Weekend @ Sidhvarkut

26th, December 2010

Grany is here and we all planned to visit Sidhvarkut. Sidhvarkut is a jain pilgrim, a 'siddh kshetra' to be more specific per Jain dictionary. It's an ancient jain temple near the bank of Narmada river and situated in the midst of dense jungle. We traveled by car, whole journey was scenic, we had to cross ghats between the mountains to reach the place. We reached here by 4:00 PM spent the evening here and left by late evening.

Entrance Gate

renovation in progress

Mulnayak 1008 Sambhav Naath Bhagwaan

Other pratimaa at the temple

Man eating coins :)

we all enjoyed tea, dadu carrying tea tray.

 

Mundan

21, November 2010

Last weekend we visited Mahavirji for my Mundan (Tonsuring). Dadu had a wish to visit some holy place with our whole family to get my head shaved. We consulted our Baba saab for suggestion of the right day, he suggested 'Kartik Poonam' as the day for this ceremony. Earlier it was decided to visit 'Andeshwar' but due to an annual fair organized their on the same day, we thought of visiting some other holy place.

Dad suggested Mahavirji, being near to Jaipur and his faith in the place. Best part of the trip was it was all our family, Pia's and Nanu, so fun was guaranteed. We planned to travel in train, travelling in the train is fun, you are not bound at one place, one can run, climb seats ahead and even jump from there. Pia was with me, we made whole lots of noises. Preeti Nani and Mom carried lots of junk we enjoyed eating those and spreading them in the compartment.

 

We reached Mahavirji late night, GT chachu also came from Noida by the same time. Darshan & Sam Mamu reached the place a few hours before we reached. They booked the guest house and made necessary arrangements. Gyan Mamu, Nanu & Nani didn't come :( I meet Grany after so long, she welcomed everyone warmly, and especially me. It was already 3:30 when we reached guest house and every one was sleepy but I was not. I kept pulling all the luggages here and there, troubling everyone, mom scolded me :( and made me to sleep.

Early morning next day everyone went visited the temple for darshan and pooja. Dadu and Chote Dadu went for pakshaal. I was with Bade Dadu in market, I saw camels and sheeps there. In the temple premises there's place where pegions are feed. Me and Pia had fun, running after pigeons to catch them.

Later in afternoon in a garden behind the temple there's a place where mundan is done. I sat in Nannu Tai's lap and a barber shaved my head. Initially I could not understand what was been done. Everyone was staring at me and Grany was singing some bhajan. I started crying since the barber uncle pressed my head tightly.

Mumma made a swastik on my head and then Nannu & Pia bua gave me a new dress. I wore the new dress and then we visited other temples at the place. In the eve we all participated in the aarti, I clapped and enjoyed it.

Dusshera !!

October, 17

The colony in which we live is so happening, all the kids here celebrate all festivals, we have regular get together here. Few days back we celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi, we made a tent and decorated it. We worshiped Ganesha for next 10 days.

Now everyone has planned to celebrate dusshera. We have two teams here one will be preparing Ravan and another Meghnath. One is headed by Shubham & Rohit Chachu another lead by Sakshi Bua. We (me, Dad & Mom) are in Ravan's group.

Ravan group is bit slow, we have started on the very Dusshera day. While Meghnath group has already prepared the statue a day before. We first created a skeleton using timber wood. Then we covered it with gunny bags and finally skinned the statue using colored papers.

Ravan and Meghnath

9:00 PM is the decided time for dahan, everyone gathered by this time. Sakshi bua announced that everyone will sing Hanuman Chalisa, since this time we are not playing Ram-Leela. After reading Hanuman Chalisa paath, Shubam, Shivam and Rohit Chachu set idols to fire.

Team

Return Gift

Here's the return gift to the eldest kid of our family.. he he he.

Birthday Party

5th October 2010

Due to last night celebrations I was late to get up early morning today. Everyone at home and 'bade ghar' wished me a happy birthday. D Daddu gave me a lovely pair of study table and chair. I got ready and went to Baba Saheb to seek his blessings. Then met Nannu and Laddu Taai, everyone there welcomed me with warm wishes. We then visited Lal Mandir where we participated in the Kshetrapalji's Arti. Today evening I have invited my close friends for a party.

Invitation for my birthday party...

In the evening Mom helped me in getting ready for the party, everyone praised and said I looked like a cute little princess. Chachu made all efforts for getting everything settled at venue for a grand party. 

All my friends viz. Nannu & Laddu Tai, Murtuza, Arv, Anay, Rehansh, Bhavika, Dhuni, Chelsi  joined the party. I cut my birthday cake and everyone sang happy birthday song for me. 

Trio :)

Me and Laddu Tai rocking the dance floor

Princa Aryaa .. he he he

Our street gang ...
Riya Bua, Shubam Cha, Rohit Cha, Sakshi Bua
Nilay Cha, Shivam Cha :)

Mumma made all children party to play many games. She also presented a poem on me before all guests. Here it is:

आर्या ! एक चुलबुली सी लड़की ,

जो कभी हंसती, तो कभी रोती है,

कभी चलती है, तो कभी गिरती है ||

सोंचू तो बहुत कुछ है कहने को,

इनके बारें में कुछ बताने को,

कहू इसे में मेरी बेटी, तो शायद ये होगा गलत,

क्योकि ये माँ से ज्यादा मम्मा कें पास ही रहती है ||

घर में खुशियाँ आई बीते २५ सालों में,

छोटी सी लाडो ने जब जनम लिया जिनेन्द्र कें आँगन में !

दादू की ये राज दुलारी, दादी की ये सबसे प्यारी,

पापा मम्मी दोनों भातें सेर कराने इसे ले जाते !

चाचू इनके सबसे अच्छे,

घर कें हैं वोह चुलबुले बच्चे!

पि पीप पर जाना, मम मम खाना,

सोनू चीना कें घर जाना !

ये इनकी दिनचर्या में आता है,

जो हमें हर दम भाता है!

पहले सब पैर गुस्सा करना, फिर सबको प्यार से मानना 

यह तो इनकी आदत बन गया है,

अपने ख़ास दीपक और अनिल दादू कें साथ बाईक पैर घूमना

यह इनकी अभीरूचि बन गया है!

यह तो थी आर्या की कहानी पिछले साल की,

और बनेगी आगे भी आने वाले साल की,

अंत में मै यही कहकर अपनी बात को अंत करती हूँ,

रहे यह हमेशा खुश बस यही दुआ करती हूँ !! 

I wanted to run on the floor and wanted to be set free. But Dad, Dadu and Mumma were carrying me all time. Because I was wearing hi-healed footwear Daddy was afraid of me getting hurt. Also, seeing so many guests in the party I got a bit disturbed, Deepak Dadu tried to cool me down. At last I was set free in late hours, it was fun running with Laddu Tai and shouting loud. I enjoyed a lot with my friends, they have made my day. Thank you !!

Birthday Celebration - @ home

5th October 2010

I was asleep, mummy woke me up and lifted me to our drawing room. It is 11:30 in night and everyone is awake, Why??. At very 00:00 AM every one wished me Happy Birthday... "Yeppy !! Its my birthday today", and that's why everyone was busy doing preparations for the celebration whole last day.

Ankit Chachu, Darshan and Gyan Mamu are here for my birthday celebrations. I cut the cake and everyone sang "Happy Birthday" song for me. I looked at everyone when they sang and clapped with them. I don't how to "foo" the candles down, Mom helped me in that. Daddy looked a bit sleepy, he came today from Delhi. Dadu is tired and he has fall asleep, GyaMa is excited and so as I.

Birthday Cake, You may be wondering why 2 candles ?? All teacher mumma's funde..

Daddy a sleep in the back ground ..

Me with Chachu..

Me praying at our temple.

Happy birthday to you...

Raksha Bandhan

Janmashtami, 2010

I am back again from Jaipur, You know what? I have learnt walking. I can take a few baby steps without anyone's support. Nanu gave me a walker when I was at Jaipur, it helped me in learning.

This year Arpu Bua didn't came to Indore for Rakhi. No one has celebrated Rakshabandhan this year, all the Doshi girls (Bua & Me) were not here at home. Everyone has decided to celebrate Raksha Bandhan today, on Janmashtami. Ankit Chachu is back, he came specially for me.

We all gathered at our place in the evening. After having dinner we sat for the customs. Mom decorated the thali and assisted me in tying rakhi knots, doing tilak. My job was to collect gifts from every body ;)

 

Friday, 20 August 2010

Today I am leaving for Jaipur to celebrate Rakshabandhan there. I had cold and cough for last whole week, now had recovered a bit. Dad & Dadi are a bit tensed, Dad always try to find some reason to avoid sending me away from himself. But this time I had to go, I know everyone at home will miss me, I too will miss everyone.. Samyak Mamu is here in Indore to take me and mumma.

Summer Trip T10

Heyaa !!

This year I went for my first summer vacation. Nani had a wish to visit Vaishno Devi with me, daddy and mumma. But daddy wanted to go for an excursion instead of pilgrimage. He wished to visit Konnkan, but its already end of June and in India almost all coastal region receive heavy rainfall during this time. So we all agreed on visiting 'Mata Di' holy shrine for darshan.

Nanu with family, our family and Nannu Tai, in all we were a troop of 10 members. Darshan mamu didn't joined, he was having papers for his 2 year examination. We planned to visit Vaishno Devi, Patnitop, Dalhousie and Amritsar in our 10 days trip.

Every one got engaged in shopping, packing and other preparation for trip. Daddy, Dadu and Nannu tried there best to get the reservations for journey. But, it is very difficult to get train reservations during summers in India.

Trip to Jaipur:

Chachu came to Indore on Saturday and on the same day we had leave for the trip. It was after so long I traveled in train. I felt it as another home and no way I felt that I was travelling. I was visiting Mamu after so long. As soon a we reached Jaipur I saw Nanu, SamMa, DarMa & GyaMa standing and eagerly waiting for me to reach. Everyone received us with a big smile on face and I too waved my hands looking them. At home Granny and Nani welcomed me, but hearing loud voice of Granny and seeing her welcome style I was a bit afraid and started crying. My bed and room was beautifully decorated by Mamus with balloons and all saying 'Welcome Aryaa'.

Visit to Khaaniyaji, Gajjo ki bavadi & Padampura:
We didn't got all our tickets confirmed, only 3 out of 10 and that too in different boggies. We dropped our plan to depart for Jammu on the very day we reached Jaipur. We planned to visit Jain temples in Jaipur and meanwhile Nanu gave it an another try for reservations. We visited Khaaniyaji, a beautiful Jain temple constructed on the top of hill.

Vaishno Devi
We got just 5 tickets confirmed out of 10, luckily all 5 in the same compartment. We all decided to get go, I knew this was going to be tough for SamMa, Cachu and Dad. We boarded in train at 4 in Jammu Tawi train, DarMa came to see off us.

ready to ride...

Journey was not that bad, all juniors manged to adjust two one one seat, Dad, Mamu and Chachu had a sound sleep but on floor ;). We reached Jammu next morning and hired a taxi to Katra. We planned to start  trekking the shrine the same evening. Also, visited the bazar of Katra and lunch there.

Trekking started from 'Banganga', all our baggages were checked here. To carry luggage, kids and disabled elders people use to rent a coolie, 'Pitthu' as called here. We rented Rafique uncle for carrying our luggage. Nannu Bua and Gyan Mamu agreed to trek on there own without a horse. I too wana to trek but Dad carried me. 

Everyone tied 'Jai Mata Di' band on there head started journey. Way to shrine was crowded many people wished to do Mata darshan. Till 'Ardh Kuvaari' whole way was full of mules who were loading children, old and disabled people. There were lots of shop for refreshments, juices and snacks on the way to Ardh Kuvaari.

It was decided that everyone will meet at Ardhkuwari check post from there route seperate for Vaishno  Devi shrine. Nannu Tai and Dadu went to wrong way and got lost, Nanu and SamMa went to Ardhkuwari to find them, everyone waited at check post for them. Now the way was different no commercial shops on sides and we can see beautiful valley from here. It was also getting cold as we have climbed more than half way. After a few km walk we reached HimKothi. Nannu Tai got tired by now, although Dadu was cheering her up to walk. It was very cold at Him Kothi, everyone rested here for some time at a cafe shop. Me and Nannu Tai covered ourself and had a nap. Everyone had a cup of tea and some snacks here. It was around 1:00 at night.

We hired an another Pithu (coolie) for Nannu Tai, she was not ready to walk even a single step. Shrine was around 4-5 km away from here. We reached shrine at around 3:00 in morning, Rafique uncle suggested us to darshan at night itself. In morning the place was going to be crowded and would take another 2-3 hours for darshan then. We did darshan at around 4 in the morning, I was sleeping when daddy woke me up inside a cave. I saw 3 Mataji's idol decorated with red chunari. Everyone bowed head before Mataji, got a prasad and tilak on head.

After darshan Nanu got some blankets and carpets, we slept on the roadside to temple for next 2 hours. We dropped plan to visit Bheruji's temple since everyone got tired and now wanted to get back to hotel. Next early morning we started heading back. Valley looked beautiful in the morning. We could see many helicopters taking passengers to up hill.

shrine in the morning

Everyone headed back to katra, enjoying the beautiful valley.

We reached back to hotel at around 1:00 in after noon. Everyone was very tired and now wanted to rest. Dad and Chachu got up early in the evening and went out to plan itinerary for next few days trip.