Uni Glos RPE INDIA 23
2nd March 2023
Well that was a trip and a half. This is the second time that we have taken students to India and whilst the format of Delhi, Haridwar and Rishikesh was largely the same as in 2019 the experience was all new. The students were able to feast on a number of extraordinary events and locations from the frenetic and chaotic immersion into the darshan at the Kalka Ji Durga temple and the wildly devotional Nizamuddin shrine to the beautiful tranquility of the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara and the awesome sunrise over the foot hills of the Himalaya just north of Rishkesh. We were welcomed by all the places that we visited, not least of all the Swaminarayan Akshadharm temple complex, the third biggest temple in India, where we were treated to a marvellous lunch, exhibitions, blessings and a boat ride through the vast array of Hindu cultures and landmark events. The arti on the banks of the Ganges at Haridwar was special beyond belief and of course who could forget about the Beatles Ashram. All in all an amazing experience and as one of our students wrote. ‘It was a very emotional experience, and I can say this for many members on the trip, to see the lived experience and to be fully immersed within in is something I think we all will all be very grateful for and never forget.’
