

Sri Aurobindo and his spiritual partner, The Mother, are considered leading spiritual figures of the 20^th century in India. The Mother established Auroville as an experimental, world community. Set among lush palm groves and white sand beaches north of Pondicherry, there are many accommodation options and courses available.

Bihar School of Yoga, Bihar

One of the leading schools of yoga in India for locals and foreigners alike. It is a very well-regarded school, but it is in a remote and poor region of the country. Students tend to go for extended courses.

BKS Iyengar Yoga, Pune

BKS Iyengar is probably one of the world’s most famous yoga teachers. His centre in Pune, near Mumbai, attracts students from all over the world.

International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, Kerala

Sivananda is world-wide organization that specializes in yoga teacher training. Their ashram in Kerala is very popular, and is situated in a lovely, lush area of beautiful Kerala.

Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, Chennai

Krishnamacharya was considered to be the teacher of teachers (Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois were among his students). This teaching centre is highly regarded and is perhaps the best place to learn therapeutic yoga. It is located in a very urban area of Chennai, India’s fourth largest city (formerly called Madras).

Thank you for reading. Please visit BreatheDreamGo or stop by my Facebook page at Breathedreamgo.

BreatheDreamGo » Indian culture

Win passes to see the dazzling MAHARAJA exhibit in Toronto

Silver carriage at the Art Gallery of Ontario exhibit Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts Win passes to see a dazzling show

How to enter

Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts dazzles visitors

Sir Bhupindra Singh, Maharaja of Patiala © National Portrait Gallery, London Taking pride in Indian culture

Meeting my first maharaja

Maharani power and a gem of a story

The legacy of the maharajas of India

In defense of Delhi and India

Lodhi Garden, Delhi, India Commonwealth Games at a tipping point

Shopping in India: Top 10 things to buy

There’s no bling like Indian bling

Shopping in India: Top 10 things to buy

If you enjoyed this post, you can….

Video Friday: Sita Sings the Blues

Video Friday: Trailer for Sita Sings the Blues

A long walk on a hot day in India

The Kumbh Mela Festival in India

Video of dance to Krishna chant

Video Friday

Graceful dance, with hoop, to kirtan music

Video of India festival in India

Video of Kumbh Mela ceremony

What is “authentic travel?”

Me, during Diwali puja in the family prayer room, Delhi Authentic travel in India

Authentic travel in India to me is:

Yoga as a window into Indian culture

Yoga helped me feel more at home

Where to go for yoga in India

Silver carriage at the Art Gallery of Ontario exhibit Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts

Win passes to see a dazzling show

Sir Bhupindra Singh, Maharaja of Patiala © National Portrait Gallery, London

Taking pride in Indian culture

Lodhi Garden, Delhi, India

Commonwealth Games at a tipping point

Me, during Diwali puja in the family prayer room, Delhi

Authentic travel in India