Goa, goans and I

I’d left very silently, but I’m glad to be home with a bang. And as always, there’s a beautiful episode to share.. 
It was a Huge event and the first Huge event I’d been part of. I was not much of a travel person. I love home, mom and my comfort zone here… Somehow, Goa was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life so far.
Though we all know Goa just for the sands,seas, pheni, gambling, holidaying and relatives of these, there’s a beautiful aspect that I knew I saw only this time. Putting together 500 teenagers was an aim that every single teacher had in mind and action.
The challenges to these were really amazing… there was Ganesh puja, where the entire Goa celebrates for a week. All shops are shut, no colleges are open. People are all at home … with their dear Ganapathi bappa… inviting goodness… sharing sweets and time with loved ones.
Secondly, there is of course the age old teenage problem, … Exams. And honestly, every degree college had exams. It was a chosen bad timing. 
In spite of it all, when I saw 546 enthusiasts doing kriya on the course, it shook something in me. I wondered if Goa was just a bunch of relaxed people meant to enjoy life or if we may have been totally wrong in assuming so.
I have never seen such an integrated effort of young minds until now. The team of 25 core volunteers left me flabbergasted. There was an undying energy in each one. Now that I’m home, I realize that it was a super duper rock band we had.
Sawani always inspired me with her energy, akshata with her sincerity, archa with gentleness, girish with his care, krupa with her renewed strength, yogesh with his calmness, mandar with his happiness, nandu with his humour, nikita with her dedication, niraj with quietness, pallavi with her charm, suruchi with her love, pankaj with his simplicity, Prasad hedge with his words, durgesh bhaiya with his innocence, preetam with his honesty, purva with her softness, prasadji with his commitment, santoshji with his swamihood, supriya with her patience, swapnil with his talent,arpit with his openness, vishwanath with his balance, mohit with his helpfulness, Swatiji with her grace, Aru with her genuineness, Vaibhav with presence, Ishan with his responsiveness, vaidehi with her sweetness and Yuvraj with untainted love.
Shaila tai tended and cared for us like we were her own. Shraddha tai, Dr & Mrs Hegde,so many teachers, elders, volunteers for the advance course, I’d not met these people many times, but there was not an instance when we didn’t feel the onness.
Hetal di was inspiring for how she works, Sukeerti was inspiring for her persistence, arjun for his dignity and vaidehi for her tenderness.
I also learnt so much about the religious harmony that exists in Goa. Like, ganesh puja is also celebrated by muslims, eid by hindus, many have full names that have one Christian first name and the second hindu name or vice versa as their full name. It was just such a beauty.
I thought that maybe people were too casual in a holiday spot but I’m certain that that’s not the case with all. From many participants I learnt of their yearning for responsibilities that could change and mould the poverty, kids who wanted to take time and work in slums, kids who wanted to stop drugs, kids who wanted to take a stand against alcohol, kids who wanted to bring many more smiles, much more happiness in many more homes….
I remember Bawa having said in his course that every young mind is looking for spirituality. This was the learning I experienced. Somehow, it brought out a strength…… as for now it only makes me extremely grateful.
Jai Gurudev