A DIG INTO THE CITY BEAUTIFUL..

“Kuch ishq sa h 'yhan' ki hwa mei”. I heard many of them chirping.

“Kuch ishq sa h 'vhan' ki hwa mei”. I heard many of them gasping out.

Well! Yeah! You guys guessed it right- its the city beautiful, Chandigarh. The city possesses a majestic aura, an aura tuned to its smooth and refreshening life. 

It may limit the tourists upto Sukhna lake, Rose garden, Rock garden, Pinjore garden, Elante mall, PU’s Stu-C and a little more places like that but it has much beyond this to offer.

Beginning from the rising sun to setting sun till the gleaming stars, the city encloses so much in its wrap.

The joy of Sukhna lake couldn't be appreciated more by anyone but a morning person. Try getting out of your beds one fortunate morning  & let yourself beautify your day by the beauty of the diverging rays of the sun. The water below seems to be smiling in peace with the sparkle of the sun. The faces around seems to be charged along with the vigour of sun. The serenity in the air allows you to be at peace with your own self. Apart of the mornings, the monsoon spreads even more enthu amongst the people. Trust me that blissful feeling besides the water with air swaying your faces is must-to-experience. It helps you to leave the hulla-gulla behind and just feel the presence of yourself.

The taste buds must not be kept aloof when the city has so much in store for the food lovers out there. Mind it! This one is gonna be a bit long.

Starting from the most of the most basic mouth-watering one, Do you feel like eating 'golgappas' or some street food?  Ofcourse yes, buddies. Turn on your GPS and reach out to Sector-23 & Sector-34.

If you want to be underneath the star-lit sky, enwrapped by the falling branches, amidst the dim glow of the lamps, accompanied by the melody of the chirpy music and lavish the food, ‘Casa Bella Vista' is the one. I bet you gonna love the place.

The song 'khaab'by Akhil must have left majority of you in awe moment. Well 'Books & brew', sector-16 is the place to be visited with your pals. Enjoy doing deep conversations and savouring the food along. How can I skip the sweet tooth part! Sweeten your taste buds at 'Get Desserted'- Sector 8. It serves really amazing ice-creams. Please don't ever go for pizzas at 'Gasoline-the food fuel’ -phase 5, mohali. Pathetic! But do go for pasta at sector-10. As per the uncle at the shop, theres’ pasta was the one most served around the tricity. Then, we all crave for a place like One for all- yes  'Aroma'-sector 22 is the one. Good Restaurants like ‘Khalsa’, ‘Katani’, ‘Gobind’ are always available to dine with your acquaintances.  It would have been incomplete if the list doesn't include 'Barbeque Nation’ sector 26 and 'The Virgin Courtyard'. Barbeque Nation is like- ‘subh se kuch ni khaya, bhut bhookh lgi h’. The people there say if you wanna spend quality time with your other half- Go visit 'Virgin Courtyard' but don't you worry, I went along with my girl and still loved that evening. Also, I found my new love for red velvet at ‘Nik Bakers’-sector 9.

Lets hang out & we, girls  are like- Oh God! What to wear??. Sector- 22 and 15 would help you out provided you have got good girl buddies along and

eagles’ eyes. You just need to learn to look the positive everywhere :P. 

AH! how can Sector-17 be so late in the list! This is because it seems to be the most active sectors of all. Just roaming around would also be enjoyable there and ofcourse the ice-cream bought from the compact shop there in your hand. 

Bowling is always the fun at Blu-O, Elante at anytime with anyone. 

Moving a little out of the city in the uphills would give you a tinge of pleasure of that of adventure and road-trip. 

Less was the time but beautiful are the memories with the lovely people out there into the city of parks ;) So, Ending up here keeping it short for there is a lot to be felt but less to be told about. <3

Into the city of love, the city of might..

The serenity of the aura, the purity of the land, the sensation of love, the chillness of January accompanied by chorus of Autowalas(Auto, auto……) greeted us at Mathura, the birth place of Lord Krishna. We, then, moved to Vrindavan, a town in Mathura where, according to Hindu mythology, Krishanji spent his childhood. After refreshing up at the temporary abode, Pramarth Nikunj, it was the time to actually sanctify by worshipping graceful three-fold bending form of Lord Krishna at ‘Banke Bihari Mandir’(Banke means bent in three places and Bihari means supreme enjoyer) and bestowing the deity with Pedas and flowers to what we call Prasad. There exists something hidden, something unknown inside the temple which calms your soul and takes it to the zenith of joy.

The visit to any place is accomplished when you come back along with its peculiarities. So, lets roam around the Vrindavan market and shop. The stones engraved, the knitted ‘poshaks’, the melodious flutes,  the jeweled ornaments of Gods and Godesses, the t-shirts painted with Lord Krishna image, are some of  many items that captures our eyes. The voices of ‘Bhaiya ye dikhana, nhi bhaiya vo(Bhaiya show this, no show that)’, ‘Bhaiya, ye kite ka(Bhaiya, how much is this?)’, ‘Chlo, ye pack krdo(Done, pack this)’ could be heard all around the place. Besides the ears engaged, eyes couldn’t forget to leave the glimpses of monkeys doing the unusual activities  when the chuckles poured in at the sight of a monkey jumping over and fetching an Uncle’s specs who stood still there in awe for a moment. Another catchy moment was of cows gazing at the ‘yellow’ garland of flowers adorned by almost every human there and plucking it within no less than a second. It was like walk with caution else you could be attacked any time. The shopping alone couldn’t satisfy our empty bellies  when aroma of the food filled the atmosphere around & specially when lassi, ‘Vrindavan ki lassi’ was there. We sweetened our taste buds with lassi and also enjoyed eating the other street-side food besides posing for pictures every now and then, collecting memories.

Sigh! No more hungry. Thus, began our next move towards, Nidhivan. This sacred place itself speaks of mystery and leaves one in a sense of wonder. To a layman, it is just a piece of land covered with trees all over where thousands of pilgrims vist during day time but spiritually, the significance of the immense power bestowed in the place is beyond words. It is believed that Krishanji performs ‘ras-lila’ there after aarti with all the branches of trees turned to gopis. No one, be the birds or the humans are allowed to stay in the periphery of Nidhivan and if anyone stays there,  he or she becomes deaf, dumb, mentally retarded or  to sum up in a condition that can’t verse the spirituality of the place. One place but so many unanswered questions associated to it. Its like you ask yourself- What would be happening? How beautiful would that be? The all trees are bent entangled with each other. It puts into picture the love which completes the word Krishna-‘Radhe-Krishna’, the love of gopis for Krishna. On the way to Nidhivan, we also bowed and blessed ourselves inside ‘Teda Khamba Mandir’. 

Then, we made our move towards ‘Govardhan’, which reminds us about the majesty of Lord Krishna. Bal Krishna lifted the Govardhan hill on his little finger when the town of Vrindavan was ravaged by heavy rains, thus protecting the entire town for continuous 7 days.

On the way back, listening the high-pitched lyrical chants of ‘Radhe-Radhe’(Heck off with ‘Excuse me’),smelling the scent of mustard all around , we paused for appreciating the beauty of ‘Maa Vaishno Devi Mandir’. It was like you step in and exclaim only 1 word ‘Wowwww’. I wished I had 2 more eyes to capture all at once. Such was the beauty, such was the purity residing in the place. I applaud the architects hailing from New Delhi. They had carved out the idols in a way so realistic that I fail to describe it. Even the pictures would have been unable to hold that, probably if the authorities would have allowed cameras or cellphones inside. 

This was not the end. Vrindavan yet abounds so much in ‘Prem Mandir’. They say, ‘Its amazing out there abroad’ ‘India is an untidy country’ only if they have left themselves aloof from the essence of the country. Go, visit the temple. I bet all those lips would be sealed. The gleaming lights in the night seem to talk to the sky giving it their colors.  The fineness of the art, the magnificient lights, are just spell bound. For the first time, I was in no mood to pose for the picture. I only desired to be a keen observant, lay out everyting in my memory so that even a single thing doesn’t go missing. Infact, I feel short of adjectives to put the seen into words. So,folks, putting my pen down here and leaving Mathura’s encounter for the upcoming one. Stay connected.

 Dive Into Rishikesh

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!” 

And so was our exclamation back from the (appearing) ‘Adventure Capital’ of India,

the saintly town, Rishikesh.

The ride began with the audacious, the venturous, the adventurous trek accompanied by the blackout. Yes, Even the moonlight seemed to be obstructed. Hell dark! What could rescue us on the foot size pavement like Kaccha, zig-zag road sloping down to don’t know where???? Cellphones’ torch-light was like the greatest invention at that time with noone and nothing else to light our paths. Diversions on the way added more to our mixed feelings of adventure and dreadfulness. Go this way or that way. Holy God! Thanks to the few great people who balanced the luggage too along with their own selves so dauntlessly. “Come-on people! Don’t pause, We would be reaching any moment. Look friends, It seems to be lion there”. These chants could be heard echoing all the way when destination was unknown. The thought of animals around drenched us in fear and soaked us in awfulness. The approx. calculations of Kms. left could be the only soothing fact at that time. Breaths getting heavy, something we all wished for was water but Alas! Then, somewhere around in the middle of it, came a bridge like illuminated area. Ahhhh! Like an animal out of a cage. Inhale in the open air, feel relax, feel light. Okay, Enough of the phones solving the hour’s need. Lets pose for a picture. Click. Click. Click…. Phew! Being reminded of the fact that we didn’t goaled yet, Embark again. The same fuss began again motivating each other to carry on. &Hurrah! We reached Gee5 camps. Sigh. 

Finally we positioned ourselves on jute chairs under some shed, eliminated our thirst, started spilling jokes, gossips etc. etc. among ourselves and updating facebook. The horribleness on our faces turned into gigglings, smilings, laughters after all it was a safe landing.. We relaxed for a while besides being instructed about the basics, dos and donts  for residing in the camp area. Get up girls and boys. Still to move ahead. A little path like the earlier was yet there to terminate at the camps. (‘People please, take your luggages along this time’). The tiredness which engulfed us appeared to be diminishing at the very sight of bonfire and the mouth-watering pakora-like eatables near the camps. So all of us got comfortable to tune ourselves along with the beats of music. The stars above and holy river,Ganga became the witness of our ecstasy in the chirpy, perky, lyrical atmosphere lighted by the lanterns and the moonlight. We were swinging along the music insanely. After this, we stuffed our empty stomachs with dinner. When there exists sand allover underneath your feet, can you resist scribbling? Well, definitely not. The fun continued with the playing of dumshraaz. The drizzling along with the cool breeze blowing across the sea-shore gave us goose-bumps due to chilling sensation. On one side, fear of camps being destroyed by rains gripped us while on the other side, the moonlight, the shining stars above, the cool sand beneath, the river besides brought us immense pleasure. Really, We were submersed under the beauty of nature. It was so applaudable, so commendable. I wish I had 8 more eyes to turn my head in every direction and capture all at a once. We were being told that  we were being surrounded by animals. Oh God! Goosebumps. After all, it was the jungle all around us. But still the night deepened and deepened amidst this aura of joy and fright. 

The next morning was awaited to experience another gust of adventure. We refreshened, energised ourselves with heavy breakfast and headed for mountain rappeling. Climbing an almost straight wall like cliff wasn’t a simplified task, right? But a deep desire to go for something new, something abnormal overwhelmed the after-thoughts of any unfortunate tragedy. So we ended up doing it and enjoying it. Playing badminton on the sand worked like a tinge of salt added to the food to make it more delicious. A journey like this would have been wasted if not captured in pictures. So clicking, posing one after the another shot to carry along with us  a beautiful saga of memories became our frequent happenings. Living each and every moment, we went for the waterfalls. This was again a tedious way out there but curiosity to discover what’s next ahead would make us forget all. The intensity of coolness of water pouring down the mountain shivered us deep through the nerves. Now, it was the time to traverse the same path and back to the spot from where the trek started.

Another and the most exhilarating adventure spot made our way- river rafting. ‘You Only Live Once’ but that living becomes worthless if there aren’t the seconds, the minutes, that take your breath away, that skips your heart-beat. For a moment, you are struck in wonder that What has happened??? You pause for a little to reflect upon. Your adrenaline rush is like never before- never before….. Such was this adventure. Playing with the majestic waves of river Ganges. Horrific! Terrific! It was like amass all of your strength, muster all your courage to surpass the turbulence of the river.At rapid points, we were like completely inundated by waves of water and felt like, ‘Please, Take us out soon’. Okay, now step outside the raft and we were like weightless  floating bodies. The things don’t end here. Wait! Hold your breathe yet. Cliff jumping was another sport to add to our adventures diaries. Oh! those fractions of seconds in the air when we just jumped from the cliff. Don’t know where we were at that instance, don’t know what was happening. I fail at describing that. It was just a feeling high up in the air and then in the water, it was like gravity is pulling in towards the depth of the river. Then, we posed with raft in our hands like it was some sort of trophy won. Really an amazing one! Actually, amazing when we were out as-a- whole the same old one but frightful inside.

Atlast, we were to bid sayonara to this holy city, this beautiful city. Adieu to you too guys. Read.. Enjoy..    

                                   Can love be arranged?

" Locha-e-ulfat "hogyaa! Ahhh! The problem of love is here :p .

Love is a feeling! Love is an emotion! Love is the smile at the very thought of someone! Love is care and affection! Love is to be the reason of someone's smile! Love is to smile for someone! Love is to be sorrowful in someone's sorrow! A four letter word yet abounds the beauty as deep as an ocean. Amidst all these, Love just happens!  once upon a lifetime fortune :p The brain just halts & the heart commences. So the very notion of making an arranged love just makes me thoughtful! Is it possible or not? Well, for novice ones who have not fallen for someone, it is. It would be beautiful indeed if your parents find a guy or for a guy, a girl & then gradually you start loving that person instead of keeping your taste buds aloof from this sweet taste ;) . You subsequently start building the castles of your dreams with that person. You feel  everything of his or her to be your own :) . 

But once fallen for someone and then thinking of an arranged love, is a difficult thought for mind to think of. Isn’t it? Love is an emotion for which you can’t be bounded by. It would then be like developing a liking for some local brand pizza when you don’t have dominoes available at your place :p. Arrange marriage in the latter case is feeding your mind persistently with the thought of maktub(Everything is pre-written). So it would be wise to swim along with the happenings. Going against the flow is always miserable. 

Happy reading :)

P.S. Apologies for making a little extra use of smileys because I strongly believe words capture emotions and for capturing emotions- emoticons are at my rescue :)

GNDU

A moment of pride. Yes, indeed it is and why wouldn’t it be when a student is being asked to pen down about the place which transformed her to an adult. Well, I am on the verge of completion of my bachelor’s in Computer Science& Engineering from Guru Nanak Dev University,Amritsar which has become one of the best 6 universities in India and only one in Punjab to acquire the status-University with Potential for Excellence (UPE), the highest status awarded by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Readers! Mind it, 1 out of 6 nationally :) .A big achievement! A child grows up playing and isn’t it good when your graduation too continues this essence of childhood. GNDU is rated as the best in India in sports. You desire of playing a sport & GNDU gives you the opportunity be it archery, skating, badminton, swimming, cycling, chess, or any other. Keep aside the books, Come out of the academia..Universities’  cultural fests are no less- ’Jashan’,an interdepartmental cultural fest and ‘Youth Fest’ , an inter-universities fest attracts universities even from the extreme North of the country like Jammu,Delhi. Its unlike any other engineering college which provides you the interacting environment of only engineering students. Instead it provides the ambience of students from multifarious fields and I believe growing means extensive communication so that you can get to know the mindset of future nation-builders. Its a university where learning is a continuous process and growing is evident . Come, experience, live the life here in the university situated in the heritage city,Amritsar.

Thank you for your patient reading :)

STATE OF MIND

Don't know why ..

Don't know where this journey is gonna take her..

Don't know what is that firm belief that is beholding her from leaving this mess..

Don't know what are these circumstances that are swirling her along with..

Don't know what this stuff has got for her to learn..

Don't know this.. Don't know that..

Somewhere between all this lies a strong trust upon that ALMIGHTY that sooner or later Everything's gonna be all right :) :)

"East is East,West is West. Both can never meet”

                                                   

“Aaj Kal ke bache, aaj kal ke naujwan, aaj kal ke maa-baap”. Yes, I am talking about the era of 21st century, the era of westernisation, the era of modernisation where all I can hear is “ Be modern,  be advanced, be like the 'West'”.But, people Do you actually think that these two extremities ever gonna meet & form a circle? Well,I strongly say “No”.It is just like a typical  Indian parent saying to one of their siblings to be like the other overlooking the uniqueness of the prior one which ultimately leads the prior one to the world of gloominess, the world of stress, the world of lost peace. The same is true with the eastern and the western culture.

One cannot even give a thought of the West people adopting Eastern moral values and ethics who perhaps even don’t know what do these terms actually mean? Indian kids are brought up being taught about our culture,our Sanskaras. Sanskaras are like the ingredients of their bottle-feed whereas a little is worried about this in the West. Convergence of the two at this aspect seems to be nearly impossible in near future. Habits don’t go off easily, that is why they are perhaps termed as habits :) . It is okay to believe that Indian ethnic clothing is being adored by the West and vice-versa but this mingling alone can’t change the scenario. It would be laudable if the minds meet too.

The conservativeness of Indians, looking upon a guy and a girl as the hands of a clock in opposite direction, ‘Beta, You are a girl, can’t roam around alone, can’t wear this, can’t talk  to strangers but we will marry you with one to spend the rest of your life with :( , you are the respect of our family , and blah-blah stuff can’t be neglected in India whereas the least to be pay heed  to in the West.  Indians are living their life being ruled by the cobweb of crappy thoughts inside their mind. They are just the puppets of the so-called society. The faulty mind-set can’t over-empower the feelings of love, affection and care that Indians are endowed with in comparison to  the dry-emotions of the West. They do care for their beloved ones  although sadly westernisation is leaving its imprints to some extent. System, here in India, is least into implementation irrespective of the West. Rules and regulations are just meant for reading&cramming so that you can pass your examination. I mean still long miles to be covered yet to come upto the level of the West. Argh! look at the education system. 'Dude, you scored 98%! Well done! You are quiet intelligent’ Does anyone think that that knowledge is of any use or was it just attained to score 98%? Inspite of the huge potential and vastness of skills that Indians are blessed with, these skills are not deployed of Indian youth. Instead they are exploited by NRIs. Lastly, not forgetting about the food-freak Indians. How can I leave the diversification of mouth-watering Indian dishes-makki ki roti& sarson ka saag, daal-makhani, chole-bhature etc. etc. unmentioned. Momentarily pizzas, burgers may seem alluring but at the end ‘ Roti’ is what suffices every soul. So not making it a tedious, long, like never-ending note , concluding up stating that east and west are like the two contrary cultures where the positive of one can be incorporated into the other but they are never gonna amalgamate. Every entity in the universe possess an attribute of uniqueness which shouldn’t be tattered.

Thankyou for your patient reading. Stay connected :)