Chernthirunnaal Thiruvonam OR when we meet, it is a festival!- Part 1

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Yes, when I am in the mountains, it feels like a festival!!!

 Far away from the maddening crowd, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, far away from the thoughts that make you anxious, far away from the mundane!
Norbulingka, Dharamshala, 2006
And closer to yourself, when you smell the foliage, pat that dog, look at this flower closer, greet a stranger on the way, give a lot of thought to what you want to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner, enjoy every bite that you take in, munch on all local food available on the road, use your eyes consciously to capture and soak in every detail, and of course, keep walking and strengthening yourself!  

But what I want to write here, is the journey before the actual journey. How and what does one prepare for a festival? 

Firstly there is the excitement at the thought of the 'event', how will the vacation go, what shall I see and experience, and so many kinds of interesting thoughts, imagining fantastical stories and excitement again in seeing new places and meeting new people on the journey, anxiety about how it will all go, whether I will be able to walk and reach on the top of the peak/ trek, whether I will be able to see the peaks that are promised, whether I will fall down, if so, how many times (haha!), and hope that nothing untoward happens!


 Then there is the extensive preparations and shopping for the main event. What do we buy? Where do we buy from? Which brand?

 So many clothes, 3 types of footwear, 15 socks, 4-5 inners, 3 kinds of sweaters and jackets- the list is endless and goes on till we leave for our festival.

 The old city of Jaipur is one place where I would always go for my shopping for Diwali for diyas, crackers, sweets, fruits, puja samagri, gold or silver or brass. Going to the newly opened Decathalon store was the same kind of feeling. 

 Then we work our way through medicine, favourite biscuits and chocolates, dried fruits, Electral powder, Eno, First Aid kits, Vaseline for the lips, Moisturizers and Sunscreens, and so many more.

 And there we go! Our bags are packed! Remembering John Denver's 'Country Roads', let us feel home now!

 I will see you in the mountains now! Come soon for my next post!
P S The title is a line from the song 'Sundari Neeyum' from the famous Tamil Film, 'Michael Marana Kama Rajan.

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