A trip to Nirmal Dham and Ganga Ashram (India, Oct 2019)

This trip wasn't originally planned.  It wasn't in our travel schedule for this year as for year 2019, we have only planned to go China in February and Singapore in May and these were planned back in 2018.

A conversation with few yogis later initiated a desire inside me to go and to bring our little girl who is 3 this year to go as well.  It would be her first trip ever and our first family trip to India.

You see, my last trip to India was 10 years ago, in Nov 2009, in Belapur, Navi Mumbai.  My husband's last trip to India was also 10 years ago, in Oct 2009, in Belapur, Navi Mumbai.  That time we were not married and we didn't know each other's existence.

I have been wanting so much to visit Nirmal Dham since 2011.  And then after hearing stories from yogis who visited Ganga Ashram, wanted so much to go there as well.  But so far nothing materialised as my leave was limited and there were so many plans on our plate, from getting married to getting pregnant and having a child.  Probably the desire was not that strong too and financially was not permitting.

3 months prior
In July 2019, we finally decided to just go ahead and book the tickets.  Without thinking so much of whether leave will be ok or whether financially will be sufficient.  We just booked once everyone confirmed going.

2 months prior
In August 2019, we went to apply for the Indian visa.  Because my husband is from China, we were concerned about his visa application.  That's why we went a bit earlier than others.  And everything went well.  Both me and our girl got 1 year visa while husband got  3 months visa.

1 month prior
The accommodation and the transportation was finally confirmed.  

10 days prior
Our little girl had a big cut on her foot that required 3 stitches.  

7 days prior
Every single day, I was out shopping during my lunch time to buy this and that for our trip, especially since I wasn't too sure if our girl was healing properly, just in case, I bought a first aid kit and loaded it with gauze, iodine and bandages.  Also was hunting for a luggage bag where she can sit on it while we push her through the airport so that we don't have to bring a stroller.

5 days prior
Our dog of 13 years old passed away peacefully.

2 days prior
Our girl's stitches were removed and it seems the wound is healing pretty well.  We made her footsoaked and the salt water did wonders and dried the wound nicely.

On the day of our flight - Day 1
My husband fell off the motorcycle just few hours prior to us taking the bus to the airport.  Though he was not badly injured, but he has cuts, bruises and skin abrasions on his arm, leg and chin.  The first aid kit that I packed for our girl was suddenly so useful for him.  It seems like a lot of obstacles before our pilgrimage.


We arrived at Nirmal Dham after 5.5 hours of flight and 20 minutes of taxi ride.  By the time we reached, it was almost 11pm.  We meditated a short time at Shri Mataji's samadhi place and then get ready to sleep for the night.

Day 2
We left for Ganga Ashram at 4.30am as the journey is about 9 hours on the road.  







After 2 hours of winding road and car sickness (for me), we finally arrived at Ganga Ashram.  This was the view that greeted us.







We arrived just in time for lunch and after lunch, we unpacked before going down to the river for footsoaking.  The water was cold and the weather was cool.  Then after we rested for a bit, it was time for dinner.  The food was so yummy.


By 6pm, the sky is already dark.  After dinner, we had the evening collective meditation and listened to Shri Mataji's talk.  Can you see the praying mantis praying to Shri Mataji?


We ended the night after listening to some beautiful stories by Aunty Leela (caretaker of Ganga Ashram).

Day 3
We woke up at 5am for meditation.  By 6am, the sun has already risen.  Then we walked for 2km (one way) to see the 'beach'.  







The sand was so soft and clean.  There were donkeys collecting these for construction purposes.  The stones were so beautifully formed and colourful.






At 10am, Aunty Leela guided and did the treatment/cleansing by the River Ganga with all of us.  Here we invoked Shri Ganga Mata's name to clean all our past karmas and all problems and ancestors problems or issues and to surrender entirely to Shri Mataji.  

After the treatment, felt so cleared and joyful.  After lunch we had a snooze and then it was time for dinner.


After dinner, all of a sudden, our little girl decided to do an impromptu dance, without being told or anyone telling her to do.  The cleansing must have done some wonders to open her shy heart.  

We ended the night with some bhajans.

Day 4
After our morning meditation, we decided to take Obelix (Shri Mataji's dog from Pratishthan) with us for a walk.  This time we walked for 1.5km (one way).
















Then we had our usual footsoak by the river before lunch and snoozed after lunch and then dinner and meditation with bhajans and Shri Mataji's talk

Day 5
This morning, after meditation, husband and I decided to walk on our own with Obelix and without our little girl.  She was sleeping in the dorm with other aunties.







After our breakfast, we took a short drive to the Sahaja Village.












After meditation, we went back to the Ganga Ashram for lunch and then we rested a bit before doing our daily footsoak and dinner and meditation.

Day 6
After our morning meditation, Obelix signalled to me that he wanted to go to the beach again.  After seeing him going crazy with the sand and running into the river for a short wash and drank the water, we decided to bring him again to the beach, just me, husband and him.


After our breakfast, we headed to Devprayag to join the local collective meeting.  Most of the yogis there had joined the local seminar and so not many were present at that day's meeting.  However, the 3 girls who were the only yuva shaktis there, age 10, 13 and 17, were so amazing and impressive.  They did everything from preparations, to singing bhajans and playing the dholak and their voices were so angelic and beautiful and pure.  The dholak player had to also blow the conch and play the dholak the same time and no complaints whatsoever.   After everything was over, the 3 girls served prasad.  They did everything with their heart and innocence.  We had tears in our eyes just listening to them sing.  








After the collective ended, we walked nearby to see the Devprayag Confluence where the sacred River Alaknanda and River Bhagirathi met and became the River Ganga.  You can see the left side is River Alaknanda where the flow is slower while the right side is the River Bhagirathi where the flow is faster.  The colours of the two rivers are also different.







That same day was the Kojagiri Purmina or Sharad Purnima, which is a harvest festival celebrated on a full moon to mark the end of a monsoon.  This is also the full moon after Navaratri where milk is offered to the Shri Chandrama and then we were supposed to drink the milk.  We did a short puja that was so spontaneous and all done with the heart.  No rituals and only respect and love for Shri Mataji.  What beautiful vibrations we had and so blessed to be there at this time.


Day 7
After a short breakfast, thanks to the love and generosity of Aunty Amba, we left Ganga Ashram after saying goodbyes to our host and all the yogis who were staying there.



After about 9 hours drive, we finally reached Noida Health Centre.  We were just visiting to buy some products back to Malaysia.




After another 2 hours drive, we reached Gurgaon and stayed with Anand Bhaiya and Sunanda Didi for 2 nights.  On this day, we travelled for 12 hours.

Day 8
A day of shop till we drop.  We went to the nearby malls, explored Om Bookstores, Spar Hypermarket and some pharmacies and got all our supplies.  At night we were treated with some local Chaat (snacks) like Bel Puri, etc and Jelebis.  So yummy.  Then we headed to Om Sweet Store and bought my absolute favourite - Soan Papdi! 









Day 9
Early this day, we went to do an Indian facial with Neeloo Didi, a Sahaja Yogini who is also a Skin Specialist.  All the products were made of natural ingredients.  While facial was going on, we listened to bhajans at the back and ended up being served vibrated water.  How cool was that!





After that we went back and did brownies and prepare to celebrate Mahima's 21st Birthday.  Mahima is Anand and Sunanda's daughter. She also gave me and our little girl a mehendi session. Such a talented and artistic girl!








After a true Indian experience, with the Indian food, Indian driver, Indian facial and mehendi, we headed to the airport for our flight back to Malaysia.

It took us 10 years to visit India again and I hope it won't take us another 10 years.  Every time we come to India, there is always some clearing, some introspection and some thing we learn more about ourselves.  This time it was a beautiful experience and since it was our 3 year old first trip to India, I hope it was memorable for her and for everyone she came across with.

We will be back, for sure!

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