Vaishno Devi Yatra November 2010

This November we started our journey to Maa Vaishno Devi. Every year we go to have Darshan, but this time things were not easy.Our team had following members:-

1. Mr. Sunil Jain
2. Mr. Sanjay Tiwari (self)
3. Mr. O.P. Upadhayaya
4. Mr. Sanjeev Tiwari
5 .Dr. Vipin Srivastava
6. Dr. Anil Dixit
7. Dr. Pradeep Gupta
8. Mr. Sushil Kanaujia
9. Mr. Raj Kamal Tripathi

We took Puri Express from Kanpur on 21st November, it was 45 minutes late.We were quite satisfied as there was a sufficient margin of about 4 hrs.  It was scheduled to reach New Delhi at 5.00 PM. But suddenly some problems in Railway track arose, near Etawah and after that Puri Express ran like a Bullock Cart. It reached New Delhi at 9.00 PM. Our hearts were sinking and we all were praying for a  delay in Uttar sampark Kranti Exp.By the time we reached Platform no.7 Sampark Kranti Exp. had already gone.....
You know we were 9 people,and it was very- very difficult to come to common conclusion.Everybody had his own point of view.. Finally we decided to get our tickets validated from the station Master, and tried our fate in Jhelam Express. Jai ho Shera wali ki.... Usko ye Manzoor nahi tha ki uske Bhakt bina Darshan Ke Wapas Chale Jayen.... we all got bearths in Jhelam Express !! (  though some donation was given)
After this our yatra was very peaceful and comfortable......We had Darshan on 22nd November and came back to Kanpur on 24thMorning.....
One more thing to add, everybody in our group was tired, so wanted to have a shorter route to Katra, except Dr.Pradeep Gupta, who was willing to go Katra after having Darshan at Bhairo ji. We all started at 12:00 midnight for Katra, by a shorter route(Except Dr Pradeep Gupta) and reached Katra at 3:30 AM. It was a pleasant surprise for everyone to see Dr. Gupta waiting there for us..It was rare to see a person reaching Katra so fast..

JAI MATA DI.....

Here are some pictures.....

Marriages in Punjab

Punjabis are large hearted people who love splendor and grandeur. They are also keen on festivals and celebrations. This nature of Punjabis also reflects in their marriage celebrations. Like other Indian weddings, a Punjabi marriage ceremony is very ritualistic but also full of fun and frolic. It is in fact one of the most colorful and musical marriage ceremonies in the country. Each ceremony is like an excuse for merriment. A Punjabi Wedding is very vibrant and celebrated like a big carnival, exhibiting splendid grandeur.

A Punjabi wedding ceremony begins with Roka which is very much like an engagement ceremony where both the family for the first time formally announces the prospective marriage. The Roka is then followed by celebrations like ‘Sagan’ and ‘Chunni Chadana’ performed at the groom’s and bride’s family respectively. 

SAGAN CEREMONY

DRINKING

CHUNNI CHADANA

MILANI

CHUNNI CHADANA

Punjabi Wedding ceremony is an interesting ceremony full of several rituals and customs. The wedding preparations start day before the actual wedding ceremony. Overall, a Punjabi wedding is very vibrant and colorful


HALDI CEREMONY

CHUDA CEREMONY

Chuda 
On the wedding day the rituals at the girl’s home begin with the Chuda ceremony.. Chuda is basically a set of red and cream ivory bangles that is touched by all present. People touch the chuda and give their heartiest wishes to the girl for her future married life. Also, they sprinkle flower petals on the bride




JAGO


In early days ladies used to carry candle lit Gagar( an earthen pot ) and make everyone awake. Now its a digital era and so are the pots

A DIGITAL POT

LADIES ENJOYING JAGO

FAMILY SHOTS 

The Sikh couple will sit before the holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, while prayers are said and the granthi instructs them on the duties of marriage; finally they will walk around the Guru Granth Sahib. Prasad, a buttery, wheat-flour based sweet, is distributed to all present and signals the completion of the ceremony.

                                                                   FELLOW PHOTOGRAPHERS

                                                                   BARAT RECEPTION

                                                MILANI

                                                 AT GURUDWARA

                                                                DANCE PROGRAMME

                                                                 JAIMAAL

                                                                COUPLE DANCE

                                                          SOME BRIDE'S PORTRAITS