A Journey That Became a Yatra of the Soul 🌼✨
What began on the morning of 25th December, with a flight
lifting us away from Mumbai, the familiar maya nagar we call home, soon
transformed into something far deeper than a holiday. For nine blessed days, we
stepped away from routine life and walked into a living tapestry of faith,
history, devotion, endurance, and togetherness.
Our first halt was Lucknow, where modern elegance met
thoughtful remembrance. Between Ambedkar Park’s quiet grandeur and the vibrant
storytelling of UP Darshan Park, the journey gently eased us from the world of
schedules into the rhythm of a pilgrimage. Roads may have been closed, plans
adjusted, but faith found its way through metro lines and shared laughter.
The next morning carried us to the sacred soil of Shravasti,
where silence itself feels sanctified. Here, the air seemed to whisper
centuries of Tapasya of Bhagwan Sambhavnath’s Janmasthali, and of Gautam
Buddha’s Jetvan, where compassion once took spoken form. Moving seamlessly
between Shwetamber and Digamber temples, Jain and Bauddha legacies, our hearts
expanded beyond boundaries. The overnight stay felt less like rest and more
like quiet absorption.
From there, we entered the devotional embrace of Ayodhya,
staying two nights in the city where bhakti breathes through every lane.
Standing before Ram Lalla, and then tracing the Kalyanak footprints of five
Jain Tirthankars, Adinath, Ajitnath, Abhinandannath, Sumatinath, and Anantnath,
we experienced devotion not as ritual alone, but as remembrance and humility.
Bhajans echoed not just in temples, but in hearts and often in the bus, where
tired voices still sang with joy.
The road onward tested our stamina and strengthened our
bond. Prabhasgiri and Kaushambi offered profound stillness; the places where
spiritual milestones were not announced loudly, but felt deeply. Reaching
Prayagraj, we paused, and the next morning bowed at the Triveni Sangam, where
rivers and inner currents converge. That silent pranam said more than words
ever could.
As dusk fell on 30th December, we entered Varanasi, the
eternal city. For four nights, time itself seemed to slow. From Bhelupur
Parshwanath Kalyanak, Bhadaini Jain Ghat (Suparshwanath), Chandrapuri
(Chandraprabhu Swami), to Sarnath (Shreyansnath Kalyanak), the Jain legacy
unfolded with grace and depth, often in both Shwetamber and Digamber
traditions, lovingly covered without distinction. Alongside, we stood awestruck
at Kashi Vishwanath, and watched lamps float like prayers during the Ganga
Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, their reflections dancing with devotion on flowing
waters.
Meals were often skipped, replaced by simple munching on the
bus—but no one felt deprived. What sustained us was bhakti, kirtan, shared
discipline, and a spirit of joyful adjustment. With 54 yatris—including
children, some joining late, some departing early, the group remained
remarkably harmonious. Laughter, patience, cooperation, and care became our
unspoken companions.
On 3rd January 2026, as flights carried most of us back to
Mumbai, we returned not just with souvenirs and photographs, but with memories
sanctified by effort, hearts softened by devotion, and bonds strengthened by
shared faith.
This was not merely a trip.
It was a collective success.
A journey that balanced discipline with devotion,
Diversity with unity,
And fatigue with fulfillment.
Gratitude to every yatri—for flexibility, faith, and
fellowship.
Gratitude to the unseen hands that guided us safely.
And gratitude to the sacred land itself, for allowing us to walk its story.
May the merit of covering 48 Jain Kalyanaks, along with the
great non-Jain spiritual centers, continue to illuminate our paths—long after
the journey has ended. 🙏✨
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