Week 1

Greetings and Salutations Everyone!
  Thank you for stopping in and following my blog of this epic journey of a lifetime. It is my pleasure to report on the happenings and findings of my first week in here Mother India.
  Well...where do I begin? in the beginning I suppose :)

  Wow! Wow! Wow! I'm finally here. I have been dreaming of and anticipating journeying to this land, my Guru's birthplace, ever since I've discovered the teachings of Yoga. It has been a seed that I planted deep inside and finally have the chance to observe it's sprouting. On my very first day after my morning arrival at the Kolkata airport, not even twelve hours into being in the country, jetlagged and half delirious from the tid-bits of sleep I managed to get sitting next to little kids on the 15 hour flight, I could barely sit still. Maybe it is the fact that I'm in the same neighborhood and city that I've read so much about in my Guru's autobiography. Maybe it is the spiritual charge that I've built up inside of me around this country, and the actual Spiritual energy that has been ingrained into the very soil by the millenia of Holy men and Yogis that have graced this sod. I felt so stimulated I couldn't believe I was not craving for sleep after the 30+ hours of near sleepless travel. Just in that first day I already managed to scope out some local eateries, go to a local big indoor bazaar (aptly named "Big Bazaar"), taste some authenticaly delicious home-made Indian food and street-style chai, make a non-English speaking friend, locate the famous childhood home of my Guru, find an ashram of another Guru-Saint I've read about, shave my head, and most surprisingly of all, organize my room.

    The next  morning began very enthusiastically just before 6am with setting my routine of drinking lime-water, bathroom, meditation, and yoga practice. It felt amazing to breathe, sweat, and open my body after all of the sedentary traveling of the past two and a half days. I am always served a very simple breakfast of chai, an onion and chilli-pepper omlette, and some toast which is cooked by either of the two very pleasant servants of the school where I'm training.

   Exploring India the first week has been an experience that is overwhelming and unpredictable in almost every way. People here are amazingly friendly. Everyone is only too ready to help a stranger in a new land and, take it upon themselves to approach you and offer directions and advise if they sense one is need. There is a general outward pride among the natives most commonly expressed with the phrase "My India". The people are honest and will not take a single rupee (Indian currency) over the mutually agreed-on price. Everyone seems very comfortable with where and what they are in life. From the rich to the very poor and homeless, there is a noticeable acceptance of the cards life has dealt them. I spent most of my life in San Diego and was humbled to see that no matter how "bad" someone might have it, according to our Western evaluation, they have completely accepted their lot and smiles are more abound than anything I could have expected. No one hesitates to ask "from which country are you?" in their native accent, and are always pleased to hear the answer. After leaving the quiet College where I'm studying, I am almost floored with the amount of car horns, erratic traffic, police whistles, stray dogs and cows, vendors, and just the general "organized chaos" that seems to pervade all the places I have seen thus far. Even though there are no traffic lanes or perceivable rules, I felt very safe and secure once I got used to it. The drivers seem very sober and aware of everything that goes on in their immediate surroundings. The common and pleasant theme that is also present everywhere is devotion to God. There are big and small shrines on literally every street and on the dashboard of every car, taxi, "auto", truck, and bus. There are less English speakers here than I expected, which gives me a chance to learn Bengali...so far I only know how to say Thank You, How much?, and No garnish--because I have to watch out for any fresh produce that is not peel-able. My first week was graced by a Holiday weekend of Kali Puja and Diwali--biggest and brightest Hindu holiday. The day of Kali Puja preceeds Diwali and is a celebration of the both creative and destructive feminine aspects of the one God. There are parades, music, plays, concerts, lights, and fireworks that last well into the wee hours of the night. I have gotten the hang of traveling by taxi and bus this first week and am feeling more and more at home with each passing day. Below are some pictures that I have managed to upload, which was not without its challenges owing to the speed of the internet cafe I have found.

This is the front gate entrance of the Bishnu Ghosh Yoga College. Established way back in 1923, by Bishnu Charan Ghosh (brother of Paramahansa Yogananda--author of Autobiography of a Yogi)

This is my first Indian non-English speaking friend, Joi. He is in charge of the front desk duties of the school, as well as accommodating me with the introduction to the locale, and getting my breakfast to me at the time of my choosing by communicating with the cook. Very gentle and humble person.




On the far left is Umas, he is one of the servants that cleans and helps take care of the school's upkeep. Next to him is Naran, the cook and other servant. Both very happy and simple people who also do not speak English and, are no strangers to smiles and laughter.

This is my room. The cot only lasted two days before I just took out the frame and place the mattress straight on the floor for better support. The mosquito net was also a recent addition after my first night was continuously interrupted by incessant attack of mosquitoes. 

The view from my bedroom window

The above two pics are different views of an "auto". Which is a very handy and efficiently modified moped that allows a maximum of 5 passengers (excluding the driver). In the top picture it is the green and yellow gondola-looking contraption.

 Both of these only began with about 3-4 kids, which were joined by every other one in the vicinity only seconds later.

The "Shaka" spirit is alive in India as well.

The cow, or "Goru" as it is called in Bengali, is considered a very sacred animal which is never slaughtered and eaten but, actually called "our Mother". This is a free-roaming/stray cow on the street of Kolkata which is fed by the local people and always given the right-of-way over any car, truck, or person . You can also see underneath the cow one of the many stray dogs that are just lying about, mostly sleeping or scavenging the garbage for food. Despite this, I think some of the dogs here are happier than domesticated ones that are kept inside of the house or in a backyard all day without getting to express their wild-side.

The most common structure to be seen wherever you find yourself in Kolkata. Sometimes these shrines are dedicated to Lord Shiva (as seen here) sometimes to other aspects of God. 

During the Kali Puja celebration, these hand-made ornamented statues of Goddess Kali are also seen on pretty much every street. Two of her hands symbolize creative aspects of Nature as she holds out open palms, signifying blessing or "ashirwad". The other two symbolize the destructive aspects as she holds a knife or "trisul" in one hand, and the head of an enemy or "rakchas" in the other.

This is Bir (left), and Manosh (right). Met these two just getting on a local bus. Bir struck up a conversation with me and from thereon welcomed me to join them about their day as we went to the Kolkata Planetarium, and the Indian Museum. Afterwards they treated me to a very savory late lunch of rice, paneer cheese and potato curry. Eating with your hands is a normal and traditional sight in the restaurants, not to mention feels freakin' good!

This is it for now. I will put up another post as soon as I get a chance. Thank You all. I miss you all! 

Blessings from India!!

~Elia