AANANDA HOLIDAYS - Key Persons
Adi Shankaracharya, was a philosopher and theologian who is known to have lived in the early 8th century. He was one of the most renowned scholars and researchers who propogated the Advaita philosophy. He is accepted to have gotten Moksha at the town of Kedarnath and his Samadhi or Tomb is situated close to the Kedarnath temple.
The Aarti of the Ganges is a delightful experience, a treat for both the eyes and the soul. The spot in the Ganges where the ceremony takes place is called the Har - Ki - Pauri. The Ganga Aarti is typically a 40 minute ceremony which begins at approximately 6:30 p.m. everyday. Thousands of pilgrims throng the banks of the holy Ganga to witness and participate in this unique and beautiful ceremony that has a religious fervor to it. It is estimated that on any given day, an average of around 60,000 pilgrims and devotees are present for the ceremony.
The Holy Ganges is considered to be auspicious and is revered for her Purity. A mere dip in the holy river is said to wash off the sins of the individual and to cleanse the soul. The river has been worshipped since ages as per the Hindu tradition and thousands of devotees pay their respects to the river. The Aarti begins with a group of priests getting ready to recite the mantras. They set the background initially by explaining the significance of the ceremony and highlighting how the river is worship worthy. The life lessons around karma that one can draw from the flowing Ganges are also explained. After around 15 minutes of explanation the Aarti begins with the mantras being recited in Sanskrit and the beautiful bhajans that are truly heart warming play in the background along with the sound of bells, the diyas whose flames color the river waters a bright shining golden.The entire sight is awe- inspiring for the spectator who is overwhelmed by the strong vibes and feel of the place. The atmosphere is charged with a religious fervor and is very colorful and alive.
Numerous Babas and Sadhus claiming to have acquired supernatural powers are seen seated along the banks in the different ghats and participate in the Aarti. There are speccial seating places for the temple priests and major donors. The entire Aarti is managed and sponsored by the temple trust who manage and oversee the day to day activities and invite devotees and pilgrims to donate generously. Men clad in blue who are appointed by the trust go around during the ceremony offering receipts to the donors and acknowledging their contributions to support the Aarti.
Small diyas made up of dried leaves with a wick and matchbox and incese sticks are available for sale, which are lit up by the devotees, onlookers and pilgrims and floated in the river. As soon as the Aarti concludes the river transforms into a beautiful sight complete with floating diyas and lights all over.
Naini Lake is the most appealingly lovely natural freshwater lake, situated in the midst of Nainital city of Uttarakhand and the lake offers photographic views and a soulfully delightful experience. It's the Naini Lake after which the hill station has been named. The lake is formed in the middle of the mountain slopes thus adding to its magnificence and beauty. As indicated by a legend, the lake started to be the point at which the eye of Sati's body dropped out while Lord Shiva was carrying her across. The Naini lake which forms a lunar shaped crescent is the main lake around which the entire city of Nainithal has sprung up. The lake offers several water sport activities for tourists and transforms into a happening entertainment destination in the evenings. The early mornings and late evenings are more serene and calm allowing space for self reflection. Several inns - resorts and stay options near the lake make it a favoured destination.
Santala Devi Temple is situated at a distance of around 15 km from Dehradun. Explorers can reach the temple by bus till Jaitunwala, and from that point, it is a 2 km drive to Punjabiwala. From Punjabiwala, explorers need to trek around 2 km to achieve the temple. According to historical proof , when Santala Devi and her sibling understood that they would not have the capacity to battle the Mughals, they discarded their weapons and began to implore. All of a sudden, a light gleamed on them two, and they transformed into stone symbols. Temple is thronged by devotees on Saturdays, as it is accepted that nowadays stamp the change of Santala Devi into a stone statue.
Satish Sharma - Satish was raised in the mountains of the Kumaon region of Himalayas and hence has an inherent love for nature. He was educated in an ashram run Sanskriti school which ensured his deep rooted understanding of the Hindu religion and its teachings. He started working as a tour guide since 2004 and has since met thousands of people from across the world and interacted with them.
Vikas Agrawal - Vikas is the finance & accounts head of Aananda holidays having more than 12 years of experience working with MNCs. He is a very honest and hardworking professional keen to make a difference by always putting his best.