My parents in law hail from a tiny hamlet in the coastal district of Kanyakumari, the southern most part of India. Like any middle class family of south Indian descent, my spouse’s parents lived modest, unsophisticated lives, spending their hard earned money only on bare necessities. Securing their children’s future had been the sole aim of their lives. They had spent a major part of their lives within the physical and moral confines of the village. Only when their progeny grew up and settled down in cities in far away lands, they ventured into the world outside their home. These episodes of travel were usually short and oriented towards supporting the growth of their grand children. These pursuits were more physical in nature and did not provide stimulation or solace to their minds.
Spirituality is a great escapade and a true leveler. Even those whose moral code of conduct prevents them from splurging in leisurely trips and vacations outside their home land, are okay to do so in the name of pilgrimages. The pursuit of inner peace, as these travels are deemed, have become common place in India’s tourist directory today. Visiting places of worship and the memorials of saints, be it in the temple town of Madurai in India or the sunken sands of Egypt or the exotic shores of Bali, these holy retreats are sought after without any sense of guilt or insecurity. Even families that live acutely frugal lives, save up to go on these spiritual pursuits. So did my parents in law! My mother in law, more pious of the two, joined this trend of pilgrimages in the company of strangers, popularly known as conducted tours, many years ago. The father in law followed suit. These tours liberated them from the clutches of the claustrophobic lives they were leading. The tours were far from being leisurely or fun-filled. But, they gave my parents in law, and all others who signed up for it, a sense of freedom and fulfillment. This indeed is the core objective of spirituality!
Influencing my temple-hopping in laws and convincing them to join us on a family trip to Kashmir, was not easy. They were startled at the proposition. They chewed their nails, shook their heads and looked at each other aghast, as if I had proposed a travel to the south pole of the moon. Visiting snow capped mountains and lovely lakes, without any sense of purpose (read: temple visits) was deemed frivolous. They spent days and nights evaluating the moral implications of going on a trip for pleasure, and not peace. “What will people say?” was their primary worry. After weeks of mulling over and coming up with satisfactory answers to all ‘people’s questions’, my in laws finally consented to the trip. Spending time with the grand daughter was the excuse they came up with.
We set out on our Kashmir adventure in the summer of 2023. When the rest of India sweated and struggled in the sweltering heat of peak summer, Kashmir offered us snow! There was white carpet everywhere. We, the inhabitants of the south pole of India, had witnessed snow only in movies and documentaries. Setting foot in snow and touching it with our bare hands, felt surreal! My parents in law transformed into cherubic kids and reveled without any inhibitions. They rode ponies and played snow ball. They tried kawah, the local tea, at wayside shops and steaming hot maggi atop the hills. They braved the cold and the rough terrain. They sprang back to their sprightly self, even after free falls from the horses. They explored Kashmiri villages, ate wazwan dinners and plucked apples from the orchards. This new found world thrilled them. They experienced unadulterated fun and joy, like never before. This was the first time since his college days, that my father in law who was accustomed to dhoti, sported pants; jeans to be specific. He looked dapper in appearance and younger at heart. My mother in law wore salwar kameez for the first time in her life and rode on horses, gleefully. The smiles on their faces were priceless!
Kashmir is truly a heaven on earth. A heaven that one could visit without parting with mortal life. A trip to Kashmir is special by all standards; it was all the more special for two people in their late 60s, coming all the way from the coastal reins of Kanyakumari, crossing stretches of land, sea and mountains! This was the trip of their lifetime. I am glad, I could gift them these memories, which they will cherish for days to come, and share with fellow travelers, as they resume their spiritual journeys to distant destinations. I am grateful for the gifts they gave me in return - absolute joy and cheer during the trip and the abundant love and warmth they continue to shower forever.
This story is inspired by the 100 day storytelling initiative by Your Story Bag. This is my story for day 11/100 of #2023TheStoriedWay
