Visiting the Parmarth Ashram - Remy

A few days ago, we visited the Parmarth Ashram, located on the Ganges River. We experienced a forty-five minute ceremony where the local Guru (who is a bit of a celebrity), lead us in prayer and taught the crowd about how we should treat the river.  I myself felt slightly miffed because the ceremony was (obviously) not in English, but I still felt as if the Hindi language captured the moment perfectly. I felt like I learned a lot about Hindu culture and discovered that I may have made a few poor judgments about this culture before the trip. After this experience, we went to bed early in preparation for the long trip to Ranikhet. During this eleven and a half hour trip, I had a lot of time to reflect on things I had done right and wrong during the first few days of the trip. I felt like I could have paid more attention during some lectures that we had and during some of the tours we went through. I didn't realize that I had learned very little about the local culture until I had fully immersed myself into it, instead of spectating like a tourist. I recently got assigned to host parents, but I still (only sort of) miss my parents who are traveling in Europe. I hope all of the dads out there had a great Father’s Day!

Catch you later!

-Remy

Delayed Arrival in Ranikhet

We left Rishikesh very early (6:30 am) but because of an unexpected road closure, we had a very long (11 hour) car journey to Ranikhet yesterday. We arrived to our alpine hotel to find no cell service and no internet connection. We were all exhausted from the long drive. We just had enough energy to eat some dinner and listen to a lecture about the region from professor Pande.

Here's a photo of our tireless drivers (Ravi, Lakhan and Mahinder) who delivered us safely and were always there for us.

 

Hindu Prayer Service

Our last evening in Rishikesh was spent at the Aarthi Puja (fire service) at the Parmarth ashram. It was an evening filled with music and community on the banks of river Ganges during sunset. Afterward we attended a Q&A session with the Swami and then drove back to our hotel just in time to have some dinner at 9pm.

Adventures Through Yoga - Julissa

Today was filled with so much action that I feel like I have officially earned the title of an adventurer. After a delicious breakfast we traveled to an ashram where we had a much needed yoga session. I learned a very valuable lesson which I will never forget: breathing is our most important source of energy and it allows us to live in the present because when we focus on our breathing it is impossible to worry about our past or future breathing. I hope that when I return home I am able to adopt yoga into my daily life because, as a student, I do tend to worry about my past and future more than I should. I believe that yoga will be a way to free my mind. Yoga can take forms in various ways. In the west we see yoga as a form of exercise, but it is really much more than that. Apart from being the movement of our bodies, it also should be carried out in the form of service.

We were able to speak to women who model the service part of yoga perfectly. They told is about the work they have done to provide clean water and toilets around India. Open defecation is a severe problem in India and is responsible for the spread of many diseases. Thousand of children under the age of 5 in India die daily because they have no access to clean water or toilets. I found it inspiring to see these women who were so passionate about their work and their abilities to be powerful leaders.

After the ashram we were led to the Beatles ashram where they actually stayed in when it was still active. There were many tributes to the Beatles and artwork that took my breath away.  As a Beatles fan myself it was exciting to think that I was in the same area that they were once in. I also had a chance to think to myself a lot about what was happening in the current moment. I concluded that despite the heat and some feelings of discomfort, I was glad to experience what was happening and that if I ever had the opportunity to do this again, I definitely would. Today was an amazing day and I feel proud to be part of such an amazing group. I know that things get hot and sticky, but I love the way we have been able to power through.

Julissa

This Too Shall Pass - Kelly

My favorite part of today was definitely the Beatles ashram (and the female spiritual leader we talked to at the ashram would definitely be upset with me for referring to it as such because it’s actually named for a Yogi). After visiting the Parmarth Niketon ashram, we walked through the crowded streets to the edge of town and up the windy, slippery, extremely vertical stone path (mind you, there have only been a few times in my life when I thought they might have to write “succumbed to heatstroke” on my tombstone and as we climbed up this windy path, this was definitely one of those times. But it was all worth it. And there’s nothing that improves team bonding better than being reduced to panting, disgusting sweaty messes together. Groups that sweat out their weight in perspiration together, stay together.), and eventually we reached these crumbling two-story stone huts that were filled with beautiful Beatles graffiti. Then we walked up the path to a giant, open, also crumbling warehouse that, for me at least, was the main event.

Now I said earlier to several people that I was going to try to describe this part using Beatles quotes, but now that I’m actually writing this it’s a lot harder than it seemed before and while I'm a Beatles fan, I don’t think I know enough obscure lyrics that I can use to describe what the experience was like.  The floors and walls of this giant room were covered in incredible graffiti, and there were song lyrics, drawings, a mural of John, Paul, George and Ringo the size of a wall,  and inspirational messages. The crumbling nature of the room definitely attributed to the abandoned, timeless aura that the room gave off. It was the most beautiful room I’ve ever been in in my life (and you thought I wouldn’t “accidently” work in some Beatles references!); I would love to go back and spend hours looking around. Honestly, from me to you (!), this was my best experience in India so far.

I was the last person out of the warehouse and as I hurried to catch up with everyone else, I discovered that there was a quote written right in front of the exit in giant letters. It was my mom’s favorite quote, “This too shall pass.” Literally the day I left for India, when she was dropping me off at the airport, she told me to think of this quote when I was feeling sick or sad on the trip. It was extremely fitting that that quote was the last thing I read before leaving.

Kelly

Take Two Ashrams

Today, we walked through central Rishikesh, across the Shri Ram Jhula to the Parmath Nikitan Ashram. There, we practiced yoga, met the Swami and learned much more about their mission and operations.

After lunch at the ashram, we walked over to explore the abandoned Maharishi Mahesi Yogi (Beatles) Ashram. This was everyone's highlight for today. 

Sunrise on the Ganges

Evening Prayer at Ganga Kinare