Visit to Akshardham

I was on a business trip to Ahmedabad and due to an extended meeting had to miss my flight back to Bangalore. Since I had evening with me and was in Gandhinagar that day thought of visiting Akshardham temple.

It was a 15-20 min drive in the car, and I reached the temple premise by 4.30. After handing over the phone and bag in the locker room, I entered the temple following the queue.

The path opened to the gigantic, massive traditional architecture. Akshardham temples are known for their stunning architecture, beautiful gardens, and spiritual significance. After a stressful day of work and travel, I entered the mandir with a slightly heavy heart and fatigue. With no gadget in hand and cut off from the nonstop running external world slowly the mind and body started calming down. After standing in front of the deity in Garbhagriha for a few minutes I was completely in the receiving mode of peace, warmth and the beauty of the entire place, fully immersed in the serenity of the space

Consuming positive energy and the quiet ambience started heading towards the hall leading to the artistic paintings narrating the Swami Narayan darshan, his upbringing, the display of the clothes, ornaments, stories depicting his greatness. Exiting from there leads to the giant vatu form of Swami Narayan where we can offer incense sticks to the deity. The soothing music in the background perfectly complemented the peaceful atmosphere, making it an ideal setting for meditation and introspection.

Since it was evening the entry to other areas across the temple were restricted. Heading back to reach the gate to the famous water show got to meet group of ladies who were all speaking Kannada. Could not resist and made a quick conversation to the ladies in Kannada to learn that they are part of a 14-day package trip covering most places of Gujarat. Heading from there went to food court where in the evening Gujarati thali was being served. The food was excellent with Bhatti, khichdi, subzi and khadi Savoring a tasty meal in a peaceful atmosphere is the perfect way to cap off an evening.

After dinner it was time to enter the gate for the water show and started walking inside. The pathway led to the massive open amphitheater area. I managed to get a seat in the top row from where the view was beautiful to see. Still had 20 minutes to start the show, while waiting enjoyed the music played. Unknowingly I had started tapping my legs to the tune and was lost in the ambience.

With the quick introduction of Akshardham the show started. The tale of Nachiketa and Yama is an ancient and revered one, exploring themes of courage, wisdom, and the quest for knowledge. The use of light, water, and sound effects brought this epic story to life in a mesmerizing way.

Show instantly captivates you with its 80ft wide x 60ft high water screen, multi‐color lasers, video and light projections, fireballs and underwater flames, water jets, and surround sound symphony.?

The chilly evening, the energetic crowd, the captivating music, and the inspiring story all combined to create an unforgettable experience.

This visit inspired me to reflect on the importance of cultivating inner peace, embracing solitude and embracing leadership to create positive impact.

# Peace # Leadership # Positivity

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