Being Happy - Part 1: Gujarat | Rajasthan

We are all living our lives in our own different ways
But deep down, that we are all looking for that one thing...
But where do we find it... nobody know?
Happiness
What we forget while ‘living’ ... is why are we working so hard?
What exactly is the bigger prize?
My name is Dhruv,
I am 24 and I want to make an attempt to explore every corner of India
Walk the unbeaten path
Meet the most interesting people
and ask them just one question
Can i ask you something? - Yes!
Are you Happy? Yes!
Happy?
Yes. Happy!
What are you happy about?
Now where do I start on this Quest to find happiness
The western salt pans of India (Kutch) seemed like an interesting place to start it off.
So I had just gotten out on the roads
Feeling the freshness of the winds.... The welcoming smiles... People waving...
And then... I saw these two...
Walking an elephant down the road, they looked like they were on to something...
So I stopped by... Thought I'd ask them.. Where are the roads taking them
We are walking towards Patan, Gujarat. Will be staying in Patan for a couple of days
Our Destination is Ahmedabad where we will be attending the Jagannath Yatra.
Have you come walking from all the way from Maharashtra? What do you get by doing this?
We get Nothing. We do it for our selves... our happiness.
I have just left from Mumbai In search of the meaning of happiness? Do you know what it means?
Happiness is in the service of God. The Deeds you do here are answerable in Heaven.
As I was chatting with them they were adamant that I should get on the elephant just to experience of it...
and as reluctant as I was... I couldn't refuse.
It's said that well begun is half done. Well I am not particularly a believer
but running into Mr. God here, like this on the road...
I can't keep myself from taking hints that may be we are off to a good start...
Patan. Now it might be a small and quaint place but it's a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE site.!!
These walls around me, This magnificence, This is Rani Ki Vav.. Buildings as old as these...
You expect the walls to speak... Share a story with you! And they did! But my questions still remained unanswered...
So I thought let me try someone else in this culture rich town.
I am going to meet Mr. Rohit Kantilal Salvi who is nurturing the 600 year old tradition of Patola sarees...
Our Family has been making these Patola Sarees since the 11th century in Patan.
This work is our Tradition which we have kept alive.
If 4 people help in making a Patola Saree it takes us 4-6 months to completely finish it.
The quality of the Patola Saree ensures that it lasts for 50-60 years.
And the colors don't fade for almost 200 years.
There is demand for this all over the world.
It is loved all over the world.
This is art and it comes from the Heart and not by Machine.
The Indonesians believed that 'if you touch the Patola, you touch God'
and wearing this Patola protects you from evils.
Did you ever feel that you should move away and do something of your own? Away from this?
No, Never.
Did your parents force you to do this?
No. we also dont force our children. They do it because they want to.
How according to you will I find Happiness?
You stick to what you love doing. whatever you do, do it from your heart and you will find Happiness.
We work whole heartedly, so we are Happy.
The Joy you get with this art form, We become one with God.
That is why we are very happy.
This is my journey.. My search..!
many people might have visited this place in the past.. Many more will visit it in the future... Talk to this Man may be.. For something else...
But what will be that one thing which will remind him of that guy who was looking for happiness..
There had to be something ! Something to connect the dots from one state to another...
And then it clicked... I needed a gift...
A souvenir of happiness that I will pick from one state and give away to someone in the next state..
A chain of gifts... Creating ripples of happiness... Giving people of one state, something that is was dear to someone in some other state...
And when I asked Mr Salvi for one such gift... He generously handed over to me... One of his precious creations..
My first happiness souvenir... The Patola saree....
From Gujarat, the roads have taken me to Rajasthan...
I am a Chauhan.. A Rajput who has lived all his life in Mumbai...
And this... Rajasthan... A place that I've never been to...is my ancestral land!
It's a place that I am silently wishing has the answers to my questions...
It's a place for which there has always been a special pull.. It's a place that I always wanted to know more about...
It's... kind of home !!
If you search for it you wont find.
You wont find it in Temples or Mosques.
If you make people Happy, God will make you Happy
You cant make everyone Happy
Everyone has their own reasons to be happy
We can only make an Attempt...
We are Happy with what we have. We don’t ask for much.
The people of India are very nice, India is not bad - there are nice people in India
Are you Happy? Yes I am Happy!
Happy? Yes! Happy!
What are you Happy about?
I was never a talkative or forthcoming guy.
This search is already changing me in more than one way...
I am interacting with strangers ...laughing with them...
Becoming a part of their lives... Making them a part of mine!
It's a different feeling... It's a... Nice feeling
As for the visit here... I did get some answers
But I met someone who sat me down and wanted me to answer some of his questions.
I am In search of Happiness and I don’t know where to find it!
Nothing will happen if you just say it... you have to work towards it.
If you want something good to happen to you... you should do something good first
You don't have a Job? No!
You are literate and yet you don't have a job?
Do something for your country!
You will feel good and so will your parents
If you were given a chance to do something for your parents. what would you do?
Do something?
I will just be there for them, Always.
I didn't ask him too many questions but his earnest answers were something
that made me give him the Patola saree I picked up from Gujarat....
There couldn't be anyone better to give the saree to.
I didn't know what or how to ask him for something
But he offered his grandfather's safa....that's when I went speechless with Gratitude.
I'd be lying if I said I am going ahead in my journey.. I left a part of myself back there in Rajasthan.
Kind of managed to console the other part with a promise of coming back and then we hit the road again...
I am going to Haryana next...
I am here now... And sort of exhausted... Hungry too!! I saw this sweet shop while crossing one of the bylanes...
Thought I'd chance upon the chance of curbing my curiosity and hunger pangs simultaneously...
Your life should be full of sweetness. Whatever you speak should sound sweet to the ears.
Think Sweet.
Eat Sweet
Life should be full of sweetness.
In 1918, My Grandfather invented the Jalebas
I dont know what he thought,
But he wanted to give people a new taste
There are a lot of sweet shops in India. Whats special about this place?
The small jalebis others sell are only crispy
There is no softness inside them
You supply happiness in the form of these jalebas.
how do you feel?
What kind of happiness do you feel?
The Biggest joy we feel is that even the poor can buy this and enjoy a moment of happiness
The culture here was always about taking and giving bribes.
But now we give Jalebas and not bribes.
I know I just entered Haryana. But somehow it feels like he is the one, to who I should pass on the gift from Rajasthan.
People who don't even know him celebrate their happiness with what he makes.... I thought I wouldn't find anyone better...
So I gave him the 'Safa' that I got from Rajasthan
and in return he gave me his agent of happiness- the Jaleba!
Three states down... Almost felt impossible before we started. But we managed to cover 3... 26 more to go!!
Just one change though, since the time we started! And that is... that I feel skeptic no more....!
More comfortable with the search now... With an open mind... I am all set to take this search ahead...
Hoping to stumble upon happiness sometime soon !!

Being Happy - Part 1: Gujarat | Rajasthan | Haryana

Latest Posts