Travel

" एक देहाती सर पे गुड़ की भेली बाँधे लंबे चौड़े एक मैंदान से गुज़र रहा था

गुड़ की खुशबु सुन के भिन्न-भिन्न करती एक छतरी सर पे मंडराती थी

धूप चढ़ी और सूरज की गर्मी पहुंची तो

गुड़ की भेली बेहने लगी

मासूम देहाती हैरान था

माथे से मीठे मीठे पतरे गिरते थे

और वो जीभ से चाट रहा था

मैं देहाती, मेरे सर पे ये टैगोर की कविता किसने रख दी "

For the last few years, December is turning out to be quite an eventful month for me. Be it my rural internship in Udaipur (Udaipur in December is a heavenly place), my Vipassana stint last year followed by a short adventurous trip to Western Gujarat or by beginning the month by attending some wonderful events in Mumbai, this month has added great value to my life. This month has also been the time when I get to discover some really soulful and different kinds of music. Even if I see it the other way then college for me has been a struggle in terms of getting a sense of belongingness year after year and December with its eccentricities offers a decent escape.

In the semi-gelid January days in Jaipur came another edition of the world’s largest conglomeration of literary enthusiasts, the Jaipur Literature Festival. Once you enter the Diggi Palace gardens it’s all about getting soaked into the revering world of miscellanea. The entrance to the venue gives a feel of Rajasthan, the walloping curved gates with a tiny peak at the top welcomes people from all around the globe. The manifestations are such that if you place turbaned men blowing trumpets along the entrance corridor you would feel yourself an invitee to the king’s feast.