All posts filed under: Announcements and Celebrations

ROAD TO NARA now on YouTube- Welcoming you on the Channel

Published by

As Writers our responsibility has evolved multifold in last one decade and all the more after Covid. World seems to be on the move even as we speak and Read. We are more busier than Ants and somehow it always feels today that ‘Life is Elsewhere’, at least for a major some. But if you ask me, Life is within and we are the creators of it. It might be hard and grinding but a lot of Grit and little discipline can see us engrossed in the most beautiful ways where time feels like an illusion. Writing comes to me as water to Well, in ancient times at least but today, less people seems to be happy with just water. Reading is giving way to watching. And watching is the new eating. We are eating with our eyes and we want even more. But I do not wish and never desired to start something which felt like a commission either a necessity. Like writing here on the ‘Road To Nara’ Blog has become nature and …

HALF Way in or Half Way Out- Reflections on the Blog, Year and Life

Published by

I left Delhi again. And you know, every time I leave Delhi for a town or even a city, I am surprised with how pleasant the life is outside. First thing that you always notice moving out of Delhi is how vast and wide-ranging the sky becomes. There are no more glimpses of Moons and Suns between buildings rather you become an observer of a painting happening.

Reset and Restart- 25 Lessons to Walk on In 2025

Published by

And as I press on this note to myself, some lessons that i am carrying from previous years that are not goals, neither resolutions but some learnings that shall lead to better days, better moments and hopefully a better me. And hence I wish that 2025 becomes a year of clarity, of serving, teaching, uplifting and doing… Read more

How Can You Strive to be a Little More Happier ? And An Important Announcement

Published by

We are into the sunset of March, and as I wait for the Sun to melt my resolves again this summer, I try to pull many a me’s within me. To take a cue from the happier poets and write about happiness; But how will it come without a company? Without anyone to share it with. May be by adapting, One more time. Going placidly amid the noise and haste, and understanding what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrenderby being on good terms with all persons, from your side. Speaking your truth quietly and clearly;and listening to others,even to the dull and the ignorant;knowing they too have their story. by Avoiding loud and aggressive persons,they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others,you may become vain and bitter;for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. By enjoying your achievements as well as your plans. By keeping an interest in your own career, however humble;it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of …

Reset Restart- 25 Lessons to Walk On In 2024

Published by

My dearest co-travellers, from Nara family to yours, Happy Happy Happy 2024. 2023 was a strange year for me that even carried some most memorable gifts too. And as I press on this note to myself, these lessons that are not goals, neither resolutions but something that shall lead to a better day, better moments. As I reflect on the year that is history, I feel the need to share some lessons I learned or that have been reinforced over thIe pasttwelve months, that I must focus on before I think of any achievements or that light. Here you go: 1. God first. God always. God alone! 2. That value is in to serve, to solve, to uplift the ones in need. 3. Pray. Reflect. Act. 4. That reading for at least an hour each evening is 1000x better than scrolling. 5. Owning my mornings. 6. That the quality of my habits will determines the caliber of my future. 7. That a good night’s sleep prevents bad decisions. 8. Read a little. Write more. Think most. Meditate …

End of an Era

Published by

My grandfather who saw through most of the 20th century, someone who was highly expressive yet quiet; one who taught us to be firm, to stand and lead in the times of crisis, one who moved mountains during the Indian Independence movement as my grandma used to narrate his stories; my grandfather was a formidable figure in his younger years, one who was known to attract problems only to solve them like a pro, one who knew how to remain content. He was probably the first one who enticed me into smoking a hookah, an old Indian way to smoke a water-pipe. He loved nature and above all his teak tree under which he sat and slept for over five decades. Here with my Road to Nara family, I wanted to share that my grandfather died last month on the auspicious day of Diwali in the early hours of dawn. Partially, it was the reason for my absence from the site. Even though it was strange how people and even in the family were waiting …

40 Before Forty: My ‘Bucket List’ for Life

Published by

Somehow, its not surprising that even after writing for last three years on this site, I never shared any kind of Bucket List with you. Rather strangely It never even occurred to me. Even when I keep a daily, weekly, monthly to-do list. But this time it felt that I must share what all is meaningful and going to move me for some years to come. To observe and record my own directions, to raise expectations even though I have worked hard to get all feelings of “expectations” out of my system in last some years; But to travel more, to be able to express from a point of stillness more, to vibe more with you, with whom i have shared my most valuable memories in these years in thought, and that you should know some deeper directions that my spirit is wishing to take. Last week, I completed an important and likely decisive life cycle on our planet Earth. Touching the other side of 35. And I felt responsible to open up with you …

Shades Of August

Published by

Dear Co-Travellers, August tinkers like its the doorway to change. May be the first knock towards the last half of the year. The month brings Rain and rains bring movement. An upsurge of energy. Life happening everywhere while bringing us that twilight period of Clouds and glitter, of filtering light, running rivers, thundering skies and speaking earth. I have been away from writing on the internet but I have been writing. A Project of importance or so i must feel; the law of cause and effect leads you to interesting crossroads. At home, a rally of unfortunate events one after other in the family and neighbourhood brought me to reason ‘The Origin of Disease’. About our understanding of food and ancient crops. And most importantly about self-healing. Is today’s society capable enough tackle stress, depression, anxiety, internet addiction, or even life and time management on its own? For each one who thinks of food as nourishment and life as energy. For anyone who would like to delve deeper in the realms of understanding one’s mind, …

3rd Road To Nara Anniversary and An Announcement

Published by

On 15th June 2020, right in the middle of the biggest lockdown India saw; that morning I was walking on an empty street finding a fruit vendor instead ended up meeting an old man sitting alone in a park. It was a time of not doing anything. May be living was the best doing we were doing. As I heard him intently talking about all the people he met in life, I thought to myself- share now Nara. I had always been writing but in diaries or for money. Three years ago on this day something changed. Some minute thing when I decided to start ‘Road to Nara’- this blog and strangely this period of my life has been the best of Mango times- ethereally sweet yet with just a hint of tanginess. With years behind me as a Teacher, a Travel Journalist and a practicing Yogi; Road to Nara came at a time when I still remembered my past- thanks to the Image memory in me while times were forcing me to look towards …

Top 9 Blog Posts That Changed My Course of 2022; A Summary and A Start of a New Chapter

Published by

Well, this is it. Another year is done and we are looking to the clouds how and where it all went. But nature is no cheat. There is no lapse of a day, of a moment or even a blink. We live it. We are aware of it. We breathe each breath full. One thing that I learnt while I was living 2022 was that even though I enjoy writing, it cannot be my end all. I take joy in walking more, in seeing and being at a place that urges me to contemplate, to talk to it. Somewhere that pushes me to dive deeper in aspects that i wasn’t aware of before. I love movement and I love challenging myself around those movements. So I have decided I am not going to make resolutions anymore because somewhere deep within we know what is required of us at what time. Where are we needed the most. I may prioritise it but life has always taken the better route, or has checkmated me most of the …

A Land Devoted To Light

Published by

India that is Bharat* is the oldest living civilisation on Earth, and to even our surprise we at times get tired of celebrating so many festivals that arrive week after week non-stop throughout the year. But Diwali is not just any festival. It, I imagine presents the right amount of cosmic chaos, the energy and the passion that brings people together lighting up their homes, decorating streets, shops and on a subtle level trying to illuminate themselves by praying for Knowledge and Wealth on this moonless day. India is a land of Travellers and Storytellers. And Tonight of light which is also my favourite, is celebrated on the homecoming on one such Traveller. The King Lord Sri Rama, personally I revere him not because he was known to be Just, or responsible, balanced, courageous rather severely moral in love and War, but he has been for me the most ideal traveller that i have known through texts and people. He could easily be the most ancient walker who walked with a vow mapping the most …

Following Vivekananda; and How one Home Found me in Kasar Devi- Almora

Published by

The fourteenth night of the waning moon each month is special. But in the month of Falgun i.e. March, this 14th night is said to have an upsurge of Prana/energy in one’s system (also if one could sit still throughout night) that which even pulled Swami Vivekananda more than 130 years ago to this small little mountainous region called Almora. But more precisely to a place on the top of the Kashyapa hill known as Kasar Devi. A place or the temple structure dating back to 2nd century CE.

Help Save the Birdman of Kashmir. Save Rasool : A Fundraiser

Published by

Some of you may remember Rasool. My guardian, and the one who brought Kashmir to me. I had written about him more than a few times. But for the ones who might not have heard about this Birdman, this magic man, must read this first. Remember me with a Lotus: Memoirs of Heaven and Birds in Kashmir But if you have skipped and are reading this. Let me please request you to meet him first yourself. You must have known that for some time i had been meaning to do something for Rasool. Not because i must but more because his life is more important than most. As he knew, he understood how valuable, how important others lives are. He loved, protected and cared for the lives of those who were left to fend for themselves. He saved the birds and all nature beings as his own. For me, to find his work and a small bird park in a region marred by Bullet sounds and all kind of violence was a revolution in itself. …