With the spiritual encouragement of Dr Mohan Manghnani, a group of NHPS staff members recently embarked on a memorable pilgrimage to Ayodhya and Kashi. Thoughtful arrangements made the journey even more enjoyable as the group included housekeeping staff, security personnel, drivers, electricians, sound technicians and maintenance supervisors. Among the participants was Ms Shilpa, Primary Coordinator at NHPS, who has been associated with the institution since 2010. Accustomed to a school routine centred around children, responsibilities and the many demands of the academic year, she found the pilgrimage to be a deeply refreshing experience. 

“I feel blessed that I could visit Ayodhya and Kashi one after the other,” she says, recalling her spiritual journey with warmth. 

The pilgrimage took place during the holy month of Shravan, when the sacred destinations drew large numbers of devotees. Despite the crowd, Ms Shilpa felt fortunate to have had the opportunity to complete the darshans within the available time. 

Among the most cherished moments were the darshans of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya and Lord Shiva in Kashi. For Ms Shilpa, the opportunity to seek blessings at these sacred places was one that had to be embraced fully. She made the most of her time by returning for repeated darshans whenever possible. The visit to the Visalakshi Temple in Kashi was another memorable experience. She describes the temple as a place that filled her with positive energy and peace. Yet, beyond the spiritual experiences, what touched Ms Shilpa most was the care extended to the pilgrims throughout the journey.  

“We are so used to taking care of kids at work, and now people were taking care of us, in the same way we take care of kids at work. And it was so heart-warming.” 

From tea and breakfast to comfortable accommodation, the thoughtful arrangements made the journey even more enjoyable. For a group accustomed to busy workdays and responsibilities, the opportunity to simply pause, travel and experience something new was deeply appreciated. The spiritual experience itself was difficult to put into words. When asked how she felt after the darshan, Ms Shilpa recalls, “We all stood stunned and we were speechless for a while.” 

The journey also brought its share of amusing and memorable moments. In Varanasi, the narrow lanes proved to be an experience in themselves. With barely enough room for three people to walk abreast, navigating the lanes required patience, adaptability and a good sense of humour. The group travelled in two autos and walked nearly a kilometre through the lanes. Along the way, encounters with mischievous monkeys added another unexpected dimension to the adventure. 

As the participants returned to their everyday responsibilities, they carried back more than memories of sacred places and a memorable journey. “We can feel that we came back with a lot of blessings,” says Ms Shilpa.