India Pilgrimage December 2024-January 2025
Nothing Else Is Quite Like This
Aho’ Rajanaka,
It’s a bit late in the planning but we’ve been talking about it for months. Write to me today if you can. Don’t delay this decision. The good stuff doesn’t last forever. Put your ghee into the fire. Make time for the journey to the roof of the world, to the hearth of the soul. This year would be a good time.
Rajanaka India Pilgrimage
December 2024 – January 2025
For more than 20 years our India pilgrimage has journeyed to south India to meet the gods, the people, and the culture of the Tamil people. We travel in “pilgrimage season” when thousands are on the road and temple festivals are daily destinations. Our journey is as carefully planned as it spontaneous. Since wecome as pilgrims we are treated like pilgrims: we dress and act and participate with full intentionality. You need not “believe” or be “religious,” much less fully understand what’s going on---this is an experience that will change your life. If you’re new, you’ll easily learn “what to do” and the rest is your heart’s to imbibe. In truth, many come back again and again because this is pilgrimage.
THE PILGRIMAGE: We meet in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, and are soon on the road to Cidambaram to take in the wonders of the magnificent temple of Siva Nataraja. In the Tamil language “the temple” refers to Cidambaram Natarajar. During our first days we’ll participate in a Rudra Homa fire sacrifice conducted for us by the priests of the temple. We’ll also be on the edge of the great festival of Marghali that will carry on while we continue our pilgrimage south---we’ll return nearer our conclusion to experience its culmination with the Great Cart in the street and the bathing of the Dancer. Amazing. We go on to the peaceful “temple town” of Kumbakonam to see an exquisite Ganesha and the Goddess, then head into the deep south to Ramesvaram, where Rama worshipped Śiva in preparation for his battle with the demon Ravana and the place from which Hanuman made his leap. Ramesvaram also includes the 2o-odd baths (with a bucket!) that is certainly the most fun you can have with the goddess as your hostess. Tiruchendur, the remote peninsular temple of Muruga, is next and my personal favorite of all. Then on to Madurai to see the Great Goddess Minaksi and one of the most magnificent temples in all India---and my hometown, to Appa’s house and our school. We return to Cidambaram for a few days via Kumbakonam, a chance to be immersed in the festival and to take our time visiting with Śiva and Tillai Kālī. Every day of this pilgrimage has wonders, amazing opportunities to experience yatra---pilgrimage as practice---and to have the reflective, refractive, heart-opening experience of darshan, “seeing.” You will never again see yourself quite the same way again.
Your companions are fellow pilgrims, some likely familiar and returning for pilgrimage, others new to the experience. I’m here to help you and offer my expertise. In India we are guided by Rajanaka India---our dear friends Jagannath Babu and his wife Bharathi. All questions, including administrative, costs, clothing, and any other details should be directed to me, Douglas using the email: svcourses@gmail.com.
DESTINATION LANDING AND DEPARTURE: We begin in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, south India. It will be your responsibility to arrive in Chennai on or before December 29th 2024. We can help you arrange an earlier or extended stay. You will need to plan this carefully because the bus will leave on time from our hotel (details to follow) on December 30th morning. The most interesting places offer the most modest accommodations, but surely safe and comfortable enough. Chennai will be our point of completion too though you can arrange your own departure (our job and costs include bringing you back to the airport Chennai as a group).
DATES:
Arrive December 29th, 2024, Chennai, India, Depart from Chennai, January 14th, 2025.
We will provide an arrival window for the first transfer to the Chennai hotel (see below).
We depart on the pilgrimage bus from the Chennai hotel on the morning of December 30th.
You may extend your trip in India at your own expense, we can help with arrangements.
REGISTRATION: I need an email expressing your serious interest immediately. (Use any usual email address, svcourses@gmail.com or douglas@rajanaka.com)
Registration for the pilgrimage by deposit only. Deposit by September 1st. Don’t delay.
COST: Trip cost is $2950. A deposit of $1000 is due no later than September 1st. The balance is due no later than October 1st. $2950 is the cost of a shared double room. (You can choose or be matched with your roommate.) There is a $1000 upcharge for a single occupancy. You will need perhaps $100-$200 for tips for our guides at the conclusion of the trip. Other costs are mentioned below, especially regarding clothing.
PAYMENT: By Venmo, PayPal (friends and family only), or check.
For Venmo use douglas-brooks-8 (I am pictured on Venmo as a corgi!)
For PayPal Friends and Family ONLY use douglas@rajanaka.com (careful! please do not use any other PayPal address that you may have in the past!)
If you choose not to use the PayPal Friends and Family Option we’ll have to charge you the incurred commission fees.
Alternatively, a personal check to made out to Douglas Brooks (7296 Gregg Road, Bloomfield, NY 14469). Please send me an email that the check is incoming!
We cannot accept credit card payments directly.
Cancellation Policy: We need a critical number of participants to meet costs. I will need to make a final decision before October 1st (to secure our hotels, etc.). Should Rajanaka have to cancel you will receive a full refund. However, we are not responsible for any of your travel plans, including flight cancellation, etc. As soon as we know if it’s a “go” we will tell you!
We warmly recommend you arrange your own travel insurance. Insurance is not included. You are responsible for travel, health, or accident insurance. We assume no liability.
If you cancel your participation before October 1st, you will receive your deposit minus $200. Should you cancel after October 1st, you will forfeit your $1000 deposit and will be refunded any remaining balance paid. There will be no refunds for cancellations made after November 1st. By sending your deposit you are agreeing to these terms and all others in this offering.
Cost includes hotels with breakfast in India, travel on the tour bus, temple and other visits in India. Cost does not include any travel costs to reach and return from India, any passport or India visa costs, or other preparation or travel expenses. Depending on your arrival in India you may be responsible for taxi travel to or from the airport to our hotel. Our window of arrival will be announced. We arrive in Chennai on December 29th and leave on the morning of the 30th---your task is to get to the assigned hotel in Chennai on time. There are other incidental costs in India, including some tips and other incidental situations. (On these incidentals minus clothing I have managed with less than $500 but your needs and budget may vary.) Lunch and dinner (not included) and food in general is not expensive in India. Lunch every day is a traditional south India thali meal; we have few other options, so you must consider your dietary needs.
DRESS CODE: We travel as pilgrims and wear traditional dress each and every day. Men will be easily outfitted with dhotis and white shirts made available for purchase in India. Women will have some travel days in traditional salwar kameez but are usually in traditional saris. Sari purchase will be discussed in Zoom calls. We’ve done this a long time and have made it as efficient as possible. We also have considered preparation guidelines regarding dress, vaccines, and other matters of travel once you have committed to the pilgrimage. There will be opportunity in India in the first days to purchase salwars, saris, blouses, petticoats, dhotis, and other needs. There are other dress code considerations that you must agree to abide (regarding hair styles, ornaments, etc.). All will need comfortable sandals (we go barefoot in temples, no socks, no booties) and you must be prepared to walk. You’ll need to budget these clothing and incidental costs, for women those include at least one silk sari which we can purchase in India (starting at about $200). Some clothing can be borrowed---but we cannot promise it will be available! Shopping in India will happen soon after arrival! We will discuss pre-travel purchases.
IN SUM:
*Our pilgrimage depends on a critical number of participants. We may be forced to cancel should there not be sufficient numbers. Space is also limited. We keep the group manageable. If you are serious about coming, please commit!
*You must arrange your own flights and your visa to arrive in India. Visa and passport rules change and you must make yourself aware and act accordingly.
*Transportation on arrival or departure may incur cost if you are not within the group's arr/dep window on December 29th in Chennai. We can arrange a taxi from the airport to the hotel should you arrive outside the arrival window.
*Clothing costs, including at least one silk sari for women, are not included. Sari-wrapping is provided free of charge every day in India and blouse fitting, petticoats, etc. needs will be made clear. We will get your properly dressed, don’t fret! Other than saris, the traditional salwar is appropriate for some days and travel. No western clothing except to and from India (and this includes the bus in India).
*Lunch and dinner are not included. We usually have a tradition thali lunch at a local restaurant. This food is safe and Tamil traditional. You'll need to adjust to the food.
*Bus, hotels, guides, temple visits are included with the exception of very small gratuities.
*Deposit dates are firm as is our cancellation policy. Please read carefully.