AMAZING SIMPLY AMAZING

This blog should obviously get posted. I visited a place few weeks before which was the only good thing British did to Indians. They took the help of these lands to torture us, but now these acreages are giving us immense pleasure. These are 500 islands together situated far away from the mainland India and has all the essence of the positive qualities of the mainland. I never went through this feeling of love at first sight before watching these islands from 7-8 km. The lush green small lands surrounded by colorful sea. The canvas of sea was having numerous colors like cyan, green, blue, white etc.

                Every island here has some unique characteristics. They are small and pure. The purity is not only in the nature but also in the human beings who are in proximity with the mother nature. Every beach you visit here gives you amazing sense of serenity. The waves are in no rush. The clear waters add to your amazement. These lands are very prosperous in coconuts, supari etc. Stunning fishes which you witness in your scuba diving and in coral beach increase your respect towards Almighty. You thank Him for making this world so colorful. When the sand touches your feet it doesn’t remain with you and gets washed away with water. It is so soft and silky. Sand too only wants that you should take the calmness from these islands and nothing else.

                This place makes you observe the nature. In your daily mundane routine you don’t know how sunsets and moon rises. At this place you get all the backlogs cleared. The melodious sound of waves with every ray of moonlight on the sea takes you the whole new level of tranquility which you never before have observed. After exploring all such nature’s gift to humanity its really very painstaking to leave from there and come back to polluting horning rat-racing depreciating surroundings. Every facet here in ANDAMAN is very fascinating and intriguing. 

               

LORD VENKATESHWARA BAAHUBALI

                             Srivari brahmotsavam

          The biggest festival of Lord tirupati falls in the months September and October. It last for 9 days. It is said that in this period Lord comes out the abode and meet the people. Tirupati temple situated on the hill station Tirumala witnesses around 60,000 devotees every day. This number increases to over 1 lakh in this Brahmotsavam period. I with my family witnessed this glorious festival this year. Don’t know whether we were blessed or we were cursed that we were there during this festival epoch.

          There are two ways to reach Tirumala from tirupati, one by road transport and one by walking to Tirumala. After much of confusion we picked the first one. Thank god we opted for this. We dint know what was coming to us that time.   

From tirupati we reached Tirumala in the morning. The first thing anyone can witness was huddles of people. And one more peculiar thing was most of them were bald. People believe that offering hair to Lord is pious and reduces ‘Ahankar’. We shifted our luggage in our lodging room and decided that we would shop before the Darshan and enter the queue in the evening. As planned we had heavy lunch (on banana leaf adding the taste to the food) and had a small nap. Then by 4-4.30 we started getting ready for the darshan with full enthusiasm. Women in family wore new brand sarees. I wore white lungi for the first time in full exuberance. Needless to say we clicked pictures.  Left our mobile phones in our room and by jeep we reached the ‘Sarva Darshan ‘queue As the brahmotsavam was celebrated no special darshans were offered to the devotees only the free sarva darshan was available. Around 6.30pm we joined the queue with great devotion and excitement.

We have made our mind that we will be sitting in queue complex (the waiting area) for around 3-4 hours and 2-3 hours in the queue which makes 7-8 hours maximum for darshan. As we moved ahead with time all our assumptions started looking blurred. We were in queue for almost 4 hours and still we dint reach the Q complex. Around 100ms from us we saw the gates for Q complex were closed. It was 11pm dark night. Fog and rain outside. Though we were in shade the cold sprinkles were making us shiver. By 12.15am I lost the patience and moved out of the line to find out the truth that when the doors will reopen.

There we got every possible answer. Some people said 4.am and darshan will start by 10am. Some news were there from so called reliable people that everything is shut down and the line will come alive by 10am in the morning . That means we will be standing or sitting in that chaotic place for next 10hours.  I lost my patience and asked my family to come out of the queue but no one was ready. I realized one thing that time. I was the only one who got panicked. I think I was because I found some may be facts about the future. Everyone else in the mammoth queue was so much ready to face any challenges. So many people with infants, senior citizens were fine with the situation. All were just motivated only to take one glimpse of the Lord Venkateshwara. None but me cared about what will happen tomorrow which disturbed me a bit. Me with my wife stayed in a small shelter which can accommodate 6-7 people but there around 15 people saved themselves from rain and cold. At around 3.30am a huge voice banged my ears. The voice was of an old man from the queue saying “GOOOVINDAAAAAA”. I don’t how but he knew that something is going to happen and that happened. The door got reopened.

We heaved a sigh of relief and entered the flowing line with utmost struggle. In half an hour we reached the Q complex. Q complex has around 30-35 compartments. Devotees are filled in them. Our compartment number was 26. The compartment was like a big room with steps. It was 4.15 in the morning and people were sleeping in whichever manner one can on the floors. We somehow managed to find place for ourselves. With many small naps we managed to pass some 4-5 hours after that we had tea, breakfast all for free. Now we were waiting for our compartment’s turn for the darshan. All lower to middle class telgu/tamil people all around made us much uncomfortable and felt that we were so much secluded from the crowd. There was on one to speak. There was a TV which showed Ramayana that to in telgu. Again different rumors were erupting that Gate will open in 10mins to 2 hours. It was really a test of patience. At 10.15am the gates opened. It was very much a refreshing moment. People huddled to the gate. By 11.30 we had the darshan. I experience something outside the world after darshan. We were in rough state for around 17 big hours. But as soon as the Lord Venkasheshwara appeared I felt so much mental peace and electrifying calmness. Legs were paining like hell but mind was fresh. All those efforts were felt very much a worth. Somewhere I got the feeling that there is obvious energy in the temple. There must be some magic by the creator of this cosmos. The magic which is beyond our understanding but we can feel it. Without this people won’t have so much faith in Him and come to get His 1 millisecond appearance.

MARINE DRIVE....THE BEAUTIFUL FACE OF INDIA

                

    Marine drive is the most beautiful place in Mumbai. Me and my four friends decided to visit it for the first time. Yes hard to believe but yes for the first time though we are studying in Mumbai.  We went to CST from our college, asked a traffic police the way to marine drive. Beautiful Saturday evening in mid October month. We were marching towards our destination. Sun had worked for whole day and he was ready to see off.  We reached marine drive at around 7.15pm. The sight was just serendipity for all of us. We stopped all our jokes, gossips abruptly and enjoyed the sight. The silver necklace was beautifying the concrete road and buildings.

                Sound of sea waves, traffic, hawkers and also the sound of peace you find there in all such noise. You feel calm between the vast sky and humongous sea. Though the sea is touching our Indian soil but its mother tongue should consists Al habiba. Just a thought.  Between all such perfect, conventional environment we heard some shouting from a distance. A toongawala and a tall white guy were having some quarrel between them. Prior we ignored as it’s so usual in our country. But after a while we couldn’t stop ourself from knowing what was actually happening.

                We waited there for a minute and heard the conversation which was funny at that moment. Toongawala was shouting in some English that “charges is 300, I give you 200 vapas , as u give 500.I told you this very much .” His hands were also explaining with his words. The foreigner in some English accent was saying “You told us 200 and now you are not ready to return me my 100 note back. I will sue you.” It was astonishing to see a foreigner bargaining as rare scene it was. Both were so much adamant on the matter that even after our intervening them didn’t solve the problem. The toongawala was not ready to give 100 back to white guy.

                I thought for a while. I checked my wallet and took a 100rs note and gave to the white guy. He astonished and asked why you are giving? I just asked him to take and asked Toongawala to go and gave a 1 min speech to him that these people are our guest; we should show the positive side of our country. Please be truthful atleast to them. (“blah blah”- for him ofcourse)

                Then I turned to the white guy he was still in the surprised emoji expression. I asked him from where did u come from?  He answered he is a British. At that moment I felt i shouldn’t have helped this guy, they robbed my country for so long. But again I controlled my patriotism and started explaining why I helped him. I told him that “God didn’t give privilege to the Toongawala to think beyond himself as he lives hand to mouth. He can only think of getting more money and keep himself and his family living. But God made me efficient that I can think of my country and I don’t want anybody to go out of my motherland and tell anything bad about India. Even I want you to see me as representative of this country and not the poor Toonga guy.”  

                 Englishman liked my answer. My friends are stilling in surprising emoji mode. ;)

CHOTE SCREENS KI BADI BAATE

                                               

                                                                                 

I know everyone is bit surprised that “Shri ka blog and no SRK yet!” So let me write something about his great work and which has a place in Guinness book. But wait why should I tell the facts which are already known to everybody. So let me share something which is very common yet uncommon now-a-days.

                I and My friends (Harsh, Abhishek and Aditya) decided to watch “DDLJ” at Maratha mandir on Saturday 13/12, on the very next day of completion of 1000weeks. We left our hostel a bit late then what we actually decided. The show timing was 11.30am. By 10.30am tickets selling start. None of us was sure that whether the movie was still running in the theatre or not as the buzz mentioned that “Maratha mandir will let off DDLJ after 1000weeks”. At 11am we reached the single screen theatre and saw the poster of DDLJ and heaved a sigh of relief. But our happiness was short-lived. There was a long queue for tickets. We were pretty unsure that we will get tickets or not. Two of us went in the queue and me n harsh started requesting people who were in the beginning of the line to buy tickets for us too. After many arrogant replies and rejections a man with kind heart and labourish face agreed. But sometimes helping others put you in trouble. As the limit were 4 for a person. He managed to take only 4 tickets, which apparently we took from him and he went home with empty hands. This anxiety of unsurety about the tickets is getting extinct because of BOOKMYSHOW.COM.

                The door for cinema hall opened. People huddled as if the seats are allocated on first cum first serve basis (this happening is also very rare now). Security man somehow managed the crowd. We entered the cinema hall. We had balcony tickets costing RS20 each (Rarest phenomena). As a huge fan of Shahrukh khan I posed his style in front of DDLJ poster. My friends also followed me. Then we bought popcorn for Rs20 and waited to start the movie. As soon as the first scene appeared people shouted in chorus in happiness. Audience welcomed Amrish puri with Applause. The energy of audience reached at its best when Kajol and King Khan appeared for the first time. Everyone wished that their father should be like Anupam kher who celebrated his son’s failure. This continued for all most all scenes. Clapping, shouting, singing songs of the movie, whistling were going on with increasing fashion. The charged up environment was nonstop for 3 hours. As the show was house full and everyone has already seen the movie people reacted beforehand for every memorable scene. Infamous dialogue-“bade bade desho mai aise choti choti baate hoti reheti hai” got expected honour from public.

          

                Now-a-days you don’t find such energy in any movie or even in crowd. It was really a perfect nostalgia who is 35-40years old now. They must have witnessed the first day first show of DDLJ. After all it was awesome and unforgettable experience. I suggest a business idea ( as an MBA guy) to khans and bachchan that they should bring back their legendary movies like lagan ,hum aapke hai kon, deewar , janjir, rang de basanti, baazigar to single screens. They should promote them as they promote their new movies. Single screens will also get back their audience.TRY IT! J

  

TAJ in my own way!

“WAH TAJ”

                My mom’s birthday falls on 22^nd September. She completed golden jubilee, so to celebrate we decided to visit Taj mahal hotel in Mumbai. As every good thing has some glitches my exam was scheduled on 22^nd so we postponed our program to 30^th September.

                                             

                Let us go directly to 30^th Sept instead of wasting time in telling you that how I faced my exams in thinking of the Taj. I, my parents and uncle aunt met at CST station at around 5.30pm. The weather was never so perfect. No clouds, sun was waving bye to Mumbai. We boarded BEST bus to reach Gateway of India. In that journey of 15-20min we saw many glorious and ancient structures of Mumbai. We reached our destination in couple of minutes. You see three marvelous structures in one go. The Gateway of india, The Taj mahal Hotel and Shivaji Maharaj’s Statue. As my aunt has visited Taj many a times so she knew much about the layout of Taj. So we need not have to search for anything. There are 2 buildings of Taj ,the new one and the old one. Old building has 7 floors which is pre dominantly for meals etc and the huge Taj next to the old building is for lodging and boarding which is of 22 floors.          

                We entered the taj and the first impression was splendid. Everything inside was as lusty as gold. We obviously took out our cameras and started capturing the richness and beauty inside of taj. We bowed down to the memorial of the martyrs of 26/11. That day still brings Goosebumps of fear. It was very horrifying night for the whole country. After spending some time experiencing the elegant parts of taj we decided to give the elegance to our stomach too so we went to “Sea lounge” section where we have munchies. Taj has different sections like roof top, shamiyana, sea lounge etc. Specialty of sea lounge is we can view the mammoth sea; it is truly a wonderful sight. There were cushions near the window but it was for 2 people only and we were 5. So fortunately and unfortunately with some disappointment went to the chairs a bit far from windows. The cushions were very cosy and comfortable. There was a buffet so we started tasting different items one by one.. I don’t recollect the names as I was very much interested in eating than reading. After spending half an hour of conversation in family we observed the weather outside turning gloomy. Something wrong was there in the dark and in next 10min we got our doubts cleared.

                There were 4 window panels in that room facing the sea. One of them flanged open with huge noise of wind and rain. The glass mug, plates fell down into pieces which were kept nearby to the window. We were just sitting on our couch & viewing the horrifying scene with awe. A waiter ran towards the window and closed the window. The staff called the housekeeping to clean everything. After 10 odd minutes another window opened with loud noise and this time the water particles with wind reached us. We left our table with panic. There were other customers who joined us. The staff requested us to stay out of the room in the passage. All these scenes reminded us of the terrible night of 26/11. The din of wind and clatter of windows were very horrifying. We waited near the staircase and discovered that even Taj’s ceiling leaks. So I have forgiven all the construction builders for their leaky structure now.

                One manager came to us and escorted us to ground floor in “Shamiyana ” section. It was very beautiful as name suggests. We came out of the panicky stage. Staff told us that this has happened for the first time in last 40 years. So somewhere I am very happy for witnessing the incidence. We spent some time and had tea coffee and asked for bill. To everyone’s surprise Taj didn't charged us a single penny. The bill amount was Rs.7500/- which is not a less amount. They proved again why they are so prestigious and number one hotel in our country. Their motto is customer satisfaction. Actually the calamity was natural, it was no one’s fault but as we as in taj’s customers faced inconvenience so according to them their customer was not satisfied so no reward.

                We came out of taj and hired a taxi to reach CST station .The environment was actually much tensed. Trees had fallen over vehicles, blockage of water, traffic, fire brigadiers and police helping the city out etc. After seeing all this we understood that during the mishap we were in the safest place called

“THE TAJ MAHAL HOTEL”