Pada Yatra in Srikakulam District is going in full swing. Day by day the momentum is picking up and we are dwaing huge crowds. We are getting calls and invitations from Sarpanchs, MPTC (Member of Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency), ZPTC (Zilla Parishad) to visit their villages.
We have TONS and TONS of exceptionally inspiring, touching, informational first hand information to share. It will be best if you could join us for Pada Yatra to get a first hand experience of the really "exceptional" work done by our organization.
Our Current Routine:
1. All 6 of us wake up at 4am. After showering, we all do our daily practices of Sadhana and Meditation before 5:50am. Please note that Pada Yatra is not a joke. It takes a TREMENDOUS toll on your body and mind. Without a spiritual practices likes Yoga, Meditations and Chanting it is impossible (yes, I repeat impossible) to keep up the momentum, enthusiasm, motivation to serve, energy, etc., etc.
** What is a Pada Yatra? Please see one of our next posts.
2. Some of us eat some fruit and get into our car (or cars: we now split into 2 groups of 3 to cover more villages and more people).
3. We leave between 6am and 6:30am to our respective villages. Here, the villages are around 3 to 20km away from Srikakulam where we are hosted by a wonderful couple. The host is a family of 6. We are also 6 of us with 3 beds. Some of us sleep on the floor (of course with mats and sheets). Most of us take cold showers at 4am in the morning and this is Kartika Masam.
4. We are greeted by about 10 to 500 villagers at the entrance to the village. Today was the first time, we experienced the 500 number to welcome us. Depending on the time of the day and day of the week (people go for daily labor or to the fields), about 10 to 100 people receive us with all Indian respects. Sometimes, there are fire crackers, sometimes "Sannayi melam (traditional South Indian Music Band), sometimes Bhajana Brudam (Bhakti Band) and at other times, there is no music.
5. According to the Indian traidition, the villagers garland the guests, sometimes offer Diya or Arathi and apply Titak to the foreheads. We have lots of Tilaks on our foreheads.
6. We then walk to the nearest temple, chant mantras and do a small puja. "What is Puja? Why is it done in India? Is it superstition? Does it have any scientific basis? Does it help?
7. We then address the gathering about who we are and the purpose of our trip.
8. We then start the Pada Yatra walking door to door, street to street, meeting 100s and 1000s of beautiful people each day. The days are very hot in Andhra Pradesh. We cover the whole village and then head for breakfast offered by some noble family.
9. We then continue our Pada Yatra in another village or address School and College Students about Yoga, Meditation, importance of Indian cultural values, how to increase focus, how to succeed in life, parent-child relationships, teacher-student relationships, how to be stress free and happy or carry the happiness all through their life and give them a taste of Yoga practices offered by VVMVP and lead them into Meditation. The reception is OVERWHELMING.
10. We then have lunch and rest for a while if nothing is planned.
11. We start our evening Pada Yatra in yet another village(s) in 2 groups. In the evenings, the entire village is home. We sing modern sounding, melodious, rhythmic, upbeat and meditative bhajans with all the villagers at a temple or under the moon light. The villagers get to experience an enchantic evening of high prana, positive, uplifting bhajans and meditation. They feel sooooooooooooo happy and peaceful.
12. We tell them "Deepen Your Roots and Broaden Your Vision". We talk about keeping the homes and villages clean, about plastic, vegetarianism, culture, family values, human values, Ayurveda, unity in diversity, organic farming, respecting nature, natural calamities and such topics ...... which will keep them healthy, happy, prosperous, united, peaceful and encourage a sence of service.
13. We get home by between 10pm and 11pm.
14. Dinner sometimes is early in the evening or late at night. Late is not good but with hectic schedule it is hard.
15. Some of us sleep by 12:00am and some by 2 or 3am depending on the work load and wake up by 4am.
-- Somewhere in between, as time permits, I have meetings to improve the conditions of the villages, water, roads, health, farming practices, alcohol usage, lavaratories, planting trees, creatingYouth Leaders by VVMVP and a lot more things.
In addition to all this, there is a lot of Planning, lots of dedicated volunteers, planning rides, planning vegetarian food, tons of phone calls, taking pictures, videos, collecting experiences, laundry, finances, planning travel and a LOT more things. It is a BIG team effort and everything happens so smoothly, you will be surprised. You are most welcome to come and participate in this sacred Journey on Foot.
We will be in Srikakulam district for another day or two and move onto another district.
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