Kachchh trip by KOJAIN Youths 2003-3004

____________________Comments By: Rashmi Chheda of New Jersey__________________

The train ride from Mumbai to Kutch marked the beginning of our journey. It was a transition from the noisy, polluted, and busy streets of Mumbai, to the more peaceful, serene and cultivated grasslands of Kutch. From the moment we set foot on the Ghandhidam train station, we received a warm welcome from the people of Kutch. Their hospitality varied from the freshly made tea delivered to our cenetorium to the door to door car service. As we made our way into each village, people were willing to take time out of their busy lives to show us around and share the rich history behind each place. Of the many places we saw one of my most memorable experiences was the visit to Panjra Pole, an animal hospital located in Pragpur. We first visited the museum that put the hospital's purpose in perspective. The caretaker had a creative way to effectively convey the museum's message through the use of poetic language rather than formal speech. The museum's purpose was to make people conscience of how actions such as littering affect the well being of animals and what safety measures are needed for them to live a healthy life. Behind the museum was the hospital where the animals were being treated and nurtured back to health. As we took a walk through the open field, we came across animals that were blind, had missing limbs or were permanently ill. These sites were so horrific that they left a permanent imprint in my mind. Nevertheless, I was able to take back an unforgettable memory, something that can't be explained in words.

But more than the tours of the museums, palaces, and meditation centers, I enjoyed learning about and being a part of the daily Kutch life. Each morning we would wake up, warm up the water on the stove and then take turns to shower. For ten days, I got a chance to experience how my mom and dad used to live when they were growing up. Bajari rotlas were served daily for breakfast and khichdi for dinner, items that were a part of my parents' daily diet. Later in the week, I went to visit my dad's village to see our house and where he grew up. The funny part was that the ride to Rayan was more exciting that the actual village. I traveled in a riksha, filled with twelve people tightly squished together. Luckily, I was sitting at the end with a clear view of the surroundings. With the riksha driving only twenty miles per hours, I caught glimpses of the Kutchi locals' ongoing daily activities. I observed three women washing clothes in a nearby river while another three women were carrying water back to their home, carefully walking to balance the matkas on their head. In the far distance, was a herd of sheep headed by a shepard boy who could have been no more than twelve years old. Further up the road, I saw a family waiting patiently for a ride, hoping that someone would stop and give them a lift to the next village. As we were approaching Rayan, there was an open field where the village boys were playing cricket. Upon entering Rayan I felt uneasy, not seeing any familiar faces. However, once I introduced myself as the granddaughter of Hansbai Chheda, villagers came to greet me and directed me to my house. The best part about Kutch is that within a five minute conversation, you can find a connection between complete strangers.

Above all, the most auspicious place to find a tightly woven community is our Derasar. One day of our trip was devoted to "Panch Tirtha", a pilgrimage to the five most famous Derasars of Kutch. We went to the villages of Nalia, Suthri, Jakhau, Sandham, and Kotara. In the afternoon, I watched a man carve a design into a five by nine inch block of marble with intense concentration, a days worth of work. It was amazing to see how a solid piece of marble transformed into a magnificent piece of artwork. While the structure, architecture, design, and color of each Derasar can be vividly depicted in a photograph, the ambiance cannot be reproduced. The peaceful surroundings chased away any lingering thoughts and cleared my mind. There was a light breeze and calmness filled the air. I felt content to simply sit and enjoy the structures' beauty.

Kutch is a beautiful place to visit and is not only limited to the three places mentioned above. It has become a recent Bollywood attraction and much attention is drawn to the India and Pakistan border. Ten days are more than enough to visit the tourist sites but it is not sufficient to experience the life. There is so much more to know about Kutch's people, culture, and history that I have yet to discover. Although this has been my second visit to Kutch, it had been my most memorable experience. I encourage more people to participate in this trip and make it a yearly tradition.