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The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.
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Ganpati Bappa Morya

It's that time of the year when the Lord turns up, at almost every house in the vicinity - small and big alike. He may be tiny or huge, pot bellied or traditional, or in a modern avatar, but his presence is visible at every corner. Since the past few years, we have made our own clay idol of Lord Ganesha at home, a task I really missed this year. However, my mother gave me the opportunity today, and here is the idol I made for her....


He is a tiny chap, small and cute (I think!!), and he would have been a simple Lord, had it not been for my aunt, who brought out these tiny little pieces of jewelry, which we then used to decorate Him. Tonight, he sits peacefully on a betel leaf, waiting for the prayers to begin tomorrow.

He is the Lord of new beginnings, the remover of obstacles. Technically, we aren't supposed to celebrate any festivals in a house of mourning, but it is in times like these that we need Him the most. I pray to Him to bestow His grace upon us all.....

Ganpati Bappa Morya!!!! 
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Comments

  1. LocomenteSeptember 9, 2013 at 1:34 PM

    Aww...
    He looks so chweeet!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ErcotravelsSeptember 11, 2013 at 4:18 PM

    He is cute and on the first glance, appears to be made-up of sweets
    Regards :)
    Our new post is
    http://india-wildlife-tour.blogspot.in/2013/09/an-insight-inside-dudhwa-national-park.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarSeptember 13, 2013 at 4:21 PM

      Thank you!!! that was the response I recd from many people. the dark brown colour probably reminds u of chocolate!!!

      Delete
  3. SowmyaSeptember 13, 2013 at 3:47 PM

    Very cute Ganapathi. Do u have Navaratri this year ? Am waiting to see ur preparations n celebrations .. Even we keep gombe/dolls for Navaratri n need some tips from u as we r still beginners .. Ur blog is just wonderful n we enjoy going through it. Its Awesome

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarSeptember 13, 2013 at 4:22 PM

      Thanks Sowmya. no, we dont have navaratri this year, but i will be happy to help you out!

      Delete

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