Reflections- A to Z Challenge 2021- Temple Trail

Hello everyone, 

Thank you for being a part of my A to Z journey this year. Compared to the previous two years, this one took a lot of work, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The theme, Temple Trail, a tour across India to discover various ancient (& not-so-ancient) Hindu temples, has been satisfying in ways I cannot explain. 

I was apprehensive when I began and wondered if I’d be able to do justice to the theme. I’m still doubtful. But I do know that my posts have thrown fresh light on some of the most amazing structures in the country. 

From temples dating back the first century to recent temples built exclusively on donation money, my virtual travel made me appreciate the beauty of my land even more. 

How can I not mention my friends who read my posts, shared their experiences, and supported me throughout the month? Also, the new friends I’ve made kept cheering for me and encouraging me all the way. 

Some of them have shared their pictures with me, while a couple of them have shared their personal experiences. I treasure them all in my heart and will share a few in this post. I met Ira Mishra during last year A to Z Challenge and fell in love with her poems. This year was no different, though I can say each of her poems is a masterpiece on its own. The flow, the tone, the mood, and the subtle message blend perfectly in her works. 

Ira also happens to be the only reader who has visited several places on my list. I could give her a trophy for being at the top of the list. This dear girl has shared a couple of pictures from her trip to the Konark Temple in Odisha. 

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There is another person I had met last year, and her posts have a permanent place in my heart. This year, we graduated further, and she has become my di (elder sister). Arti di writes prose and poetry with the same flair and warmth. Her words are full of emotions, straight from the heart. 

Di is close behind Ira and has written about her experiences in a couple of the places I mentioned in my blogs. You must read about her Brihadeeswara visit and her musings from the Modhera trip. Do you know Arti di has a special connection with the Shore temple in Mahabalipuram? Her visit to the place includes a life-changing, enriching moment she treasures deep inside her heart. That she shared the details with me (and a couple of pictures) means so much to me!

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Last year, I’ve met another Arti; Arti Punjabi, who writes flash fiction on social topics. She does it with such finesse, you'd wonder when the story ended and left you reeling. She doesn’t preach. She doesn’t need to. Her pieces hit you right in the gut without taking the moral high ground. 

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After gawking at Frederique’s quilts last year, I was more than curious to see what she’d share this time around. Her series to recycle and reuse items we usually throw away made me determined to try at least a couple of them (and not mess up). 

This year, I met Meena, who from her Balcony where the early morning sun shines warm and loving, joined me on the virtual tour now and then. And guess what? Her last year’s A to Z Challenge was about a religious trip to one of the places I’ve written. This year, she took us all to her childhood and ours, bringing back the memories of times when playing in the mud was bliss and running around barefoot was the only thing we ever wanted. 

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I also met Jayashree, who chose Harry Potter as her theme! I'm the farthest thing from a Potterhead and was worried about what I’d say on her posts. But there was no reason to worry. Jayashree wove multiple threads and brought HP and life experiences together in a delightful series. 

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Prakash (or P, as I like to call him) and I met sometime during our NaNoWriMo mad month in 2017(?). He was one of the municipal liaisons who cheered us newbie writers to finish the draft of our novels. He specializes in crisp and poignant poetic pieces, which you can find on his blog. This year, he went on an international trip (virtually, of course) while I took the Indian route. 

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The Sunday Visitor, SG, Pradeep Nair, Pooja Priyamvada, and a few others were occasional guests who left an impression or two during the month. 

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 I long the post is already too long, but I have to mention my friends who cheered on Facebook. I also got a few pictures from a couple of them. 

Alipi Das, thank you for being my constant support during the month. 

Vaiju Panchal, Ruchita Jain, Anitha Padanattil, Jaya Pillai, Tanima (my Trumpy girl), Anushu, Moonmoon… ladies, your love and support means a lot to me. 

This cutie here is Anshu, on a family trip to Jwalamukhi and the nearby hill station. The instant I saw this picture, I knew I had to share it. A writer, blogger, and chef, she makes drool-worthy cookies, cakes, and jams using natural ingredients in her Soul Kitchen. She's also my teammate and a beekeeper at The Hive Publishers, a non-traditional publishing collective for short story anthologies. 

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Ruchita, a lovely poetess with a beautiful heart, has shared pictures from a family trip to Jwalamukhi. 

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Lakshmi mam, my school teacher, called me when the challenge began and encouraged me to keep going. I sent her an SOS for the letter Z, and if you’ve read the post, you’ll know how much talking to her helped me. Your teacher will always have your back, right? 

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Before I go on and on and on, I’m going to end my post with a big, big thank you to everyone who were with me during the journey. 

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I would like to end my post with a link to a post about another ancient temple. I read Ruchi Pritam's post in Indic Book Club and knew I had to mention it here. She wrote about a small town called Uttiramerur in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, where the temple walls were carved with detailed instructions about the democratic electing practices followed by the Cholas and Pallavas. 

 Let’s meet again soon. <3 

Stay safe and take care of your health. 

Mask on, readers.