Today we took a ride to a rural village called Tordi Sagar. It was much greener and the air is so much crisper then the cities.
In the evening we went out in 4x4 to an old water well which was built in the 1700s and used as both a water source and a local meeting place. Although this is no longer used it is a great example of how India used to collect rainwater to use as a water source. The ruins are in great condition and also contains one of the oldest form of deity worship and this for Shiva.
Near the water well there are two Cenetabs, built by the royal family of the area. The first built in the early 1700s in memory of the ancestor who bought the land where the well and damn is located. The second built in 1800 for the ancestor who built the damn.
After this we went to a small local village which is an excellent example of the old cast system in India. This village would have been counted as one of the lowest casts and therefore excluded from the other local communities. What I found incredible was the overwhelming sense of
community. The houses were built out of cow pat which is a brilliant insulator during the winter but cool in the summer. They community was made up of about 120 people who all lived and worked together mainly in agricultural to survive. Whilst we were there we saw a truck full of tomato’s which were to be sent to Delhi overnight for sale. Being here taught me so much. This half hour was a true demonstration of people who don’t have televisions and iphones. But they appeared to be happy. It is obvious that they have struggles but they also have each other and the community really comes together to offer support and council.
community. The houses were built out of cow pat which is a brilliant insulator during the winter but cool in the summer. They community was made up of about 120 people who all lived and worked together mainly in agricultural to survive. Whilst we were there we saw a truck full of tomato’s which were to be sent to Delhi overnight for sale. Being here taught me so much. This half hour was a true demonstration of people who don’t have televisions and iphones. But they appeared to be happy. It is obvious that they have struggles but they also have each other and the community really comes together to offer support and council.
Finally to round of the evening we went to see the damn which at this time of year is empty however in the rainy season fills up and provides water for 70 local villages. Both for drinking and agriculture although most villages now have mains water supplies piped in.
As we were at the damn we watched the sun set with a cup of chai. The translation of Chai in English is tea however it is not your standard English breakfast and is instead a spices tea. I have never seen the sun so big.
In this moment I must admit i felt really grateful to just be there and truly reminded me of the simplicity of life that we take for granted. It made me question why at home I had never sat and watched the sun set. Obviously I have seen it before but I have never made it a focus and that is something that I will do more often.
I realised we take for granted the beauty that we have around us on a daily basis. I also realised that happiness can be found without luxuries and fancy clothes and that sometimes the relationships that we form are what’s important. I couldn’t have done this week so far without the amazing people that I have met. Maybe it’s a reminder to open our eyes and just enjoy what comes to us without costs? Sunsets and friendships.
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