Guest Post : Closely Guarded History and Beauty of Mahendra Giri

A VISIT TO THE HISTORICALLY MOST IMPORTANT MOUNTAIN IN THE EASTERN GHATS WHERE LORD PARSHURAM THE IMMORTAL BEING IS SAID TO BE IN MEDITATION. Recently, I had been to Mahendra Giri, which has the second most highest mountain peak of Odisha. Mahendra Giri is part of the Eastern Ghats, which is the second oldest mountain … Continue reading Guest Post : Closely Guarded History and Beauty of Mahendra Giri

Bus Journey 1984 vs Metro Travel 2024 (Pt-2)

Continued from previous post (The reasons and explanations for certain words being marked with * are given at the end) We could hear the roof top passengers banging the roof signaling the driver to stop. The cleaner signaled* and shouted at the driver to stop. Then he shouted at the rooftop passengers when the bus … Continue reading Bus Journey 1984 vs Metro Travel 2024 (Pt-2)

With Deepavali a few Days Away

Diwali is a time for revamp. People usually do the annual facelift of their house just before Diwali. In India we follow the Gregorian calendars for weekly holidays, where as for festival holidays we follow numerous Indian calendars. Similarly businessmen in India follow the official financial year (Apr to Mar) for tax and audit purpose, … Continue reading With Deepavali a few Days Away

walking the path

In ancient times people undertook journey primarily for business and conquest. And sometimes for pilgrimages. These days people mostly undertake journey for business and pleasure. And sometimes for pilgrimages. Even though Yatra literally means  journey - any kind of journey,  whenever we hear the word yatra we can sense a tinge of holiness or spirituality … Continue reading walking the path

Sri Jagannath: beyond myths and miracles

No religion or spiritual sect is complete without myths and miracles. Stories of miracles abound around Lord Jagannath. Being the Kaliyuga form of Lord Krishna even though he is primarily a Vaishnav God, his devotees have come from diverse sects and religions over the past millennium. After all, the deity is none other than Jagannath … Continue reading Sri Jagannath: beyond myths and miracles

Odisha and its People : the Unknown, the Unique and the Ugly

Where is Odisha? To write about unknown Odisha is a difficult proposition because, for someone not from Odisha everything about Odisha may be unknown. In my interactions with common men during my travels in India I have found that the North Indians think it is somewhere in South India and the South Indians think it … Continue reading Odisha and its People : the Unknown, the Unique and the Ugly