Butterflies....

Saw such a strange sight at a spot in Rajaji National Park.. For no discernible reason whatsoever, hundreds of bright-coloured butterflies were sitting at one spot on the grass.. and would fly away as we went near them and again alight at the very same spot as we moved away. The children and I found it so fascinating....

The drive from Chandi Devi Temple straight through the Park, is paradise! I recommend everyone who lives/visits around this part of the country to definitely make a trip through  this route which leaves to Rishikesh.

Neccesity is the mother of all Enterprise!

Ever seen the once-familiar innovatively miraculous nests of the weaver bird lately? Not in the last few years! Nature's wanton destruction has taken its toll on flora and fauna.. as it has with human lives...and so many species are on the verge of extinction!
It was delightful to see these 40-50 nests hanging all-in-a-row on a pilon, en route to Dehradun on the Bijnor-Hardwar road! This is called Survival !!!!

India- The Land of Festivals

India is the land of festivals. Probably the only one of its kind on the face of the earth.. where exist a myriad kaleidoscope of religions, castes, creeds, languages and people. And Gods. We are known as a country that may be lacking in many things, but has warmth, colour and vibrance. All of our lives are an occasion for celebration. The birth of a child, its naming-ceremony, first hair-shaving(mundan), ear-piercing, birthdays, first day at school, first day in college, first job, first tricycle, bicycle, motorbike/car, first house, engagement, marriage... even death... is a loud, noisy, show of sorts. No wonder Bollywood is such a glitzy affair! Reel life mimics real life, so to say!

We attach various fables, stories, reeti-rivaaz to the various festivals we celebrate.. as endorsed and enforced by the caretakers of religions across the land. Somewhere along the way, we seem to have had a collective memory-loss about the reason for celebrating any festival or occasion. National festivals, religious festivals and harvest festivals were actually a celebration of a fruitful and happy life. Where in the days of restricted communication/transportation facilities, these were occasions for mass movement of people to meet their families and friends. They paid homage to their local deities and went on to eat, drink and make merry. Unlike today, where the local deities have transformed into monstrous proportions and engulfed the very reason behind all celebrations. Constant association with fasting and penance along with complicated rituals and practices have sullied the very essense of the word "Festival". Festivities take a back-seat and Ritualism is the winner!

Its time to take stock of who we are and where we are going. And to remember- all directions ought to lead us to the end of the rainbow.. not get us lost amidst the debris of randomness.