VARANASI PART 2.....PRAYAGRAj....AYODHYA....

In February 2025, my sister and I set out on a journey across some of India’s most revered spiritual destinations: Varanasi, Gaya, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya. This wasn’t just a pilgrimage—it was a solemn and heartfelt tribute to our beloved brother Partha, who passed away in February 2024. The goal: to complete his first death anniversary rituals, and to find peace in the sacredness of India’s cultural and spiritual heritage. Though the pain of loss still lingered, this journey became a path toward peace, closure, and spiritual connection.

We began our journey with an Indigo flight from Chennai to Varanasi. As we landed in the holy city, I felt a calm silence settle in, as though Varanasi had already begun its healing.

Varanasi: A Ritual of Remembrance

Arriving in Varanasi, we were enveloped once again by the rhythm of the Ganges and the chants that drift endlessly from its ghats. The city felt timeless, offering both a stage for sacred ritual and a silent companion for grief. Walking through the ghats, I was reminded of life’s transience and the peace that can be found in letting go.

The river carried more than just the ritual offerings—it carried our love, our sorrow, and perhaps, our brother’s soul toward liberation.

Prayagraj: The Confluence of Faith

From Varanasi, we traveled to Prayagraj, where the sacred Triveni Sangam—the meeting point of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati—invites millions seeking purification. This year is the Maha Kumbh Mela which comes every 144 years. We felt blessed to be in India during this time of the year. The regular Kumbh Mela is calculated with the Sun’s movement, and it occurs every 12 years. We went to the confluence and offered prayers, letting the sacred waters wash over us in a symbolic act of release and renewal.

It was here, amid the vast waters and open skies, that I felt the enormity of life and death converge—like the rivers themselves—into something both sacred and eternal.

Gaya: Peace for the Departed

Next, we made our way to Gaya, where we continued the death anniversary rituals. The ancient Vishnupad Temple, built around the footprint of Lord Vishnu, stood in solemn grace as we prayed for our brother’s peace and journey forward. Prayed for our parents, our ancestors, relatives, and all the known and unknown departed souls.  This part of the journey brought us a quiet, profound sense of closure. Our brother’s soul had been remembered with love and devotion in one of the holiest ways possible.

Ayodhya: Hope in Devotion

 Our final destination was Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama. The city was radiant with devotion and pride, especially with the newly consecrated Sri Rama Temple standing tall as a beacon of faith and national sentiment.

We joined thousands of devotees in offering our prayers, marveling at the temple’s architecture, but more so at the emotional weight it carried—for generations had longed to see this moment. Being part of that collective devotion was humbling and healing.

In Ayodhya, amidst the chants of “Jai Shri Ram,” there was a sense of surrender—of letting go, of placing our grief in divine hands.

A Journey of Closure and Continuity

This was a journey of spiritual closure, of rituals, remembrance, and inner stillness. Through the sacred cities of Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gaya, and Ayodhya, we honored our brother and allowed our grief to find its sacred space. By doing so, it reminded us that even in loss, there is love, memory, and the enduring presence of spirit.

 

                                 PEACE ON EARTH

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