A 31 km comfortable cruise aboard a cool cab booked by Mr Cherla worked wonders and we landed in Swaminarayan Akshardham reflects the essence and magnitude of India's ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spirituality.
The best thing that happens to you when you reach Akshardham is that they take away your mobile phones and cameras. So you spend the next 4 hours ENJOYING life.
Usually we fritter away these wonderful moments , trying to capture a perfect selfie for Facebook with potential of generating100 likes and 50 comments. With a sense of urgeny, we put on the mantle of a Dhirubhai Ambani and keep checking our emails as if the refineries would stop if we didnt. We keep checking those Whatsapp status as if all our groups would collapse if we didnt
So we spent the 4 hours ENJOYING life as humans and not photgraphers, avid chatters and faking CEOs :) :) :) . Trust me it was a huge takeway from the evening.
Dhwani and Shravan (Srini's son) were the show stoppers for the evening, capturing the entire attention.
We did spend a 100 bucks for the picture above ( Height of FB addiction)
Swamiji awaited in his peaceful pose to welcome us. We kind of got mesmerised by the radiance on the face and the tranquility in the air. We then visited a museum where Swaimji's relics are so carefully preserved- from his nails to his hair, from his jap mala to the reins of his horse.
Joyous rides on a few jhulas, some shopping of memoirs,ayurvedic stuff and and food items kept the momentum alive till 730 when the most awaited part started
On offer was a spectacular show
on water screen using effects of fire, sound laser, water and video. It’s the first
of its kind immersive show — a fusion of high-end technology and India’s
cultural heritage —on a water screen primarily consisting of water droplets
We were kept engrossed in the
insightful conversation between nine-year-old Nachiketa and lord of death Yama.
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In the latter’s abode, they talk about eternity, life after death and the three worlds.
What else could a mind desire in
a span of 60 minutes? Use of colourful lights and high-powered projectors (use
of 4,000 nozzles, 2,000 lights, over 100 pumps and twelve fireball throwers ) helped
in depicting a ghostly atmosphere with anacondas squirming at the gate of
death, spikes coming from nowhere to kill the child, dancing demons, fire,
volcanic eruptions and lightning — all on the water screen as the location
shifted from hell to heaven and cosmos. Apart from the apsaras, the bantering
between the kid and ghosts, rainbows, flora and fauna, cartoon characters,
demons, colourful fish and butterflies seemed like flying straight out of
crayon paintings. They made circular movements on the water droplets around the
boy as Yama enticed him with the lure of heaven, wealth and all worldly
pleasures.
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Akshardhaam Temple and Swamiji, you have captivated our hearts
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