Kashi Yatra with Brahmasri Chaganti Koteshwara Rao garu Nov'10

Upodgaatham

It is said that "One who dies in Kashi will be liberated from the cycle of birth and death. It is also said that "Who lives in Kashi for 9days and 9 nights constantly remembering Lord Shiva will attain liberation". With the holy resolution of Mataji of Bhilai, Brahmasri Chaganti koteswara Rao garu was invited to give discourses on "Kashi Vaibhavam" in Kashi for 9 days. Guruvugaru generously proposed to accommodate 350 devotees for the yatra. Plans were made 5 months ago. A team went to Kashi to make all arrangements. Tickets were booked 3months before the trip. The yatra started with Puja and breakfast at Ayyappa Swamy temple in Kakinada. We embarked Prasanthi express to Bhuvaneshwar. Food packets were distributed on board to the devotees holding ID cards, thanks to the volunteers, home-made food was delicious and nutritious. At Bhuvaneshwar, we got into Purushottam express during the early hours of the following day. We reached MughalSarai by 8:30pm. Buses were arranged to take us to Kashi. All arrangements for accommodations were made at Kanchi, Sringeri and two other Mutts.

Day-1 (Sapthami). 7am- went to Kanchi Mutt, attended Puja and Parayana, had breakfast and went to Bilai Mataji's rented premises. Mataji is direct disciple of Sri Kavyakanta Ganapathi Mahamuni (he was called naayana by Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi). Mahamuni was born by Dundi ganapathi's grace. Parama saastrokthanga goopuja, baalapuja matrusri aadvaryam lo jarigaayi. We returned to Sringeri Mutt. Prathee Rooju, vandina padaarthalanu gangammaku , sringeri mutt lo vunna hanumanthudiki nivedana chesevaru. Andaruu panktilo kurchuni padaarthalu vaddistundagaa eekakantam tho annapurnaastakam patinchi aa taruvathee anna prasaddanni sevinchevallam. Bhojanaarambha kaalee hari naama smaraneee govindaa govindaaa ani modatlo, Bhojana madhya kaale hari naama smaranee govindaa govindaaa ani madhyalo, tinadam purtayyaka kuda govinda namam cheppi leche vallam, okkosaari namah parvathi pathayeh hara hara mahadev anee vallam. Kaashi lo annam vaddinche sthree lo annapurnamma aavahistundani antaaru. Prathiroju 4-6 Sringeri matamlo (memunna choota) guruvugari pravachanam vundedi. pimmata falahaaram tini nidurinchevallam.

Day-2 (Astami) 4:30am Ganga vadilo Hara Hara Sankara Jaya Jaya Shankara ... Shankara Bhagavathpadula meeda saamuuhika bhajana sankeerthana. Sankalpam(desa kaalamulu cheppi dharmaardha kaama moksha chaturvidha fala purushaardham ganga snaanam karishyee) ani cheppukuni panchatho muudusarlu ganga lo munigi ganga ki namaskarinchitini. dampathulaithe okarikokaru abhimukhamga nilabadi chetulu pattukuni muudusarlu munagaali. podibattalu maarchukunnaaka gangastavam cheyincharu guruvugaru. aa taruvatha andaritho praarthana cheyincharu. " Gangamma, ippudela nee mundu nunchuni preethitho ninnu chusthu eeswarudini smaristunnano naa chivari oopiri teestunnappudu kuda ee drusyame naaku kanapadi preethitho eeswarudini smaristuu aakari swaasa vadalaali, ala maaku varamivvu talli".

Kedarghat lo ganga snanam taruvatha gangajalam tho kedareswarudini darshinchi ganga jalam tho abhishekam chesaamu. ikkada sivalingam pedda raayi swarupam lo vuntundi. Pimmata dundiganapathi, vishwanathalayam, visalakshi aalayam(idhi sakthi peetam, ikkada swayambhuvu aina ammavari vigraham, pratistinchina vigraham renduu vuntayi, ikkada srichakram meeda kunkumarchana chesukunnaru amma nanna) modalagu aalayalu darsimchaamu. taruvatha annapurnamma darshanam chesukoni sringeri matham vellipoyamu. Aaroju pravachanam lo manikarnika kund visisthatha teliyachesaru. Kashinagaram aavirbavinchaaka srishti maintenance ela cheyyali ani sivaparvathulu alochisthu okarinokaru anuraagam tho chusukunnarata, appudu vishnuvu putttadata. aayana taruvatha okasari sivudini chudalanipinchi, sudarshana chakramtho tavvadam modalupettadu appudu aayana vantinundi kaarina chamata oka gundam laa eerpadindi, Sivudu pratyakshamayinappudu aayana cheviki vunna mani ee kundam lo padindi anduke manikarnikha kund ani perochindi, ikkada madhyannam 12 ki snanam chesthe vache falitham cheppadaniki sadhyapadadani sankaracharyulu chepparu. alaage yamudu okasari 108 naamamulu chepparu(mix of shiva and vishnu names) ivi evaru patisthaaro valla joliki yamabhatulu raaruta. avi maatho cheppincharu guruvugaru.

Day3 (navami) Manikarnika ghat lo madhyanna snaanam chesi Sankarulu rachinchina manikarnika stavam cheyincharu guruvugaru.

Day4 (Dashami) Viswanathuni darshanam, annapurnamma, vishalakshi ammavari darshanam taruvatha vaaraahi devi darshanaaniki vellamu. ikkada ammavaru underground lo vuntaaru, ground level lo rendu square shaped vents vuntayi, oka vent lonchi kindiki chusthe niluchuni vunna ammavari tala pai bhagam kanipistundi, inko vent lonchi chusthe paadalu kanipistayi. moham kanipinchadu. idhi tappaka darsinchavalasina devalayam. Saayantram padavallo aavali teeraaniki velli ganga saikatam meeda kurchuni guruvugaru gangaaavataranam pravachanam cheptuntee, gangamma nee goppatanam idhi kadamma ani pongipothu ganganu chuustu santhoshinchaamu, sagarudi nunchi bhageerathudi daaka katha vini paravasinchipoyamu. Gangamma muudulokalalo(swarga lokam, bhulokam, paataala lokam) pravahinchadam valla tripadhaga ani pilavabadutondi. Bhageerathudi tapassu falinchi aakasa gangani bhumi meedaku rammanteee aa pravaahanni pattadaaniki sivudu angeekaristhaadu, kaani gangamma ahankaristundi. sivudu gamaninchi jathajutham lo oka samvatsara kaalam bandistaadu gangani. okka chukka kuda kindaku raaladu. malli bhagheerathudu praartisthe anugrahinchaadu mukkanti. okkasari aakasa ganga pedda goshatho, tumparlathoo, nuragatho, mosallu timingalalu modalagu jalacharamulatho paatu 7 paayaluga pravahinchindi. oka paaya bhageeratudini anusarinchindi. aakasa ganga bhumi meedakochindantroi ani devatalu yakshulu gandarvulu kinneralu kimpurushulandaru vachi snanam chesaarata aa roju. aakasa ganga brahmadevuni kamandalam lo vuntundanta, aayana vishnuvu paadalu aa gangatho kadigaruta, sivudi jatajutham nunchi aayana sareerannni sparsistu kindiki vachindita. parama paavani ganga mana paapalanni kadigeyyataniki pravahistondita. Himavantuni kumarthe, umaku akka, bhishmudi talli. ikkada kashi lo prasanthanga chinnapillalu aadukunentha veelu ga pravahistundata. Jahnu maharshi mingesi chevula dwara vadilaaru kabatti jaahnavi ayindi. Bhaageerathi sagarula basma raasulapai pravahinchi vaariki santhi kaliginchindita. Alaa cheppukunnaka pongipothu ganga ki namaskarinchi deepam gangalo vadilaamu. Kashiki oka pakka varuna inko pakka 'asi' anee paayalu vuntayi kabatti varanasi ani perochindita. taruvatha padavalalo asi nunchi varuna ki madhya vunna ghats anni chuusaamu. alaage prathi roju nirvahinchee ganga arati chusamu. idhi tappaka chudavalasina aarati. kannulaku pandugeee. mottam 80 ghats vunnayita. harischandra ghat, manikarnika ghats lo anthyakriyalu chestu vuntaru, deehalanu agni lo dahisthaaru. jeevudu punaraa vritti rahitha saasvatha siva saayudhyanni ponduthadu. kaashi lo marana bheethi vundadanta endukante maranisthee mukthi labistundi kabatti. scindia ghat, dashaaswamedh ghat(nearest to vishwanath mandir), hanuman ghat, panch ganga ghat...

Day 5 Ekaadashi. Ganga snanam chesi Mathaji ashramaniki vellam, hadavidi lekunda prasanthanga 3.5 hours paatu saastroktanga satyanaarayana swamy vratam chesukunnamu. ee roju pravachanam lo parvathi kalyanam yokka muudu rojula pravachanalu aarambinchaaru. daksha yagna dwamsam meeda pravachanam chepparu.

Day 6 Dwaadashi Surya Bhagavanudu (Adityudu) kashi lo loolarka kundam lo vuntadu. ee kundam lo erra pushpalatho erra chandanamtho 70 surya naamalu chepthu puja chesina vaariki sandhyavandanam arhatha lekapoyinapattiki gayathri cheyyadam valla kalige falitam kalugutundi, aarogyam suryudu istaadu kabatti abhyunnati pondutamu ani guruvugari cheppi puja cheyincharu. akkadiki daggaralo Durgamma devalayam chusamu. Inkaa sankata mochana hanuman devalayamu (ikkadee tulasidaasu garu ramayanam raastu pravachinchevaaranta hanuma vachi vinevaaranta, okasari ashokavanam lo puvvulu tellaga vuntayani tulasidasu garu chepithe, hanuma erraga vuntayannarauta, tulasidasu garu oppukoledata, appudu hanuma chusi vachindi nenu kadaa, erragane vunnayani vaadincharata, raamulavaarini pilisthe aayana kuda tellaga vuntayi annarata, hanuma oppukoledanta. appudu raamudu clarify chesaru, hanuma kopam valla kallu errabaddayi anduvalle puvvulu erraga kanabaddayi ani). akkadanunchi kalabhairavudi aalayaniki vellamu, eeyana kshetrapaalakudu. kashini sarvavelala kaapala kaastuntaadu. eeyana permission lekunda evvaru kashiloki enter avvaleruta. 5krosala kashi nagaraniki eeyane home minister. aayanaki palu marlu krutagnatha cheppukuni kalabhairavaastakam chaduvukuni mataaniki tirigi vellam, sayantram pravachanam taruvatha hanuman mandiram chuttu kartika deepalu veliginchaamu.

Day7 (trayodashi) ivaala mataashri ashramam lo lakshmi puja, kunkuma puujalu tallullu chesaaru, nenu naannagaru vishwanatha mandiranni darshinchi annapurnammanu darshinchukuni 9:30ki modallayye annadanam (aalaya bhojana saalalo) karyakramam lo palgonnamu. annapurnaastakam chadivi anna prasadam tini visalakshi devalayam chusukuni atununchi mangala gowri devalayamu , trilinga swamy mutt(eeyana 300 samvatsaralu jeevincharu, kashi kshetramlo chaala samvatsaralu vunnaru, ramakrishna paramahamsa, vivekanandula charitralalo eeyana gurinchi cheppabadindi). atununchi bindu madhava devalayam darsinchamu (ilanti madhavula devalayu bharatha desam lo 5 vunnayita. agni bindu maharshiki nepal lo nadhilo saalagramamulatho ee madhavudi vigraham dorikindata). pitapuram lo okati vundi. taruvatha kalabhairavudini rendo sari darshanam chesukunnamu(ikkada oka cheepiri laanti daanitho nadumu meeda kodataru) kaalabhairavudi anugraham kosam. daggaralo dandapaani devalayam, navagraheshwarudi aalayam darsinchamu(navagrahalu sivalingam la vundatam chaala arudata). Saayantram rangaranga vaibhavamga parvathi kalyanam taniviteera chusamu. Sivudi gotram cheppamannapudi ghattam aasaktikaramga vuntundi. "Nirvikalpa niranjana.....". himavantudu, menaka kanyadhaanam chesetappudu eeswarudiki chestunnamu ane bhavana tho chesthe moksham vachestundani, alaa vachesthe rushulaku tapassu chesukodaaniki himalayas vundavani, kontha shankha(anumaanam) vundipoyela chestaduta shivudu.

Day8 (Chaturdashi). Saayantram pravachanam lo kaalabhairavudu, durgamma, bindumadhavudi yokka visistatha teliyachesaru. taruvaatha vishwanathuni mandiraaniki vellamu, akkada aarathi pimmata pavalimpuseva adbutanga chesaru. sivalinganni chakkaga alankarinchi, okka bed decorate chesi garbagudilo pedataru. peeedda damarukalu moogistaaru, vayidhyalu vaayistaru, gantalu moogistaaru, adbuthanga vuntundi. sivalingam paina godugu pedataru. janma dhanyamayindi.

Day9(Karteeka pournami) 5 lakshalamandi kashi vacharani samacharam andindi. Memu tellarugatle bayaluderi vishwanathudi darshananiki vellamu auto chaala mundare aapesadu. roadlantha janasandoham tho kalakalalaadayi. veerantha ippudipudde kashi lo adugupettinavaaru. queue kuda peddagane vundi. elagaithene darshanam baaga jarigindi. Pimmata annapurna ammavari samaksham lo kunkuma puja chesukunnaru amma nanna. Pimmata manmandir ghat lo ganga snanam ( karthika pournami naadu ganga snaanam cheyyadam goppa visesham. purvajanma punya falam). Taruvatha Kanchi matam pakkana kamakoteeswaralayaniki vellamu. ee gudi nadiche devudiga peru gaanchina chandrasekhara paramacharya swamy gari aadvaryam lo kattabadindi. Pancha devatha mandiramulunnayi. Vividha shaivamurthulu chekkabaddayi. gopuram meeda dakshinamurthy kanipistaru. alaage stambala meeda sankarula jeevitham chekkabadindi. aalayam paigodala meeda parvathi kalyana ghattalu chitralu ga geeyabaddayi. daggaralone tilabandeswaruni aalayaniki vellamu, ikkada oka room-sized sivalingam vundi, sivakoti stuupam vundi. life-size saneeswarudi vigraham vundi. aa pedda sivalingam prathi samvatsaram oka nuvvuginjantha perugutundata. saayantram kalabhairavudi gudi vadda mrityinjayaalayam, krittivaaseeswaralayam kuda darsinchaamu. ikkade gajasuridini shivudi samharinchaduta.

Upasamhaaram:

Guruvugari pravachanaalalo nitya jeevitham lo anustimpavalasina konni sutralu(in my understanding) .

(a) Naaluka (Think before you utter a word or chat(for s/w eng))

(b) Naaluka (Think before you eat/drink. Eeswara nivedhana chesina taruvatha eedaina tinaali leka taagali) ee renditi jayisthe sagam jayinchinatte.

(c) koopaniki vasamavvataaniki , techipettukodaaniki theda gamaninchaali. koopaniki vashamaina vaadu matladee maataki ardham vundadu, eedo preeluthadu. koopam techi pettukuni maatlade vaadi maatalo prathi padaaniki ardham vuntundi. avatali vaadi abhyunnatini koratadu. vaadu alochinchukuni prepare ayyi text raasukuni kuda koppadachu.

(d) Kaashi lo okasari naamam chesthe kotisarlu naamam cheppinattu. alaage okasari tappu chesthi (kamakrodalaku vasudaithe, ahankarinchi itarula manasu noppisthe) koti tappulu chesinattu. Kshetralaku velinappudu tasmaath jagrata jagratta.

Manam tinee food teeth namilithe naalika lopaliki teesukuntundi, so okasari teeth ni varam koruko ani naaluka adigithe. " ammaa talli nuvvu maatlade mundu alochinchi maatladu. nuvvedo ahankarinchi peelithee avatali vaadu akkada nunchi nee pallu raalagodatanu antaaru, maaku leniponi upadravam munchukostundi " annayata teeth. Kashilo ekkada chusina aavulee(pavitrathaku chihnam), vishwanaatha sivalingam chaala peddadi. oka straight line lo mandapaalu vuntayi, modati mandapam lo dandapaani devalayam, daaniki eduruga oka sivalingam, daaniki eduruga garbagudilo oka corner ki viswanathuni jyothirlingam vuntundi. idhe straight line lo vere rendu peddamandapalalo sivalingalu vuntayi. mukthimandapam vuntundi. Inka annapurnamma murthy, parvathi matha, ganapathi, puvvulatho alankarinchabadina lakshmidevi sametha satyanarayana swamy vuntaaru, nandeeswarudu aneeka sivalingalu vuntayi. Annapurnadevi devalayam lo hanuma, vigneshwarudu vuntaru, venakaala bhojanasala(uchita annadanam). annapurnamma 2 feet idol vuntundi chetito annam biksha pedutunnatuga vuntundi. oka puja lo pratyekamga shivudu biksha teesukunnatuga arrange chestaru. Kashi lo mottam koti sivalingalu vuntaayata. Gangamma vadduna kurchuni Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara Siva Siva Sankara , Kailasa Sankara, Kaaladi Sankara, Kamakshi Sankara, Kaamakoti Sankara, Jai Ganga Jai Jai Ganga ani nooru novvanga keerthinche adrustanni eeswarudu kataakshinchaadu. Gangammani amma ani pilisthe pommma ani mukthi kadaku pampistundata. Kaasikapuraadhinatha kalabhairavam bhajee. aa kaashi vishwanathudu, annapurnamma, vishalaakshamma, gangamma, dundi ganapathi, aa kaalabhairavudu.. missing kashi.. Punardarshana Praapthirasthu...

Ohm Namah Sivaaya

- Oka kinkarudu

Pai viseshaalalo eevaina doshaluntee avi naa understanding and memory lo dooshalu ga bhavinchi nenu manninchebadedanu gaaka.

Paradeesayaaanam

Feb 20th-> Packed up everything to go to US. We reached Mumbai aiport around 12:00am in a tavera. After the formalities waited for the flight to Frankfurt. It was fun watching all sorts of people in all sorts of apparels with strange baggages. After a long wait, we entered the flight with greetings from the hostesses. The snacks served in the flight were yummy. The television showed speeds upto 1000kmph and temperatures upto -58 degree Fahrenhiet. I had all sorts of scientific questions revolving in my mind like how are the clouds formed, how do flights fly, how do the forces balance, how do birds manage to fly and so on. I promised myself to check for these on the internet. After 9 hours we reached Frankfurt in Germany. As the airlines was Lufthansa (German), everything was explained in two languages German and English. It snowed heavily in Frankfurt. The flight revolved around the airport for a few minutes and finally landed. The airport at Frankfurt was pretty large. We walked for 15 to 20 minutes appreciating the airport facility and reached terminal A. You find moving walkways here. We refreshed at the rest rooms over there. In western countries, you donot have a tap in the toilets. you have to manage with tissue papers or carry a bottle of water along. We could see snow falling outside the airport. The wierd thing at the airport is that the house-keeping for the gents toilet is also handled by a lady. After We were thoroughly checked twice, We took the flight to Boston. The snacks course in the flight had beef and all other meat stuff. I took veggie course, watched movies on the little movable screen. The hostess gave 2 forms viz immigration form and customs form. We reached Boston after 9 hours. There were queues and televisions demonstrating the process involved at the immigration counters. The guy at the counter asked questions like purpose of the visit, duration and other general questions. I was requested to give my fingerprints . A photograph was taken. "Is this the first time you are coming to US?". He said "Welcome to the United states" and attached a departure note to a page in the passport. We collected the checked-in baggage and waited in the queue for customs clearance. The guy at the counter asked me if I had anything edible in my baggage. I said "No". He sent me to another counter where my baggage was scanned. I was requested to open the baggage. I had rice,noodles,dal,pulses,tamarind, peanuts etc. She asked me " What made you say you did not have anything edible". I said I thought by edible she meant ready-to-eat stuff. Then she said food covers all these. She said peanuts are not allowed into US and She could have fined me 300$. But as it is my first time she let me go. I set my foot on the land of the United States. My cousin and his better-half were awaiting my arrival. We started freezing and trembling as the cold wind blew on and on outside the airport. It is not the temperature that troubles but

the cold wave/wind that makes you shiver.

We met Tom, the conventional cab driver for sybase who drove us from the airport to the hotel Element in Lexington. The drive was pleasant. No speedbreakers/tampered roads/autoes/cycles/rickshaws/bikes/buses. It was cars and cars on different lanes. The cars have global positiioning system which guides you through the roads. Tall buildings/flyovers it was like another world. The hotel was very luxurious. It has a gym and a pool.

Breakfast is complimentary. Evening snacks are compilmentary thrice a week. The room has a king-size heavenly bed, seperate sitting area, a fully equipped kitchen featuring a fridge,microwave, dish-washer, two-burner cooktop and utensils. It has a spa-like bathroom. My cousin brought vegetables to the hotel. I settled in an hour or so. We went to the nearest stop n shop to get a gallon of milk and eggs.

Feb 22nd 2010(Monday). Andy met us at the hotel. He rode us to office. He showed us the buildings and introduced to everyone there. There are 6 buildings for Sybase in Concord farms. There is a small aiport nearby. We met Lilly,Dave, Kent,George, Dean,Rolland, Mary Chapman, Rosemary, Tamilla, Naga, Aparna, Guy, and Neil. Andy, Kent, Hanu and myself went for lunch in the security building. We reached the hotel pretty late in the night. I slept at 10pm but wokeup at 4am possibly because of jet lag.

Feb 23rd 2010(Tuesday) We had a delicious complimentary breakfast and went to office in a shuttle provided by the hotel. This was 'the' day of jet lag as we felt sleepy in the office. Andy went to gym to exercise while we had lunch with Kent. We left to the hotel early.

Feb 24th 2010(Wednesday) We had a snow fall last night. Cars in the parking were covered by snow all over. Our body cylces got used to the US timezone. Joe hu gave a ride to burlington mall. The mall was huge. we roamed around. Some shops had expensive products.

Feb 25th 2010(thursday) Lilly took us to costco, a wholesale shop. Only members can buy merchandise here. After some window shopping, Lilly gave us a ride to the hotel back.

Feb 26th 2010(friday) Kurt's wife gave birth to a baby boy. He took parental leave for 2 weeks. My cousin took us to Mohegan sun casino in Connecticut. There are three general categories of casino games: table games, electronic gaming machines(slots), and random number ticket games such as Jackpot. Slot is a gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed. It is usually played by one player. It has a currency detector that validates the coin or money inserted to play. The machine pays off based on patterns of symbols visible on the front of the machine when it stops. Slot machines are the most popular gambling devices in casinos

and constitute about 70 percent of the average casino's income. Random number games like jackpot are based upon the selection of random numbers, either from a computerized random number generator or from other gaming equipment. In Roulette, players choose to place bets on a number or a range of numbers, the colors red or black, or whether the number is odd or even. To determine the winning number and color, a croupier spins a wheel in one direction, The ball eventually loses momentum and falls on to the wheel and into one of the numbered pockets on the wheel. then spins a ball in the opposite direction around a tilted circular track running around the circumference of the Table games like bacarrat and blackjack(21) are played on a table and operated by one or more live dealers. We reached Mansfield by 1am.

Feb 27th 2010(saturday) We went to walmart, staples, market basket, BJ, shop n stop, to get some vegetables and groceries in the morning. In the evening we went to a mall near mansfield. It was windy. We browsed around to look for shoes,watches, kitchen ware,and t-shirts. Costco and BJ are wholesale shops where you can buy only if you have membership. They sell merchandize in bulk amounts at inexpensive rates. They send discount coupons every month to

all members which can be availed on selected products. My cousin's car has a GPS system which helps in moving from any source to any destination. The roads are generally pretty good. Some roads do have patches that will be repaired after winter by closing corresponding lanes. The lane system is cool. Generally speed limits are 65mph. At some places it could be still higher. Cops wouldn't mind you driving upto 75mph in general. The leftmost lane is overtaking lane.

You have to give way to any cars speeding up behind you if you are in this lane. Cars are cheaper when compared to ones in Australia. My cousin's car is Acura. It gives a mileage of 17miles per gallon. The gas stations are self-help types. You swipe the card and pump gas on your own. My cousin showed me a retirement colony where old people live in independent houses if their pension is decent. Others live in a place with common dining and eat paid meals. They are

pretty happy here and do not wish to depend on their children. They exhibit self-dignity.

Feb 28th 2010(sunday) My cousin took me to Alewife station which is a subway train station. There are 5lines red, green,blue, orange and silver which reach various places in and around boston downtown. The charges are 10$ for a day pass and 1.7$ per ride. With the ride ticket, you

can actually do multiple rides but without going out of any of the subway stations into the streets. It is all electronic self-help system. Parking at alewife station costs you 8$. We took the subway train till Harvard square. We visited Harvard university, the science centre,

library and memorial hall. We went to MIT in train. We found ISKON american folks dancing energetically chanting Hare Rama Hare Krishna. We visited Public Library, Apple store and Prudential, the 52-storey building in Boylston street. We lunched mexican food. we took skywalk tickets(10$) to get a hawk-eye view from the 50th floor of Prudential. Boston downtown looked beautiful. We could see the airport, MIT, Hancock place(tallest in Boston), Harvard in Cambridge, baseball ground, symphony hall, sCharles river, roads, flyovers, houses and tall buildings. We saw a video of the history of boston. We visited public gardens and took the subway train to haymarket station. This one is like american version of rhythu bazaar where farmers sell their products directly to customers. We then went back to Park station

to get into the red line to go back to Alewife. When I saw the courteous poilte way in which Americans greeted me at the hotel and office, I assumed that it is so everywhere, but I was wrong. This polite behavior is visible only at less-populated communes. In malls, shopping complexes, it is more or less like India, but they tend not to be rude, give you way most of

the times, respect you etc. But they dont say 'hai' to strangers deliberately as was the case at my hotel. In big malls, you also have an option of self checkout where you dont need assistance of staff to bill the products. My cousin dropped me at the hotel by 6pm I had a hot spa-bath and finished writing this blog for the 1st week.