Over 2000 Km by road, in around 10 days. Stunning landscapes, wonderful people. That sums up our Ladakh trip. But how did it actually work? How did we make it happen? Read on to find out! Leh, the capital of Ladakh , is accessible by air and road. Flying into Leh is the easiest, and time-saving option, while the road is the time consuming one, but with the added advantage of driving past some of the most beautiful landscapes in our country. Each option has much to recommend it, and we chose the road for just one reason – altitude sickness. Altitude sickness was one of my biggest concerns, since I suffer from motion-sickness. Yes, I do travel a lot, but that is despite my condition, and, over the years, have learnt how to handle it. I struggled with it when we visited Nathu-La in Sikkim, and wondered if I would be able to manage a week at the even higher altitudes that we would encounter in Ladakh. This was the reason we stuck to a basic plan, of only 9 days in Ladakh, though we
Today's Golu is one kept by a friend in the colony. It is a wonderful combination of the old and the new, for they have some really old and beautiful idols, which I enjoy seeing every year, and they have also kept a few new ones along with the kids' toys. Samhith enjoyed this one, especially since he got a bag to carry back home with goodies just like the girls get. Navaratri being a women's festival, boys are generally ignored, but some of us who have boys who don't like being ignored have started giving out goodies to the smaller boys who visit too..... We hope that this will at least make them want to come along with us to see a few Golus!
Here is the full Golu....
With the side arrangement showcasing the toys of both their kids...Barbies and trains! Need I mention that they have a boy and a girl???
Now for the toys... This one is my personal favourite - the goddess Meenakshi.
and here is the First divine family - Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha! in an interesting form...
Lakshmi - Hayagriva -
and Lakshmi Narasimha....
and now for the newer ones... This one depicts Lord Vishnu reclining on Adishesha, Lakshmi by his side, Brahma on the lotus emerging from His navel, Garuda and Hanuman....
and the newest one of all...the dolls set!
Truly, it is with children in the house that Navaratri and Golus become really interesting!
I loved the concept of giving a goodies bag to little boys. I remember that my brothers' faces would fall when I'd get stuff they wouldn't for some kanya puja that some neighbouring aunties did.
ReplyDeleteWOW! That is one awesome and colourful golu! I wish such golu's were kept at my home. But my sis doesn't find time at all :-(
ReplyDeleteI had noticed the small doll in the first picture itself, good to see the details too.
ReplyDeletevery true, with children at home, this festival becomes very interesting... As i told u on mail i have planned for arranging golu dis year. My little one just after getting down from her school bus asks if i have already arranged the golu....i have been saying no to her since last one week, thank god its just one week day away n she will b happy to have darshan immediately after coming back from school...
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