Jaipur to Rishikesh
For our final outing in Jaipur we are going to the Ganesh Temple and Patrika Gate. First stop, Ganesh Temple. I noticed something interesting on the Tuk Tuk ride there. I had to take a picture to send to my loved ones back home…
You can only enter the temple barefoot, this is a sign of respect and it also signifies leaving the dirty world behind. When entering it is customary to reach down and touch the door sill as another sign of respect. Twice a day the priests at the temple of Ganesh perform the ringing of the bells. This is to call the spirit of Ganesh into the temple so he is present for worshipers. We arrived in time to enter during the morning bell session. The priests ring LOTS of bells and it is VERY loud! Ganesh is represented by the form of an elephant. Ganesh likes sweets, consequently many worshipers bring sweets as offerings. Money and flowers are also appropriate. After leaving the temple and putting our shoes back on, we enjoyed a sweet purchased from one of the many street vendors selling sweets outside the temple. Laddu is Ganesh’s favorite sweet. It is one of the most ancient of Indian sweets. It is the sweet specifically associated with Ganesh. Laddu is made from chickpea flour with sugar and cardamom mixed in, then fried in hot ghee. It may not sound appetizing, but to Ganesh it is wonderful. (I liked it too.)
Our next stop for the morning was the Patrika Gate. This is a secular monument which was built to welcome travelers to the city of Jaipur. The monument is ornately decorated on both sides. There is a large open courtyard on one side where public performances are sometimes held. The gate is a beautiful structure that pays tribute to all the many arts and crafts found in Rajasthan.
Before returning to the hotel we stopped at a famous store that sells all naturally died and custom designed clothing. Many of our group went shopping. I remained in the lobby and listened to the music provided over the in-house sound system. It was not Indian, quit the opposite. One of the songs is a favorite of mine, “My God Has a Telephone” by The Flying Stars Of Brooklyn.
Next up is our 1 hour 15 minute flight to Rishikesh. I’m looking forward to the last stop on our itinerary. The pace in Rishikesh will be slower. We will have an opportunity for meditation practice each morning by the Ganga (Ganges) River along with a fair bit of free time if we choose. Many planned activities will be optional and it will be safe to wander around a bit on our own should we be so inclined. I’m going to take advantage of the next few days to slow down and absorb the culture.
