First visit to India

It has been very difficult to put into words what has happened in the last month, since our trip to India.

India changed me since day one, I greeted that special land with a smile on my face, open mind, pure heart and no expectations. I loved every minute of my time travelling around and have been missing India every since we returned. Very unexpected sensation, I have never experienced before. The longing for Indian open-hardheartedness, for the smells, colours, nature, Arabian sea, palm trees, easy, lightness, fruit, sun… So many things to miss. The people really welcomed us. The feeling of visiting a country with so many cultural differences and being looked after on every step on our way.

Today I am coming to summarise the beautiful locations we visited in India and bring some updates on what is Ananda doing now. As we are working on new songs, developing our musical skills and just living our lives doing many other things, we are excited to share some Magic with people during the Summer visit to Poland (more news very soon) and Winter visit to India. New music, New Voice Activation workshops and New recordings, that’s what is coming 🙂

India Spring 2023. First stop Delhi + Agra + Madhura

First stop Delhi. Oh, what a great first stop. The traffic! Dogs on streets, cows, motorbikes, more motorbikes, rikshas, white cars only, heavy and hot air, new smells, smiley people, TRAFFIC!

We visited Agra with a kind driver who took us all the way there in his car. Distance isn’t great, driving time is. My dream was to see Taj Mahal on a special day. I chose 14th of February at sunrise to celebrate with my Valetine’s 😉 The building is spectacular, even when busy. Entering the Mausoleum was very special and touching as if I could feel the love that was between the couple resting there. Sunrise is a great time to arrive and make sure that you do not try to take your tripod as I did.

South Goa, Palolem Beach and Hampi

My heart is in Goa. When we arrived in Goa, reached the beach, Patnem beach, a smaller and more beatiful than Palolem, as I dipped in the most perfect temperature, smooth sand under my feet, sun setting, a moment I should be happy at. I started crying. Because I know that I will do anything to be back. Even though it was my first day in Goa, I knew how important this place was for me. And then I heard in my mind the name of this sea. The sea I am swimming in. It introduced itself to me: “Arabian Sea”. My name is Arabska.

Bombai or Mumbai?

That’s the question I was asking myself. Actually both. The name was changed officially in 1991 but both still are recognised and used. Oh, what a city this is! From the poor areas, through the architecture woven from the old times of the colonialism, temporary kind of structures, beautiful and abundant building of the rail station, magical mosques, museums, tea shops, parks and streets of shops, shops and more shops. Did you know that shops of the same genre are located next to each other on one street. So once walking in Bombay we passed streets selling sinks, opticians (good hint – if you were glasses order a couple of pairs in India), textile, anything really! Such a huge city and we only visited the Southern part and lived overlooking Victoria Park, which is a city zoo. We could see the elephant from our window on the 18th floor 🙂

By a sleeper train to Jaipur, the Pink City

I knew I will fell in love with Jaipur. The famous Pink City. Why pink? There are many stories, but I like the most one I heard in Jaipur. The story is closely connected with Britain as it was Prince Albert that went on a visit to Jaipur and the preparations were very engaging. At first the streets of Jaipur were meant to be all carpeted in finest carpets from India. That was difficult, especially in the monsoon time. Instead all houses were painted red to look bright and cheerful. During the monsoon red washed off and turned pink. Prince loved the colour of Jaipur and called it The Pink City.

Jaipur is much more than pink buildings. As a part of Rajasthan it has a very rich and unique cultural traditions. Rajasthani moustages are spectacular! The skirts made of layers of brightly died material with mirrors, ribbons, pompoms, you name it! What an incredible mixture. Sculptures of man with large moustage, marionettes called Kathputli, playing music with local musicians at Maha Mahal, Krishna Palace as a home, oh! Jaipur is simply the best!

Amritsar, home of the Golden Temple

The most holy of places. Or shell I say one of the most. Difficult to describe in words. Just go there.

Amritsar is in Punjab, very unique region of India. It is mostly occupied by the Sikh community and this makes it so amazingly calm (not talking about the traffic though), welcoming (even more!), smoking free, alcohol and (mostly) meet free. They have vegetarian Mc Donalds! We were greeted at the Classical Indian Music Festival in Amritsar, invited to the stage and awarded, chanted Mul Mantra at an event dedicated to woman, visited the Golden Temple daily, ate the biggest thali, made chapati at the Temple and met many lovely and kind people. The 8th of March is the International Woman’s Day. I could feel a sense of celebration when encoutering other woman that day in Amritsar. I was magical, when huge groups of beautiful sisters would ask for photo and I am so grateful that Artur captures some of these moments. The Woman of Amritsar 2023:

Rishikesh. Meeting The Ganga River

What can I say. Monther Ganga. Father Himalaya. The Sun The Moon. Chanting in the air. Silver and gold particles in the sand of the river. Sacred moments. Climbing the waterfall, dipping in Ganges (that was on the same day), Kirtan Festival, mala shopping, beautiful people. Will return.