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My trip to India is over and I am still somewhat numb about the experience of two weeks' intense time in Rishikesh, Hardiwar and along the banks of the Ganges River.  Many different events took place in this organized tour.

 One highlight was our visit to the Arya Sugandh Sansthan Ashram, an orphanage and school located in a rural area on the plains to the south of where we were staying. The motto of the place is "When a candle is lit, it shines in all directions..." and very quickly my candle was lit by the place, the work of the staff and young people who live there.The place is a 6 acre farm and there are beautiful mango and other fruit trees as well as an organic garden and a cowshed with over 30 cows.

 We broke up into groups and designed costumes made out of newspaper, coloured paper, stickers and the brilliant imaginations of the kids. Mina was our model and here is the finished product. She walked down the runway with music blaring and all the other kids as audience. Smiles everywhere so it wasn't just us that had fun.

As part of their welcome, the students gave us flowers and we were honoured with a tilak. Here's Chandra receiving his. Tilak is a mark of auspiciousness. It is put on the forehead with sandal paste, sacred ashes or kumkum (red tumeric). The sweetness and kindness of this welcome brought me to tears. 

The gray-haired woman is an English-speaking volunteer who lives at the ashram with her 80 year old husband, a retired Air India pilot. About five years ago, they gave up their comfortable lives to come to the ashram to help. In October 2012 they will have been married 50 years.

The place houses about 100 boarding students and 800 other students come to the school daily. The children and young adults tend to the gardens, the cows and also make crafts. I found a paper mache deer that I treasure, of course.Those that live here are under-privileged, orphaned or physically 
challenged children.

www.aryasugsans.com


More pictures and thoughts to follow as I recover from jet lag and start to process.

Namaste and love, Jane

India Retreat Details

Thanks for all the good wishes. I think I am finally packed and ready to go. Here are the latest details of what I will be doing for the next two weeks (aside from sitting on an airplane for a total of 28 hours!).

Basic Daily schedule:

Yoga 6 am

Breakfast 8 am

Agni Hotra/Fire Puja 8:30 am

Lunch 12 pm

Yoga 4 pm

Dinner 6 pm

Day 1: Wednesday, March 14:

Arrive in Delhi.  Overnight at Hotel Lohias near airport. 

Day 2: Thursday, March 15:

Depart for Rishikesh.  Arrive at ashram mid-afternoon.  Ashram tour and orientation.   4 pm yoga class optional.   Evening kiirtan optional.

Day 3: Friday, March 16:

Morning yoga, breakfast and Fire Puja with Japa (chanting with a mala) and discussion about the puja.

Morning orientation of Tapovan area.   Afternoon walk to Ram Jhula, Beatles Ashram and Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan Ashram.   

Day 4:  Saturday, March 17:

Morning yoga, breakfast, agni hotra.   Visit Indian Market in Rishikesh town.

Day 5:  Sunday, March 18:

Morning self-practice.  Free day, with optional activities.  Afternoon workshop.  

Day 6:  Monday, March 19:

Morning yoga, breakfast at ashram.  Daytrip to Haridwar, including visits to several temples and ashrams, and visiting the main ghat at Haridwar.  Dinner at ashram.

Day 7:  Tuesday, March 20:

Depart for Ganga beach camp, see Vasistha’s Guha en route.  Lunch at camp, hike to village/temple, dinner on beach and evening bonfire.   Stay overnight.

Day 8:  Wednesday, March 21:

Morning yoga or walk on beach and rafting.  Return to Anand Prakash ashram.  Free afternoon, with options for massage, shopping in the market, quiet meditation, gentle yoga class etc.

Day 9:  Thursday, March 22:

After breakfast, head to Arya Sugandh Sanasthan Children’s home for a day of activities with the kids.  Return to ashram for dinner.  Kiirtan in evening.

Day 10:  Friday, March 23: 

Morning visit to Ganga beach for japa meditation and optional Ganga Snana (bathing).  Afternoon free. 

Day 11:  Saturday, March 24:

Free day.  We can support you in organizing activities, such as an ayurvedic cooking class, or visiting other sights in the area.  Group dinner at Ayurpak restaurant.

Day 12:  Sunday, March 25:

Morning yoga, agni hotra, group sharing circle.  Group departure for airport.

Next session begins in April

I am pleased to announce the schedule for Spring 2012 (April - May)

Bath, St. John's Hall, 5:30pm, Tuesdays starting April 3, 2012 -- Cost per class $10

Wilton Hall, 251 Simmons Road, 10am, Wednesdays starting April 4, 2012 -- Cost per class $10

West Kingston, St. Andrews by the Lake Church, 10am, Fridays starting April 13, 2012 -- Cost per class $15