From her boarding days to her role as a Senior Coordinator, Gitanjali’s eleven-year journey at New Horizon Gurukul (NHG) has come full circle. Along the way, she has experienced immense warmth and care at the organisation, making NHEI feel like family. Her journey on 15th of August 2026 took her first to Ayodhya, where visiting the Ram Mandir became one of the most cherished moments of the trip. The absence of long queues made the experience even more comfortable, allowing her to revel in the atmosphere and experience the divinity of the temple. Seeing Lord Ram multiple times was particularly special for her. 

Just the blissful moments were enough for her. She spoke in retrospect and said, “We had tears in our eyes. I am from North India…Still, I was unable to visit, but thanks to our Chairman Sir, Dr. Mohan Manghnani, I got the opportunity to visit the sacred temples. Since the NH Management Team had arranged passes for us, our team made the best use of the Passes given and visited Lord Ram four times.” 

“Divine” is the word she uses to describe the experience, although even that, she admits, cannot quite capture it.  

रामस्य हृदयं शिवः । 
शिवस्य हृदयं रामः ॥ 

Rāmasya hṛdayaṁ Śivaḥ | 
Śivasya hṛdayaṁ Rāmaḥ || 

“Shiva is the heart of Rama; Rama is the heart of Shiva.” 

Varanasi brought another unforgettable experience. Despite the mild drizzling rain, the group was able to travel by boat for the Ganga Aarti, clapping and singing bhajans, along the way. Watching the sacred river come alive with the glow and sounds of the Aarti was so beautiful that Gitanjali did not feel like reaching for her phone. In fact, Gitanjali felt there was no need to record videos. No need to capture photographs. Her team took a few pictures for keepsake but Gitanjali did not feel the need to take any photos.   

“You hear so much about Ayodhya and Kashi growing up in any part of India. At Kashi, we all waited for the darshan, and as the curtains came down, we had goosebumps, and we had tears in our eyes … it was overwhelming. Even though I want to say, “Divine” again, but honestly, there are no words for the experience. This experience is beyond words, beyond everything.” 

The visit to Sankat Mochan Temple was equally powerful, while Shitla Devi Mandir offered a deep spiritual atmosphere. Recalling the experience, she speaks with disarming honesty, “We walked and went to see her through a basement. You can feel the spiritual vibration… I was crying. It was a powerful experience.”  

For Gitanjali, the opportunity to visit Varanasi was unique, not merely for the places she saw, but for the experiences she carried back. Looking back, the journey feels overwhelming in the best possible way to her. It was spiritual, beautiful, and meaningful. For Gitanjali, the journey to Ayodhya and Varanasi was more than a pilgrimage. It was a deeply personal experience of the Almighty and a sense of belonging. Above all, it left her with a profound sense of gratitude for having experienced such a journey and for feeling blessed to be part of NHEI.  

Some journeys are captured in photographs. Some stay in the heart.