Culture Connect- Get the world to taste India

We wanted Artikrti’s Culture Connect Blog to become that India lover’s ‘go-to’ page for some quality soul time on India.
From today, we would like to flag off a key initiative:
This community of #cultureconnectors will only thrive when all of us exchange our experiences about India and things Indian. So, we would like to welcome blog contributions from around the world on their perspectives about India. Please write to gigi@artikrti.com with a link to your already published post on India or send a copy of what you want published on Artikrti's Culture Connect Blog and we will publish it, with of course, your author profile and links as well.

Today is Holi- a festival of colours that is celebrated in India and the world over by people from varied cultures & countries. This is one festival from India that has been adopted & celebrated by people of all races because of it's spirit of oneness, and the celebration of good over evil- which is at the core of the Holi Festival- are starting to resonate with folks throughout the globe. And for the very same reason, the festival resonates with the Culture Connect spirit of Artikrti.

Artikrti wishes you a really eventful 2017 filled with meaningful relationships that enrich you. Relationships that connect with cultures and people across the world. 

It is during tough times, that the tough get going. And we are going through some very divisive, testing times as a community on this planet. As a specie that is evolving, we owe it to our future generations to be far more welcoming of the differences that exist amongst us a race. Not just recognize and welcome the differences but to respect and embrace them as fascinating aspects that distinguish one group from another. That is  really promoting the concept of FriendsWithoutBorders and Aritkrti's mission of CultureConnect. #friendswithoutborders #cultureconnect

Today is Gandhi's birth anniversary- the 147th. Known as "Mahatma" or "The Great Soul", he is a national hero & leader for India like no other. His life, his writings and above all, his actions stood for certain principles that are timeless and valuable to all of us across the world: 

Holding onto Truth [satyagraha] & non-violence.

Equality, simplicity & compassion

Village craft & dignity of labor

Building character through communal life & work.

It is at the meeting point of village craft, communal life, simplicity & work that one finds "khadi" which means handspun or handwoven.

Interesting, isn't it, as to how in our search for the meaning of our lives, we discover such unforeseen twists, which take us on to totally new paths. Maharaja-ji or the Guru only professed "love all, feed all, serve all" and it is said even today, if anyone turned up hungry at any of Baba's 108 ashrams across the world, he would get food.

Nainital, nature's gift to India at the foothills of the Himalayas, is a place that evokes quite meditation and contemplation. Naini means "Cool Air" and Taal is the word for "Lake". Like many hill stations from the time of the British Raj, Nainital is also a bustling tourist centre but it has those picturesque, tranquil vistas that just humble us humans, to wonder about the beauty of creation and nature.

A few kilometres away from Nainital is the temple and the ashram that has been hitting the headlines in Silicon Valley:

Have you seen the movie "Fiddler on the roof"? My favourite part in the movie is when Tevye, the Milkman, sings the song "Tradition", a fascinating account of his life, his times and the Jewish culture he upholds. When we get to know people and their culture in that manner, you feel connected...you sort of feel you know him or her just a shade more.....personally.........

........have that yearning to discover, to know more. We’d like Artikrti’s Culture Connect Blog to become that India lover’s ‘go-to’ page for some quality soul time on India.

The title is Janet Morais' description of her India experience. Janet is the Creative Director and Founder of the globally renowned interior decor brand, Koket. She says, "Mysticism, warmth, sensuality, beauty and natural surroundings. Lovely experiences, magic and spiritual peace. Energy, purity … a trip through the five senses. It’s the India’s universe…
To describe something intangible, something we only feel has never been easy but I run the risk of trying today in describing one of my best travelling experiences so far.......