- A Visit to Bhawanipura - August 6, 2012

Yesterday evening, my good friend, Ajay Singh Shekhawat, the front desk 
manager at my favorite Jaipur heritage hotel, the Umaid Mahal, honored 
me by inviting me to his home.  Bhawanipura Village is about a two hour
drive from Jaipur, depending on traffic, and it is, indeed, in the country.  
The air is clean and fresh, there is no pollution, and it was a lovely escape
from the big city.  I had a wonderful time.


Our traveling foursome consisted of myself, Manoj, a taxi driver frequently 
used by the Umaid Mahal Hotel and Manoj, an architect friend of Ajay's. 
 I think I amused them with my nonstop comments and frequent 
admonitions to motorcyclists who were not wearing helmets and my own 
dismay at the lack of seatbelts in the back where I was seating.  I was told 
we were heading out of the city so they weren't necessary.  I gave them a 
forensic nurse piece of my mind!

We passed through wide open spaces, with lovely trees, and cultivated 
farm lands.  Shortly before arriving at Ajay's home, we stopped so he
could speak to some friends.  I took the opportunity to get some 
photographs.  One was of the gentleman below who did not, at all,
object to having his face photographed.  Ajay translated for me since he
only spoke Hindi and explained I was going to post it on my blog.  

By the time we got near Ajay's house, it was after 6PM.  After all my days
of trying to photograph a peacock, as we passed the empty house where
he was born, we saw a peacock on top.  He says it has now been taken
over by peacocks and he, jokingly, called it "The Peacock House".  I was
glad to get this single shot.  I could hear more calling out - they have a 
really sad cry - as night darkened.

At Ajay's home, we were warmly greeted by all the family.  Of course, the elders 

spoke Hindi and I could not understand them - but there was no mistaking the 

warm smiles and feeling of welcome.  The children, initially shy, spoke some 

English and curiosity soon got the better of them and they gathered around to see

the strange American woman!

Ucchavkanwar, Ajay's mother, set about preparing chai but first milked the goat.

This was a first for me...REALLY fresh milk for my chai and it was delicious.

I thought this little goat was so cute.  I felt sad, though, because he was chained 

just far enough away that he couldn't touch his mother.  Poor fellow.

That cup of chai with the fresh goat's milk was just delicious.  

Here I am with Ajay - it's our first picture together.  I'd never seen him in casual

clothes before, only in his Umaid Mahal Hotel front desk manager attire.  He has 

been an extraordinary friend to me in Jaipur, always looking out for me and coming

to my rescue whenever needed.  I have him to thank for my new ground floor air

conditioned lodging, among other things.  I hope he knows how much I appreciate 

his friendship - and not for just those reasons.  He has such a good heart.

This is Ajay's mother, Ucchavkanwar.  Can you imagine having to write 

her name on a lot of forms?  I always felt a bit sorry for my boys, 

Alexander and Jeremy Vukasinovic - and that's why I did NOT give them

middle names!

A family portrait....Ajay's mother, father, grandmother and, of course, I had 

to get into the picture as well!!!

Ajay with his uncle.  I loved Ajay's shirt...with purple flowers.  I told him I like a

guy who will wear pink or purple, and flowers at that!!!  Reminds me of Hawaii!!

We went to Bhawanipura the day after Raksha Bandhan, or Rakhi Purnima which

is a festival celebrating the relationship mainly between brothers and sisters.  The

sister ties a rakhi ( sacred thread ) on her brother's wrist, symbolizing her love and

prayers for his well being and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her.  The brother

offers a gift to his sister, then they feed each other sweets.  You can read more 

about this festival at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raksha_Bandhan.  Since Ajay

wasn't home for Rakhi, his sister, Saroj performed the ritual while we were 

there.  Unfortunately, for some reason, my flash chose to stop working during that

time so I have no pictures of the ceremony!

Ajay and Saroj.  Their mother must be so proud of them.  They look like 

Bollywood movie stars!

Aren't we a colorful bunch?  Thus far, I haven't purchased a sari.  They look so

complicated to wrap.  I gotten three kurtas and pants and I'd like to get a salwar

suit.  We'll have to see about the sari, though, when someone has time to give

 me "in depth" lessons.

Here I am with Ajay's daughter.  She looks a bit wistful here...maybe

because I took her away from her homework.  Her dad lives at the Umaid

Mahal Hotel and only gets home for an overnight about every ten days. 

With so many extended family members around, though, she is well

supervised, regardless.  Most Indian families are multigenerational.

Here are my three traveling companions - our driver, Manoj, Ajay, and 

Mahan, Ajay's friend, who is an architect in Jaipur.

It was a truly wonderful day and a delight to have been invited to go to

Bhawanipura to meet Ajay's family.  I loved being in the country.  I had

some other great pictures to post of another country visit - to Bhankrota 

to see the family of Sunil Choudhury who was one of my floor mates

when I first moved to Jaipur.  Unfortunately, those photos may be lost

forever in my computer crash.  I hope Bharat Kshatriya may be able to

help resurrect them.  Now that I have a working internet, there is a whole

realm of possibility open to me!!!