India- The elixir of Life-First of the Two part series

Traversing Kerala

According to the Hindu mythology, lord Vishnu appeared as an enchantress who stole amrita: the elixir of life from the asuras, and passed it to the devas protecting their immortality. This legend in essence is the bane of my pining soul. Having crossed 8,438 miles in search of happiness and independence, I find my eternal elixir tucked away in this intriguing, and paradoxical nation- India. I have been fortunate enough to travel the lengths of this country at different times in my life. From the breathtaking peaks of the Himalayas in the North to the sangamam of the three seas in Kanyakumari in the Southern most tip, I have felt raptured and overwhelmed all at the same time.  Diversity is such an intrinsic fabric of the nation that sometimes one needs to stop and appreciate the scenes for they may go unnoticed. This is exactly what I did this vacation

Traveling from US to India via Abu Dhabi with my little one was no less than a herculean task. Yet the palpable tension seemed within bounds. Experience makes one wiser, and to me the mere four hour flight was a frivolous exercise in time. We landed in God’s own country, Kerala on sep 26,2010. It is a land still pristine thanks to the years of communist reign, which I might add could well be a blessing in disguise. The breathtaking greenery of Kerala is in a way an anti climax to the rest of the nation forging ahead at a breakneck speed.

My road trips here often led to the discovery of vast expanses of mystical lands wrapped in innumerable Hindu temples.  They were not merely places of worship but also immaculate structures of architectural delights. Tilting roofs paid homage to deities ensconced by brilliantly lit vellakus. In an ethereal setting, it was fascinating to hear the stories surrounding these surreal idols. Each of the temples deemed to have a specific purpose in life. And every tradition,ritual, practice reinforced the power of belief.  As the deities harbingered landmarks in our lives, I felt galvanized. That to me was an enthralling spiritual experience. And through the myriad visits to the holy places, I garnered my bonuses. My mantra was the enlightenment of the soul, which I got in ample doses.

An enlightened mind seeks a rejuvenated body, which led me to the discovery of Ayurvedic bliss in Kerala. There were plenty of ayur clinics to tantalize my palette. Alias my troubled limbs, I paid my perfunctory visit to one such centre. Nestled in a crowded by lane, it was a cocoon of sorts for me. In a no-fancy room, equipped with basic amenities, the massage was pure luxury. The use of medicated oils and the rhythmic massage moments rejuvenated my spirits. In the days to follow, my steps felt lighter and my mind chirpier.

I was also on the verge of making yet another cultural discovery: watching and understanding kathakali. Like everything else in Kerala, this masterpiece is shrouded in mystery and benightedness. It is not easy to find performances, let alone understand the nuances of this intricate art form. Finally I did get a taste of it from the Cochin art center. We were introduced briefly into this ancient art form. Backstage we witnessed the dancers slipping into their avatars. Make-up made of vegetable dyes was applied on their faces.  And literally these mortal men were transforming into something else. When we were finally introduced to the artists, they had metamorphosed into ethereal creatures. Donning mammoth costumes, the kathakali dancer rocked the stage. His intricate eyes moments; hand gestures and effortless dancing took me to an alternate world. In hindsight, it was mindboggling to think the years that these dancers must have taken to master this extreme art form.

Amidst the cultural regenesis, Kerala has given me an unforgettable treasure. I came to discover my lineage in yet another adventurous journey. I paid homage to my grandfather’s abode tucked away in the remote corner of Haripad.To my utter disbelief the house was as he had left it some six decades ago. I was fascinated to see the house my grandfather had lived throughout his childhood and adult years. This house that lay witness to the trails that my family went through, will firmly be etched in my memory. So here I was discovering Kerala in all her true colors. The trip summed up by boat rides on the still backwaters, visits to kovils, and discovery of ancient art forms has been an enriching learning experience. As I lay witness to the cultural resplendence of a city on the throngs of economic boom, I daresay Kerala truly is “God’s Own Country”