Jama Masjid, Delhi, India

A fakeer at Jama Masjid

Beggar At Jama Masjid

I was sitting near Palika Bazaar, listening to some music and reading Anna Karenina. When suddenly an Urdu Qawwali started playing in my ipod, and with that an urge to visit Jama Masjid aroused in me. And I went there, for the second time. But after reaching there it occurred to me that I am visiting for the first time only. I realized my eyes, ears, sensory organs, mind, everything has been changed or replaced since. I thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance, and atmosphere there. Here are a few pictures of that place I took.

All rest of other pictures I have uploaded on picasa, here's the link:

Jama Masjid and Meena Bazaar, Delhi, India

The Grand Entrance

A man washing off...The water is supposed to be taken out from the pond first, then in the drain you wash...to keep the pond clean...

Crowded It Is...

Pigeons all around

Meena Bazaar, Delhi, India

A Signboard Reading Meena Bazaar In Hindi, Urdu and English

A Shop Full Of Phrases From The Holy Quran

Meena Bazaar A General Outlook

Another Shop

Yet Another Shop

A lovely and congested place is Meena Bazaar. The best thing here, is to listen to the customer - shopkeeper conversation. If you understand a little bit of Hindi and Urdu, you will thoroughly enjoy it.

How to Reach?

Catch a metro train from anywhere for Chawri Bazaar. Come out of Chawk Hauz Quazi exit. Either you can take a rickshaw from there or you can walk. Here is a google map's link. Otherwise you can also ask anyone out there.

I Love Urdu.

I just do not know, but I have developed a great love for spoken Urdu language. I consider it the sweetest language, on planet Earth. Now a days listening to loads of Urdu Quawaalis!!

All rest of other pictures I have uploaded on picasa, here's the link:

Jama Masjid and Meena Bazaar, Delhi, India

Black And White Delhi

Thadi...I love These Thadis!!

Hmmm...Astrologer's....CP's Subway!!

THE DTC Bus!!

Nice Place Chosen For A Nap...Hot Concrete Ground...Just Beside The Traffic, This is Life

Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh...Chapter Closed With A Conclusion

Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh.

I would now like to conclude my whole trip in this post. Many a things I observed. Firstly travelling alone has an undiscovered beauty in it, just try it and you will discover the beauty.

2) If you are authentic and innocent, I am not talking about acting authentic and innocent, but if you are, people no matter how bad or good loves you, and you love them.

3) One can survive, in any world. Everyone is born with that gift of survival. On the more if you surrender to existance, it will take care of your survival, so you do not have to worry, just be in the present, here in the moment.

Final Destination - Prashar Lake, Finally Reached. Day 2

My Book, And A Water Bottle

I woke up the next day 7:30 in the morning. After the usual stretching and rubbing, I got back to the canteen to ask for a place to shit. He showed me the direction to the open vastness. That means I was going to shit in the lap of nature. Found a nice and compatible place and had a good shit. After that brushed my teeth had a good meal. After having food I had no idea what am I going to do now. I just started walking for a change. After around about 10 minutes of walking I reached a place full of rocks and ahead a grazing ground (These grazing grounds I met many. And they are like a hope in a despair). Explored the terrain, climbed a few rocks, followed a few paths, met a few grazing cattle (includes horses, buffaloes and cows). After the whole exploration I opened the book I was carrying (Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy), read a few chapters in the state of bliss, which was there due to the nature and meditation.

The Food Joint, Prashar lake

I met a porter, in a while. His name was Mr. Bhagwan. I forgot to mention but there was a fair coming ahead. So he was there to put a toy stall. I talked with him, took his photograph, and promised him to meet in the evening for the food. In the afternoon had a good meal at 'THE' food joint, had a spiritiual conversation with the local people. Among them the watchman of the guest house (There are now three guest houses, which belongs to Forrest Department of India) became a good friend of mine. In the evening I met Mr. Bhagwan, had a few gulps of liquor with him. He took me to his family members who were present there for an Indroduction sort of thing. I took their photographs as well.

Mr. Bhagwan...A friend

Forgot my book camera at Mr. Bhagwan's place. These himachali people are so innocent, so pure, so honest that I started falling in love with those people. I got each and everything back. As I was a bit drunk and it was all dark, so I asked Mr. Bhagwan to guide me to the food joint. He offered me a stay. I was so willing to stay with them but my rucksack was with the watchman at the guest house. So I came back and after food, with the watchman made my way to the guest house, as he also had offered me a stay with him.

Mr. Bhagwan's Gang

Had a continues 3 hours spiritual talk with the watchman friend. Atlast he told me that, man you just spun my head, 360. After the talk I slept at 12 and the next day descended back following the right path this time.

Back To Delhi.

Final Destination - Prashar Lake, Finally Reached. Day 1

The Prashar Lake and Prashar Temple.

After having a couple of cups of tea and snacks. I took my camera and went towards the lake. That day there were thick black clouds covering the entire sky. Prashar lake was as calm and soothing as it could be. It was situated with a lush green surrounding. The site of the lake looked like, as if a Crater had fallen and left an impact, and result of that impact formed a lake. There are many high grounds surrounding the lake.

A shot of the Lake.

So, I climbed the high ground and did a sort of parikrama of the lake, looking the lake from different perspective or projections (isometric, dimetric and trimetric). It was as I am looking towards the colors of life i.e. pain, suffering, happiness, depression etcectra, etcectra from different perspective and projections. It seemed that all those terms are mind made.

Another shot, from another point.

Took photographs.

From beyond the boundary of Prashar Lake

Reached the highest point, inside the fence (Temple and lake is surrounded by a fence defining it's boundary). There was a rock. Sat on that rock. Meditated there for a few moments and started coming closer to the lake. Visited the temple, met a few people, chatted, and went near the lake for the first time, then. It was raining a little bit. Wind was blowing, carrying coldness. Just about perfect.

The very presence of lake was so peaceful, soothing that when I felt the lake consciously, there was some sort of gravity into it, which says stop running. Sat there on a plank for about an hour or so. Then lied down beside the lake and went into Akriya Dhyan. After I came back, I saw a man standing. He was looking very puzzled. He asked me, are you drugged? I said no ofcourse not. And I was not. He told me that doing drugs is not allowed here. He was a caretaker of the temple. I said 'I know that, and I assure you that I'll not do anything of that sort. Then surprisingly he whispered, that if you want to do, I have some and I used to smoke those stuff. I said 'no thank you'. There was no need actually, when so much meditation is flowing. I asked him for a night's stay in the temple's sarai.

I got a room. So after having food, from the food joint,

The exotic food.

chatting with the people there, then tea, I went to the sarai, for a good night's sleep. Room was perfect, just above the living room of goats. They were producing some very innocent voices once in a while.

My Hide-Out At Prashar Lake

I took out my sleeping mat and sleeping bag, and with Akriya Dhyan, slowly went into my sleep.

Bagi To Prashar Lake, On Foot

Australia in the sky

After the marvellous and yet simple food at Bagi, I removed my slippers and putted on my boots. Started all alone, with a strange feeling of excitement. There was a river flowing and a broad path was surrounding it. The tea - stall boy showed me the initial direction and told me that you will meet enough people in the way for assistance. I started taking the shortcuts which joined the broad road from one point to another, from low to high. I met a small village girl in my way who was not knowing any of the languages I speak. I asked her, which way to Prashar? She told me something in Himachli Language, which I got nothing of. But by her hand movements I got the direction.
From a grazing ground (on the way to Prashar Lake)

Followed the showed direction. After walking about 30 minutes I met a man, asked him about the trekking trail to Prashar lake. He told me you will find a visible trail, just you have to keep your eyes open to your right side. I took a break of 10 minutes, and started off again. One Important thing I want to tell you is, take with you 2 bottles of water, instead of one.

I missed the right trail completely, which I discovered later, and took a random trail, a few metres further from the right one. The path was full of thorny plants and guess work. At many places there were no visible trails. At some points there were thick thorny bushes which I crossed, damaging my sleeping mat and slippers (hanging at the back of my rucksack), got a few, very minor injuries, and met no one in the way after, over an hour of walk. Walking almost lost, alone in the woods was really a thrilling experience. I revisited through many emotions and feelings during my entire journey, that I have known or learned so far in my 22 years of life. May be this time I was more conscious of them. Hope, despair, fear, happiness, confusion, chaos, silence...was through all of it in a span of merely 1 hour or so. At times meditative at times not meditative at all. I was having the 60 minutes of my life.
Wrong but a beautiful path

After that one psychedelic hour, I saw a temple. There were 2 local girls praying there. They got a bit shocked seeing a stranger all sweat ed up. I asked them again the same old question, 'which way to Prashar Lake'. They first asked me from where I am? Then, how come I came this way? Normally no one choses the path, I had chosen for Prashar Lake. Then I came to know that I had taken an abnormal trail. I got a bit hopeless, from the thought that I have to go back and start all over again. But immediately I got assurance from those kind ladies that from here also you can reach Prashar. They offered me some food, bread and local butter, and showed me the way. The food was very bland and simple, but there was something in it. After eating it all up for the rest of my journey I never felt thirsty.
'The' food offered by 'the' local girls (I call it the thirst extinguisher)

After 2 hours I was on a sort of road. Saw a few boards (pictures of which are here) and rushed towards the lake. After having a momentary glimpse of the lake, I rushed for the food joint (as I was dead hungry). Had samosas and tea....And the story continues.....

A bug caught in a cotton ball

Found This On One of The Many Grazing Grounds On The Way To Prashar Lake.


Sign Board about Sage Prashar and a few Tips


So, Initially I was welcomed by this Iron Board

From Mandi To Bagi (Bataula), Final Destination - Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh

The next day after staying for a night in Mandi, I got up, finally, at 5:20 AM. Reached Mandi Bus Terminal at 6:15 AM. Inquired many people about the bus to Bagi, and not Baggi. After many enquiries a staff member of Roadways told me that the bus scheduled to leave for Bagi will arrive between 8 and 8:30. I waited for the whole hour and when the expected moments arrived, it was really hard for me to spot a bus with Bagi written on the Board. When the clock clicked 9 I got really desperate. Asked another staff member of Himanchal Roadways, if there is Bagi written on the bus to Bagi, he said yes it is there. I thought I missed the bus. There was a very kind man observing me desperate and agitated for now about over 3 hours. He knew that I was planning to go to Bagi, because I had asked him about the bus, the previous day. He told me many things about the bus, but I did not pay much attention at that time, I only knew that there are a few buses running, from Mandi to Bagi. When I started marching back and forth like an agitated pendulum, at around 9:30 AM, this guy came to me and pushed me literaly towards a bus. I was really surprised, but did not resist. He pushed me into a bus and told me that this is your bus, Boy! But there was no where Bagi written on the bus plate, so I asked him. He told me, don't you pay attention. I told you yesterday, that catch a bus with Bataula written on it. BATAULA. Finally I was in a bus and was moving.

Reached Bagi at 11 AM. There is a tea stall. Had a couple of cups of tea. Enquired about the trekking route from Bagi to Prashar from a boy working at the tea stall. Had a heavy Breakfast and was off to Prashar lake. There are two paths one for motor vehicles and one for trekkers. Anyone can tell you which way to go.

From Gurgaon To Mandi Via Delhi, Chandigarh, Final Destination - Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh

I left my Gurgaon resident at 8:30 PM to catch a bus for ISBT New Delhi, with final destination, Prashar Lake, Just Like That. I reached Gurgaon bus stand at around 9:00 PM. There were 2 Volvos (A.C. Buses) waiting for their departure, destined to Chandigarh. I took a 50 buck ticket for ISBT. But if you are a delicate darling, and don't like much 'the Indian Summer', I will suggest you to take a volvo from Delhi to Chandigarh. Anyways, from ISBT I easily got a bus to Chandigarh, 'Himachal Path Parivahan Recongpeo', at around 11:30 night. It dropped me at Chandigarh bus stand, sector 43, at around 5 AM. From there I got a Punjab Roadways bus to Mandi. If you are heading towards Himachal Pradesh, always take the Himachal Parivahan buses. Rest all are snails.

That bus was controlled by two sikhs, sardars (Driver and the conductor). Conductor was very impolite and shouted somthing in punjabi about my rucksack which I missed compeletely. Then after seeing no reaction from my side he got more angry and said somthing again in punjabi, which I figured out was about my rucksack to be thrown away if not moved from it's place. The bus took around 8 or 9 hours to reach Mandi, which is 2-3 hours more than the usual. I was a bit tired, but searched 5/9th of Mandi for a cheap hotel room. Crashed in Hotel Koyal, for 150 bucks. Do not know whether it was the cheapest, but it was a bit cheap. There was a busy road just opposite to my room. Just about perfect. Went out to buy some general stuff, like soap and toothpaste. Crapped, brushed my teeth, took a bath, and went out for a walk in Mandi. Found nothing and came back after taking a solo photograph of a clock in the centre of Indira Market and making enquiries about the buses to Bagi. Which I was Informed in tits and bits by the local people, except the lady sitting at the enquiry, at Mandi Bus Terminal. Read 'Banbhatt Ki Atmakatha' in

My Hotel Room, Mandi (Hotel Koyal)

Hindi by Harjari Prasad Dwivedi, and went into a sound sleep.

Woke up at 8:30 and went to eat some food. Got 6 chapati's and a Potato dish for 30 bucks. Again dozed off at around 11.
Indira Market, Mandi

Pictures From The Trip To Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh, India

I have uploaded all the pictures on picasa, here's the link:

Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh

It was a nice trip. Enjoy the pictures guys.

अछूत प्रथा उच्च या मध्य-उच्च श्रेणी में अभी भी है

अछूत प्रथा उच्च या मध्य-उच्च श्रेणी में अभी भी है | चमार और हरिजन की कोटि उनके वयवसाय से बनी थी | वे उस ज़माने में लोगों की टट्टियाँ उठाने काम किया काम करते थे, जिसमें कुछ भी अजीब या ऊँचा - नींचा जैसा कुछ भी नही था, पर लोगों ने उसे एक दर्जा दे दिया, नीच| चलिए दे दिया तो दे दिया, पर अब जब अछूत प्रथा ख़तम होने की बातें होती हैं तो बड़ी नकली सी लगती हैं | लोगों ने अछूत जाती के लोगों को अपनाने की कोशिश तो भरसक की पर सफल न हो सकें | अगर कोई चमार या हरिजन अभी भी अपने वाव्यसाय से जुडा है, तो अभी भी हम उसका जूठा पीने को या उस्ससे हाथ मिलाने में संकोच करेंगे | पर कोई नीची जाती का व्यक्ति हमारे साथ पढ़ रहा हो, या साथ दफ्तर में काम कर रहा हो तो सारे संकोच समाप्त हो जाते हैं | ये मतभेद क्यूँ? हमने सिर्फ़ बहार से, दिखावे के लिए ये एलान कर रखा है की अछूत प्रथा समाप्त हो गई है, ये दिखावा उन सब रोज़ मर्रा के दिखावों के अंश के एक हिस्से के अलावा और कुछ भी नहीं है| अछूत प्रथा का अंत तब तक नहीं हो सकता जब तक हम इंसान को इंसान की तरह देखना नही शुरू कर देते हैं| अगर हमको कीचड से प्यार करना नही आया है, तो ये कहना ग़लत होगा की हम कमल सकते प्यार करना जानते हैं| हमने प्यार करना सीखा ही नहीं है| जब तक हम दफ्तर के काम करने वाले व्यक्ति से लेकर पैखाना साफ़ करने वाले व्यक्ति से सामान वायवहार नहीं रख सकते, तब तक हमे ये भी कहने का कोई हक़ नहीं है की हम अछूत प्रथा नहीं मानते|

Total acceptance is accepting even your non-acceptance totally.

Total acceptance is accepting even your non-acceptance totally, which I am unable to do totally. I guess things happens when they are bound to happen. I have to accept too, that I am not able to accept things totally. Phew! vicious circle. Accepting things and pretending to accept things are different. You cannot deceive yourself, that is what I figured out. One line I remember here from a Hindi movie 'Padosan' : "जो - जो जब - जब होना है, सो - सो तब - तब होता है" , which means, I guess, things happen when the right time comes, never early, never late. So patience is the key. Now, here you can't fake that too. Patience comes, out of meditation. That is what my experience is. But for patience you again need an initial patience and that comes from life itself, out of many ups and downs, many experiences in life, not out of life, because I have not yet had the experiences of life, it comes later I guess.