Inspired.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page” — St Augustine
I have always loved to travel, to see new and diverse cultures, explore new cuisines and soak in the vast world around me. Each journey has brought with it a tapestry of new experiences, weaving together moments that have helped me broaden my horizons, forge new connections and gently pry open the confines of my little British bubble. However, my latest adventure has left an indelible impression on me that I will cherish forever.
The Festival Of Harmony
On 2nd February 2024, I embarked on my travels to the UAE for the Festival Of Harmony. On the face of it, I was going to attend the opening of a Hindu Mandir, in an Arab country, that was made a reality by a Muslim King, had its foundation designed by a Buddhist, constructed by a Parsi owned construction company, project managed by a Sikh, architected by a Catholic and chaired by a Jain. Yes, you read that correctly.
I was fortunate to have been selected as a volunteer and was eagerly looking forward to offering my small contribution in this mammoth of a project, which had brought people together from all walks of life regardless of caste, creed, religion and status; to work towards a common goal. How do you even conceive such an audacious idea you might be wondering? Well, let us journey back 27 years…
A prayer upon a Sand Dune
In 1997, my late Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj said a prayer upon a sand dune amidst the vast expanse of the Sharjah desert- “May a Mandir be built in Abu Dhabi that will bring together people of different faiths, cultures, forums and countries”. In a time when religious expression beyond the prescribed bounds was taboo in the UAE, this aspiration seemed beyond the realm of possibility — mere wishful thinking. But you see, my Guru harbored not a wish but a vivid vision, one which I saw come to fruition before my eyes.
Enough of the history lesson though, let’s get back to the present…
This trip was full of blessings from the very start. I suspect that in the years to come, I will look back upon this pilgrimage with a blend of nostalgia and profound gratitude, for it bestowed upon me blessings that shall sustain me through all of my years.
I had been entrusted with the responsibility of driving invited guests around the Mandir campus in golf buggies (those of you who know me, will know I love to get behind the wheel). Among the list of people I took around, I had the fortune of chaperoning Akshay Kumar, the Sheikh of Bahrain, some of the Abu Dhabi Sheikh’s entourage and most notably, the driving force behind this project, Pujya Brahmvihari Swami. For me, as much as the Seva that I got to do, it was more the people I got to know along the way that was a blessing.
“Bravo Team” - Friends Turned Family
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If I had to sum this trip up in one word, it would be inspiring. At every turn, whether it was the intricately carved stone, the profound symbolism woven into every facet of the campus or the selfless volunteers who I saw before me, I felt inspired.
Within the first couple of days of the trip, I became acquainted with 7 people from disparate walks of life that little to my knowledge, would quickly become “family”. My sister and I were warmly embraced into their fold and immediately felt so at home, as if we were reunited with old kindred spirits. United by a shared purpose, all of them had left their homes to help with this incredible project, mostly from America and some from the likes of Bahrain, the UK and Dubai. How can one not be inspired when surrounded by such selfless and genuine human beings?
Energy is contagious and all I knew was that I wanted to spend as much time with them as I could. The name Bravo Team was coined for our group and so commenced our antics as a family unit. It is hard to do justice to so many people without writing a separate blog entry for each one but I will try to scratch the surface and give you some insight.
I saw a group of people who cast aside their egos, social status, wealth and academic backgrounds, come together to work towards the same common goal. That too selflessly, without paying heed to their personal wants and needs, often missing meals and sleeping very little (some days not at all). The beauty is they did it with smiles on their faces and that energy is contagious.
I’m a staunch believer that intent is fundamental to each and every action we take. A substantial donation given with the expectation of acclaim and status, is as good as a financial transaction for a service. Conversely, a modest offering which may be deemed “small”, but done so with a pure heart and intent eclipses any grand gestures.
When individuals selflessly serve for no personal gain other than to please the higher power; that my friends is quintessentially the definition of selfless service and a testament to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life credo “In the Joy of others, lies our own…”
Inspired by their example I was keen to get involved in any way I could and was lucky to be taken along for the ride with them.
In whatever downtime we had, we also took the opportunity to hang out, take spontaneous swims in the Persian Gulf and explore some of the culinary delights that Dubai and Abu Dhabi had to offer. We had bonded so closely, that I just didn’t want to leave. In fact, I pushed my return flight back for another 8 days to try and create some more memories.
On the face of it, I wouldn’t say I come across as a sentimental kind of guy (at least, I don’t think that’s how I portray myself), but this new family made me feel at home. It was no surprise I didn’t want to leave them.
So that was a little insight into what this experience was for me…
The festival was a true testament to it’s name and exceeded anything I could have imagined. I only wish I could’ve been a part of it earlier. The myriad of people who had a hand in making it a reality left me moved and in awe. They exemplified the epitome of sacrifice, service and samarpan.
This was the Festival Of Harmony, a millennial moment which brought to the world an icon that will go down in history for being a beacon of hope, harmony, love and co-existence.
For me? It nurtured my soul, pricelessly enriched my mind, and abundantly filled my heart.
