KASHMIR HEAVENLY KASHMIR

It was decided that after Teju's threadceremony we should go to kashmir. History repeating itself after 28years. We had been to Kashmir after my thread ceremony in 1978. So decided to take Mom and Dad along too. So it was... 27th April to 6th of May.... Mission Kashmir.
Despite media in India and abroad blasting the TV screens with news about the violence in kashmir, terror attacks, ... and what not we decided to go. My friends Bharat and Abhijeet Patil of Raja Rani Travels assured us that it was absolutely safe to go and that we would really have great time. And we couldnt ask for more.
Saw Kashmir after 28years. Things have really changed. Lot more development has happenned.
Gulmarg now has a Gondola ride highest in the world 14,000 ft. At that altitude you are really one with the Almighty. Clean air, Blue sky and white snow till the horizon.
Gulmarg, Khilanmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Chandanwari.... snow everywhere. Kids has their first experience of snowball fights, sledge rides and skiing.
Yusmarg and Aroo were other sceneic destinations with carpets of green greenery all over.
In Srinagar we stayed in the Deluxe House Boats in The Dal Lake. It was a unique experience for the Kids. Houseboat to land travel was by a "Shikara". Getting in and out of the Shikara is a balancing act for heavy weights.
We also had the good fortune of eating typical Kashmiri gourmet "Wazvaan"...yum yum
.. just can't forget the mutton nalli rogan josh, Rishta and bushtaba.
If you have any plans of visiting heaven then all roads certainly lead to Kashmir: Jannat hai to yahin hai.
If heaven it is here it is.

BRAHMOPADESHAM

On 19th April 2006 was a very auspicious day for the family. It was my son Taejusvin's Upanayanam or Thread ceremony. It is the day when a hindu brahmin boy comes of age and is initiated "Brahmacharyashram". This is the time when he is given the "Brahmopadesham" and from that day he starts wearing the Sacred Thread. The ceremony is almost like a wedding with lots of rituals. The initial pooja is followed by a head tonsuring ceremony. Then there is the "Matrubhojan" the last time when the boy will be hand fed by his mother.
Then the boy is brought by his uncle to the decorated pandal where amidst vedic chants the boy's father teaches him the sacred "Gayatri Mantra" in front of the sacred fire. From that day the boy will perform Sandhya vandan three times a day to invoke godess Gayatri's blessings through out his life.