Goa's Liveliest Street Festival: San Juan

Goa. Carnival. Easter. Christmas. New Years Eve. Music Festivals. Raves. Destination weddings. That pretty much sums up an outsider’s idea of  festivities in Goa. It’s when they come in hordes. Yuppies, puppies, hippies and all the rest. The place is awash with more tourists than Goans at such times, and festivities are geared to engage the visitors. Then comes June…

Rainy, off season. Lush. Beautiful, quiet and most of all, authentic. It’s when #Goa is left to the Goans. And they take to the streets to celebrate a festival that is typical of their Portuguese heritage – San Juan, the birth of John the Baptist, the prophet who foretold the coming of Jesus, and later baptized him.

Kopel made with palm leaves and Birds of Paradise

Revellers outdoing each other with weighty Kopels made from fruits & veggies

Little girl wondering when she can eat the fruit on her head :) 

 Decorated floats pulling in to the banks of Chapora River

Check out my Kopel! 

People gathered in front of St. Anthony Church, Siolim

People first started celebrating #SanJuan or #SaintJohn in Goa for over 150 years ago. Believers from various villages first started gathering at #Siolim (North Goa), in front of the St Anthony Church to celebrate this day. Soon the festivities gathered momentum and decorated boats would row up the Chapora River, much to the delight of the revelers. More and more people converged over the years and the revelry became more wide scale. Slowly, local influences seeped in and in addition to Saint John, the festival also became a celebration of the #monsoon and Mother Nature.

It is on this one day, June 24, that the picturesque villages suddenly burst alive with color. People, young and old, can be seen milling around on scooties, cycles, on foot and in cars. Many wear funky handmade headgears called #Kopel, made with local fruits, vegetables, twigs, leaves or anything that comes from nature and grows in the rain. It’s a test of ones creativity and each person does splendid job. These are always made, never sold.

                              

St Anthony Church, where the first San Juan celebrations in Goa took place over 150 years ago

Red & Yellow! 

 Local boy posing with Portuguese femme fatales

 One the participating teams in a float/ boat competition

 People gathering to watch the floats at Chapora River

Three generations of a family celebrating together

People gather in villages and move in groups from house to house, jumping in people’s wells and then collecting bags of goodies. Some torch straw dummies representing the baptism of Saint John and the death of sin. There’s nothing serious about the affair. The party is a celebration of the sacred and the profane. It’s all about fun, games, laughter, bonhomie and good times.  There is plenty of music, singing, dancing, and endless consumption of #feni.  Anyone can join in. As the day progresses, various groups make their way to Siolim or other similar places where concerts, food, friendly boat races, and competitions such as Best Kopel & Miss Rain Queen await them!

Cut from the same cloth :) 

 Mamma Mia

 Kopel/ Headgear that matches the shirt

 Flaming flowers from the tree

 Mom & daughter with an entire orchard on their heads

Floats pulling over at the Chapora River

San Juan is most definitely Goa’s liveliest street festival, yet it remains quite unknown outside of Goa. And one can only be grateful for that. If you get the chance, try to experience it before too many people get wind of it. And steer clear of the San Juan celebrations organised inside hotels. Just talk to the locals and join a group of merrymakers. They are very welcoming. Or get on the streets and follow the happy, party loving crowd with crazy headgears. Do carry your own #feni and contribute to the kitty if asked. To feel more at home, make your own headgear (see images for ideas) and wear it with your brightest clothes. Enjoy. Live. Laugh. And party!

All content and image Copy Rights Reserved by Bindiya Murgai & Soul Sherpa

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 72

Have a Healthy Outlet

Here’s an odd fact -- Many people with well paying jobs, great careers, beautiful families and fancy homes end up being depressed or breaking down mentally and physically. They take on too much and don’t have a healthy outlet for their fears, failures (real or perceived), nerves, insecurities and struggles. Eventually, these repressed demons raise their head and pull them down. On the other hand, the happiest people have a healthy outlet. They were considerate, humane, possess a rich sense of humour, and are often involved with a routine physical activity. So in order to be happy, it’s important to develop a healthy outlet like committing to helping others, lightening up, laughing more, playing a sport or doing yoga.

 Read more #100RulesOfHappiness on #SoulSherpa

Serenity Prayer : Say it everyday or when the times get tough!

This is a short and simple prayer, that can be said by anyone, irrespective of your religious or spiritual beliefs. Simple as it may be, if said regularly  it is immensely powerful.

As the name suggests -- this prayer brings peace and serenity to your being. Try it. Will only take  a few moments. Feel free to say it anywhere. At any time. And as frequently as you like.

Photo: Susanne Nilsson

#SerenityPrayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change,

The courage to change the things I can...

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Remind yourself of all the miraculous in the mundane, and struggle hard not to get too far ahead of where you are.

Yesterday is the past,

Tomorrow is yet to come

The only thing you really have is today

Start with the now

Do what you need to do for today

And tomorrow will be better than yesterday.

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 71

Create unconditional compassion for yourself…

That leads naturally to unconditional #compassion for others. If you are willing to stand fully in your own shoes and never give up on yourself, then you will be able to put yourself in the shoes of others and never give up on them. True compassion does not come from wanting to help those less fortunate than yourself, but from realizing your kinship with all beings.

                               Read more #100RulesOfHappiness on #SoulSherpa

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 70

Find your ‘flow’ 

People are said to be happiest when they are in a state of #flow. But what does that mean? Flow is a state where you are completely absorbed in a meaningful activity, that challenges your abilities, especially your creative ones. It’s an optimal experience during which you feel strong, alert, in effortless control, unselfconscious, and at the peak of their abilities. So watching TV does not count. In fact, it is proven to produce some of the lowest levels of happiness. Flow-producing activities could include active leisure, but they usually require an initial investment of attention before they become enjoyable. So to it’s important to do some thinking. Find your flow and cultivate it.

#Psychologist #Csíkszentmihályi has identified 10 experiences that go with the state of being in flow, and these could help you identify yours:

1.Having a clear understanding of what you want to achieve.

2.Being able to concentrate for a sustained period of time.

3.Losing the feeling of consciousness of one's self.

4.Finding that time passes quickly.

5.Getting direct and immediate feedback.

6.Experiencing a balance between your ability levels, and the challenge.

7.Having a sense of personal control over the situation.

8.Feeling that the activity is intrinsically rewarding.

9.Lacking awareness of bodily needs.

10. Being completely absorbed in the activity itself.

Remember that all of these factors and experiences don't necessarily have to be in place for flow to happen. But you're likely to experience many of them when flow occurs.

Csíkszentmihályi has also identified 3 things that must be present if you want to enter a state of flow:

1.Goals – #Goals add motivation and structure to what you're doing. Whether you're learning a new piece of music or creating a presentation, you must be working towards a goal to experience flow.

2.Balance – There must be a good #balance between your perceived skill and the perceived challenge of the task. If one of these weighs more heavily than the other, flow probably won't occur.

3.Feedback – You must have clear, immediate #feedback, so that you can make changes and improve your performance. This can be feedback from other people, or the awareness that you're making progress with the task.

Read more #100RulesOfHappiness on #SoulSherpa

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 69

Surround yourself with happy people.

#Happiness is a very contagious condition, so make the effort to surround yourself with happy and positive people. They can lift your spirits and make you more optimistic. You may also end up  smiling and laughing a lot more around happy people, thus leading to a surge in your “happy” hormones. Being with happy people can also have a positive impact on your overall disposition and perspective in the long term. On the other hand, unhappy people can make you pessimistic, pull your spirits down, feed on your energy, and make you see the downside of everything. So it’s important you chose your company well…choose the happies :)

 Photo: Spirit Fire

Read more #100RulesOfHappiness on #SoulSherpa

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 68

Improve your mental hygiene. 

Creating a healthy and hygienic mental environment means clearing your mind of clutter, negative thoughts, patterns, feelings and behaviors. May sound like a lot of work, but just as a man riding a giant and powerful elephant can learn to control it, you too can learn to control your thoughts by choosing them more deliberately and with care.    Stop #NegativeThoughts the moment they start to arise. Say no to them and immediately replace them with a positive thought. May seem like a forced effort in the beginning, but soon it will start to flow naturally. Similarly, avoid speaking ill of people, stop yourself from repeating #NegativePatterns, behaviors and indulging in #BadHabits – and replace each of them with a more useful or positive statement, thought or action.

Image: Daribol 

Read more #100RulesOfHappiness on #SoulSherpa

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 67

Plan your finances better & live within your means.

Financial stress and pressure can become a huge impediment on the path to happiness. To get this out of the way, start managing your finances better right now. Live within your means, whatever they may be. Which means no overspending and actively avoiding debt.  Here are few tips -- Freeze credit cards or use them only as an emergency back-up. Pay bills on time to avoid penalties. Simplify your life. Consume less. Look for better deals. Never spend more to keep up with others or appearances. Make a monthly budget and stick to it. Withdraw cash and allocate in envelopes according to your budget, and only spend from there. If you are taking a car or house loan, don’t get carried away and buy a fancier house or car than needed. Consider staying on rent. It often makes much more financial sense. Spend according to what you earn now, not what you will earn a few months or years from now. And no matter what happens, SAVE for an emergency fund.

Photo: 401kcalculator

Read more #100RulesOfHappiness on #SoulSherpa

Varanasi: India's Oldest Living City

Benaras, Kashi or #Varanasi as it’s now called, is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities on the planet, dating back to the 11th or 12th Century BC. Lord #Shiva is said to have made it this permanent abode and that is what became its initial claim-to-fame. Finding another city with greater antiquity, combined with uninterrupted ancient traditions, distinction and reputation, is perhaps an impossible task.

Today, Varanasi is popularly known as India’s Religious Capital and jugular of holy places. #Hinduism, #Buddhism and #Jainism, all ascribe it vital importance in the spiritual journey. The fact that its strongest association remains with Hinduism is because it is the oldest religion of the land, and one from whose womb all other Indian religions were born. 

Photo: Claude Renault

A Sacred City & The Holy River

Banaras is to Hindus what #Mecca is to #Muslims or #Vatican to #Catholics. This ancient dwelling was built around what the Hindus believe is the River of Life and Redemption. The #Ganges, the embodiment of life and purity. Its waters are said to wash away ones sins and purify any body they touch. This holy nectar, is revered as the mother who answers all prayers and liberates the soul from samsara, the ongoing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. She bears a double-edged power of a living and transforming symbol, encompassing the entire circle of existence in one sweeping wave. These waters represent life in its entirety.

Photo: Claude Renault

What makes the Ganga exceptionally revered in Varanasi

The #Ganga flows through a vast expanse of India, but it’s here that it gains extraordinary spiritual momentum. Its powers get mystically turbo charged because of an exceptional natural deviation -- its course towards the #BayOf Bengal suddenly turns north! This unique directional change and its flow from south to north is symbolic of the life cycle, starting from death. 

Photo: Claude Renault

Epitome of the Circle of Life

Varanasi is a far cry from the new-age, modern India. Elaborate and ancient ritual traditions of Hinduism still run in its pulsating veins. The presence of the Divine is everywhere. Life and death are seen as an integrated whole, with the entire circle of life, from birth to death, vividly depicted along the ghats. 

All the significant rituals in the life of a Hindu take place by the banks of this holy river. Babies are brought here or their #naamkaran or #Christening ceremonies. Mothers from across the country come to pray for the well being of their children. Those who can't have any, come to ask the Holy Mother for her blessing to have a baby.

Photo: Claude Renault

#Sanyasis ( people who have renounced a materialistic and familial life) gather here by the river to continue their lives as homeless wayfarers. Widows from orthodox Hindu families come here to take refuge in the temples by the river. Masses of people come on pilgrimages. Some come to commit the ashes of their deceased to the River Ganges, in order to improve their next life. Others move here in their old age or in times of terminal illness -- they wish to die in Kashi, as it’s said to end the pilgrimage of this life, and all lives, by #LiberatingTheSoul from rebirth. 

Photo: Claude Renault

The Ancient City at Dawn

"Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together"

#MarkTwain

There are few places in India as traditionally Hindu and as symbolic of the whole Hindu culture as Benaras. All else turns pale when compared with the sun-kissed splendor of the riverfront at dawn. Especially around the ghats, where the temples, shrines, ashrams and pavilions stretch along the river for over three miles, glowing in the molten gold light.  Standing here, it’s easy to understand how the city got it ancient name, Kashi - the #LuminousCity.  

Photo: Claude Renault

The first rays of light in Varanasi reveal a deep sense of the whole of #Hindu #India, in one sweeping glance. Long flights of stone steps or ghats, crawl like roots into the river, leading thousands of worshippers and pilgrims down to its holy waters to bathe. Some are old and feeble, weary with life’s long journeys, emaciated by maladies and saddened from losses and troubles. Well or ill, young or old, robust or sickly, they stand, breast deep in the cold river, taking the water and cupping it in their hands as an offering to their ancestors and the gods. They treat the river pretty much like a deity, softly confessing their sins, asking for forgiveness, and offerings her flowers, fruits and tiny little oil lamps. 

Photo: Claude Renault

In the backdrop, one can see students of all ages practicing yogic exercises, breath control, or meditational disciplines, and local body builders or pahalwaans practicing their muscular feats. Often one can also see classical Inidan musicians doing their #Riyaz by the river. It’s truly a sight like no other.

Photo: Claude Renault

One City. Many Names

Varanasi as a city is so old, lively, and diverse that perhaps one name alone would not have been sufficient to capture its spirit. It’s really no surprise then that this city gathered numerous name with the meanderings of time.  Its most popular and widely used names are Banaras and Kashi. The latter is perhaps its oldest and most spiritually significant one that also finds several mentions in the ancient Hindu scriptures, the #Puranas and #Rig Veda. ‘Kashi’ is derived from the word ‘luminous’ and was referred to as the seat of learning. Its other names include of are Brahmavardha, Anandakanana, Avimuktaka, Mahasmasana, Sudarsana, Surandhana and Ramya. 

Varanasi is currently the official name recognized by the Government of India. This name probably originated from the names of the two river tributaries , Varuna and Assi. 

Photo: Claude Renault

Legend and History

According to Hindus, Banaras is the #CenterOfTheEarth as the place of creation and gathers the whole scared universe in a single symbolic circle, a #mandala. Kashi is said to sit above the earth as a ‘crossing place’ or #tirtha between the earth and the transcendent universe. It sits by the banks of a river that’s an earthly manifestation of Lord’s Shiva’s active energy – the Ganga -- exemplified in Hinduism as a goddess and a mother, resplendent with divinity. According to mythological legend, she descended from heaven and is the only river to have been touched by the #HolyTrinity of #Brahma, #Vishnu and #Shiva, and is therefore the #HoliestRiverOnEarth. 

Photo: Claude Renault

Varanasi found an important place in India’s most ancient scriptures such as the Puranas, #Upanishads and #Vedas. It also played its role in the greatest Indian epics – the #Ramayana and #Mahabharata. The #Pandavas, the heros of the latter, came here in search of Lord Shiva. 

For over 3000 years, Banaras has attracted pilgrims and seekers from all over India and the world. Great sages and saints such as #Buddha, #Mahavira and #Shankara came here to teach. Ever since, thousands of young people have come here to study the Vedas, #Yoga, #Ayurveda, #IndianClassicalMusic and various other ancient forms of knowledge and wisdom from the city’s learned teachers. 

Photo: Claude Renault

Birthplace of Buddhism

Kashi is a place of immense sacred significance for Buddhists from across the world. It is one of the four most sacred places for Buddhists. The other three sacred places being #Lumbini in #Nepal, where #SiddharthaGautama was born and lived till he was 29. #BodhGaya in #Bihar (India) where he attained enlightenment. And #Kushinagar in #UttarPradesh (India) where he left his physical body and attained pari-nirvana (the ultimate state of nirvana) and samsara (freedom from rebirth). However, it was here, in #Sarnath (Kashi), that #GautamaBuddha delivered his first sermon, and set in motion the “Wheel of  Dharma”, making it the birth of Buddhism. 

The holy place where the voice of Buddhism was first heard, is marked by the #DhammekaStupa, originally laid by the #EmperorAshoka in 249 BC. Till today, Buddhists, from different parts of world, come to circumambulate the sacred stupa and commemorate the original lecture of Gautama Buddha.

Photo: Claude Renault

Sacred Land for Jains

#Jainism is an important Indian religion that has several holy sites in different parts of the country. Varanasi happens to be one such place of special historical significance for the #Jains. Four of the Jain #Tirthankaras were born here, including #Parshvanatha, in the 8th century BC and Mahavira in the 6th century BC. A Tirthankara is a human being who helps in achieving liberation and enlightenment. There are several sites and temples of  importance to the Jains that dot this land. Among them the #BachrajGhat (also called the #JainGhat), is on the banks of the Ganga, and is close to the birthplace of the seventh Jain Tirthankara . Visiting this Ghat along with the three Jain temples here, is a vital pilgrimage in any Jain pilgrim’s spiritual progress. 

Photo: Claude Renault

There are various other belief systems, practices and things of immense interest that flourish in Varanasi, by the spiritualty and culturally fertile banks of the Ganga. I shall write abut them in my future posts on #SoulSherpa, as trying to pack them all in one post will be gross injustice. Till then, let me leave you with an apt quote from India’s first Prime Minister, #JawaharlalNehru, who despite his well-known scientific temperament wanted a handful of his ashes to be scattered in the Ganga. He encapsulated the essence  of the river beautifully, “The Ganga, especially, is the river of India, beloved of her people, round which are intertwined her racial memories, her hopes and fears, her songs of trials, her victories and defeats. She has been a symbol of India’s age long culture and civilization. Ever changing, ever flowing and yet ever the same, Ganga.” The River Of life.

Photo: Claude Renault

This is the first in a series of articles on #SoulSherpa about Varanasi, as it's impossible to grasp all its layers in just one post. This city has been a part of my spiritual journey and learnings. It is a fascinating place, where all is no what it seems. Many parallel universes and undercurrents exist here -- the holy, the unholy, the mundane, morbid and the profane. Yet, there is undoubtedly no other place in the world that manages the business of life and death as matter-of-factly as Benaras. It changed something in my internal ecosystem. It taught me many important spiritual lessons, and the greatest learnings just crept in very quietly.

For this post, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to #ClaudeRenault, whose images I have used here. Claude is an amazing French photographer who has captured the world and much of India through his stunning images. As an Indian, I have seen countless images of Varanasi -- it is after all a photographer's paradise -- a photo opp at every corner. Yet there are few images that have stood out and lingered with me, the way Claude's images have. He has a distinct style, voice and narrative. And I noticed an honesty and rare sensitivity in how he has captured his subjects. He has a special eye. You can see more of his work at http://www.clauderenault.com

 All Rights Reserved By Soul Sherpa

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 66

Own yourself. 

Accept yourself with all your good, bad and ugly. Embrace and accept your past, present, personality, looks, strengths, weaknesses, mistakes, shortcomings, quirks, blind spots, and everything else that comprises the whole called YOU.  Work on being comfortable in your own skin and stop worrying about what people think of you. Your only concern should be what you think of yourself, and how much you like yourself. Don't apologize for something which is a part of you, like your personality, looks, talent (or lack of it), likes or dislikes.  Wear what you want, express your thoughts without fear of judgment, and follow what feels right to you. Be the only one to own yourself, and do so with confidence, joy and pride.

Photo: Key Foster

Read more #100RulesOfHappiness on #SoulSherpa

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 65

Your past is a school. Not a club!

Don’t hang around your past like it’s a club and you, its loyal member.  Instead, think of it as your school. Learn your lessons, remember them well, graduate and move on. Just like you don’t keep visiting and spending time in your school after you pass out, don’t keep revisiting and hanging around in your past. Simply apply your “education” to design and create a better future.  

Photo: Nomad Tales

Read more #100RulesOfHappiness on #SoulSherpa

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 64

Don’t Hoard! Experience. Enjoy :)

That great outfit, the fine wine, the beautiful crockery, the crisp linen, the expensive perfume --- don’t just hoard them. Take them out right now and use them. Enjoy them. Don’t save them for others or for another day. They are your things and you should be the one getting the most pleasure from them.  Same with money. Don’t just keep saving. Spend some on a holiday to a great new place. Indulge in a thrilling adventure or something else that will bring you joy. Go on – open those cupboards or loosen the purse strings. Start enjoying life because #happiness can’t be hoarded.   

Read more #100RulesOfHappiness on #SoulSherpa

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 63

If you enjoy something, do it more often!

Sounds obvious and outrageously simple? Well, think about all things you really enjoy and how often you end up doing them. It may be hanging out with a dear friend, reading a book, watching movies, #trekking, visiting an #ArtShow, or just about anything else that pleases you greatly. Now, think about all the things you don’t enjoy and how often you land up doing them anyway. Like being stuck at boring events and parties, unhappily accompanying your partner for something you have no interest in, performing tedious chores etc. Think of how you can find smart ways of “saving” time from the hours spend on these activities. And instead, “invest” this time in things you enjoy. #Happiness lies in the little pleasures of life. Go gather them. #Enjoy them!

Read more #100RulesOfHappiness on #SoulSherpa

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 62

Don’t stew in your guilt. Deal with it.

Guilt is a wonderful thing for society, because it keeps it in check. You can use it to re-examine your behavior, catalyze positive action or paralyze you. Appropriate guilt is useful in making amends for wrongs. But, unfounded, misplaced, excessive or extended #guilt can be #SelfDestructive. It can create unhappiness, resentment and #depression. It’s important you deal with guilt in a constructive manner and move on. 

1. Recognize your guilt, its cause and purpose
2. Make amends or changes as soon as possible
3. Learning from your behaviors
4. Accept you did something wrong, ask for #forgiveness
5. Forgive yourself, and move on

Read more #100RulesOfHappiness on #SoulSherpa

100 Rules of Happiness: Rule 61

Don’t take love for granted!

Almost all of us are guilty of taking our partner for granted, at least when it comes to expressing our #Love. You probably assume your  partner already know it, and maybe she or he does, but you need to do that tiny bit extra to show it. To remind him or her how special they are, and to remind yourself how lucky you are to have someone you love and who loves you back. Not everyone has that, you know! Even if your love doesn’t give you the heady rush anymore, even if it’s not the kind of love that sparked fireworks in your body, or lived up to your every expectation – it is still love! Express it in little ways. By giving your beloved a flower picked off the roadside, a foot massage, fixing a plate of comfort food on a down day, a hug for no reason or topping the coffee with a creamy heart.  

Read more #100RulesOf Happiness on #SoulSherpa