Travel is to go from one place to
another, as by car, train, plane, or ship; take a trip; journey: to travel for
pleasure. to move or go from one place or point to another.
Travel dates back to antiquity where
wealthy Greeks and Romans would travel for leisure to their summer homes and
villas in cities such as Pompeii and Baiae.
Traveling is an essential part of
life that can help build experiences and broaden perspectives. It allows
us to explore different cultures, meet new people, and gain a better
understanding of the world around us. Traveling can also provide us with
opportunities to learn more about ourselves and our place in the world.
Travel takes us out of our comfort
zones and inspires us to see, taste and try new things. It constantly
challenges us, not only to adapt to and explore new surroundings, but also to
engage with different people, to embrace adventures as they come and to share
new and meaningful experiences with friends and loved ones.
Here you can read KHYRUNNISA’S CHUCKLE MERRY SPIN
You all would have noticed that
PURI JAGANNATH RATH YATRA was held on Sunday the 7th of July.
One unique feature of this year’s
Rath yatra is that it is being held for two days after 53 years.
This year’s great Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath was held in PURI over two days on July 7 and 8, 2024. This year, after 53 years, the Rath Yatra, Netra Utsav, and Nabajaubana Darshan all coincided on July 7th, the same day as a celestial event. The deities were brought to the Shree Gundicha temple on July 8.
The Puri Rath Yatra is India’s oldest and largest annual celebration. The Skanda, Brahma, and Padma Puranas reference it. This Puri Rath Yatra symbolizes the fraternity of the people who meet here from diverse socioeconomic systems and countries, in addition to the religious aspect.
Lord Krishna travels on a Chariot
with his siblings – the elder one Balarama and the younger one –Subhadra
Centuries of history and culture
have been invested in the Rath Yatra. Hindu legend states that every year
during Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu, pays a visit
to his aunt’s shrine in the Gundicha temple.
Rich in history and mythology, the
magnificent parade represents the holy creatures’ journey to their natal home
in a chariot.
Traveling Chariots were used for long
journeys across England and on the Grand Tour of Europe. When on long journeys
they were postilion driven with horses and 'post boys' that were hired at inns
along the way. This example has an interesting feature in what is known as a
dormeuse boot.
That was about an interesting trip
in a chariot.
Now let‘s look into the concept of
Travelling by foot. Travel on foot –
It's the ultimate slow travel, taking your time to get from one place to the
next, as close to the ground and to people as you possibly can.
Relating to this, I read a book
review in the Indian Express Newspaper by Sheila Kumar of the book: THE LONG STRIDER IN JEHANGIR’S HINDUSTAN by
DOM MORAES and SARAYU SRIVATSA. Here is the book buy link.
This dual travelogue tells the
extraordinary story of a maverick’s 5000-mile journey on foot from England to
India, across the forbidding Arabian desert and the treacherous Hindukush
mountains, and then his wanderings in Mughal India.
The book carries an account of the
adventures of a man named Thomas Coryate of Odcombe village in Somerset, an
enthusiastic trekker known in those parts as the ‘long strider’. Coryate took a
long walk from England to Jehangir’s court in India, in the early 1600s. Some
385 years later, Moraes was motivated enough to track Coryate’s 5,000-mile
journey and write about it with his co-author and companion, architect and
writer Sarayu Srivatsa writes Sheila kumar in her review.
This proves that how informative
this book is and how the travel undertaken by Coryate motivated someone 385
years later!
That’s amazing.
A true traveller develops a deep
sense of fellow feeling. He learns to overcome hardships. Sometimes they become
the joy or pride of others who do not ever like to step out of the house.
Travelling gives them strength, both physical and moral, and makes them resourceful
and adventurous.
Altogether a different take on travel and I just loved the way you penned it... indeed you are a great writer
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading the blog post and as well as for the huge compliment.
DeleteTravel on foot must have been amazing. Travel is the best book for learning. Amazing how he travelled from England to India without any maps
ReplyDeleteExactly
DeleteYour post beautifully encapsulates the essence and transformative power of travel. The juxtaposition of ancient chariot journeys and modern-day foot travel highlights the timeless allure of exploration. Your recounting of the Puri Rath Yatra and the story of Thomas Coryate's trek to India enriches the narrative with historical depth. It's an inspiring reminder to embrace travel, broaden horizons, and foster creativity through new experiences.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by
DeleteA person who has not travelled has read only the cover of the book: Father Augustine. There is no lesson in this world that covers the teachings that extensive travel does. Beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteTravel is a wonderful learning experience. It teaches us humility, acceptance, and also find new ways to communicate. I've never seen the Rath Yatra live but it's such a majestic event!
ReplyDeleteReally
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