Home away from Home

During my courtship period ( BTW i got married on 10 Dec 2010 and went to cyprus immediately after that) i often used to discuss with Pulkit ( my would be hubby then) howz life away from our country in a new place and among new people. It seemed to be a life changing thing then  and i was lyk am gonna miss India sooooo much. i mean the warmth, the sense of belongingness and cultural ties that one has in one's own country its difficult to have it anywhere else.But there was one thing Pulkit always used to say back then " jahan rehte ho wahan apna sa lagne lagta agar apne paas hote hain". I did'nt realize it untill I came to Cyprus. Yeah Cyprus was very different from India..........a typical European feel with beaches, traverns and ofcourse  no Amul Butter, Maggi, fruity and lot many yummy-but-bad-for-tummy things, but it had a strong cultural history dating back to ancient times which somehow gave a very "apna sa feeling"( considering our cultural roots).
And then I gotta attend Maha Shivratri fest there and believe me......it was truly amazing!!!!!
I mean just IMAGINE being away from our Country and attending a Indian fest in a Indian Temple......man that feeling was just beyond expression. And the look in Pulkit's eyes said it all...." chahoge to jahan hoge wahan accha lagne lagega".There were so many Indians there and u wont believe there was a proper "langar" with bhajans in background........................jitna proud i felt that tym hearing those melodious lyrics i have never felt in my entire life.......seriously

                      Shivratri fest @Cyprus

Wen u r away from home and meet your people there it is sheer pleasure.........a sense of belongingness!!!!!

And more than that I experienced a sense of pride here in Seattle two weeks ago when Indian community took a stand in support of Shri Anna Hazare in his fight against corruption. There was a halla bol in India and people were coming out to support him. But the Indian Community in United States was also there ...in full support,  taking a stand and lending its suppot in watever way possible. We had a candle lit up in Seattle and people followed in numbers....................I just loved this INDIANISM..:):)

The Gandhi statue, Indian flag and our people attending it in numbers and fasting to support the initiative............simply incredible. I can say now wherever you live if you have it in your heart, u will never lose your roots.

                         "hum akele chale the, manzil ko talashne
                          andheri galiyon se guzre, tang raston se nibte,
                          sirf ujaale ko paane;
                          hausle jo past hue hamare to palat kar dekha
                         ek poora karvaan sang ho chala tha
                         humen sambhalne;
                         aur hum fir chal diye............."

CHEERS..............