In spite of being a hardcore Indian which I am and a student of architecture, it was only mid way through my course that i got to visit the Taj and experience the mystical magical moment, the moment.
Growing up in an era where tea brands to TV commercials portrayed Taj mahal much more than a world wonder, I failed to to realize the charm it carried and lived in. I dont remember if it was my indifference or ignorance that made me waste 20 fruitful years of my life..Errr
I couldn't help recalling the moment after the TV played songs from Mouna Raagam and Thandavam back to back, featuring the TAJ. Here goes the story.The college trip part of our curriculum in 2008 gave our batch two unforgettable experiences, the Taj hotel in Mumbai was bombed a couple of days after we had visited the place and had happily photographed ourselves right in front of it. We had chills when we saw the place being telecasted live for close to 24 hrs the day of hostage.
The better half of the trip was more than a soother. We woke up to the chilly December morning in Delhi to be told by our coordinator that the D Day at Delhi has come and it was the Taj, amid confusions if to wear a black or a white, Oh yes the wardrobe decisions are never easy to make, I settled for a black, mentally I just wanted to standout at Taj and not realizing it was more than a backdrop any day.
After a good deal of bargain at the gates for a thread bangle and cleaning of camera lens, I followed the herd along the path that led to the memorial. I feel a chill run down even now as I recall that moment, the moment I got the glimpse of the marvel in front of me, the euphoric moment to be true. It was beyond the white marble, more than the intricacy, not even the symmetry or the architecture. It was Taj , completely, yes the whole is always greater than the sum of the parts, even if every part is a delight by itself.It made me go bi polar(discovered the word recently, didn't know it was that then), the moment where your vision goes hazy, mouth goes dry, hands numb, legs fail to move, the surrounding go mute but the mind is ecstatic. The moment I cant express through words, that just was understood by my heart more than my mind.
Every time after this transcendental awakening, whenever I see a painting or an image of the Taj, I cant help thinking how it makes me feel so small. A wonder made by man to represent the best of feeling s of mankind, that which makes you fall in love with it, again and again, endlessly.
Wah Taj!!
( I am sure a second trip to here will be better because,
Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.-Paulo Coelho)
Growing up in an era where tea brands to TV commercials portrayed Taj mahal much more than a world wonder, I failed to to realize the charm it carried and lived in. I dont remember if it was my indifference or ignorance that made me waste 20 fruitful years of my life..Errr
I couldn't help recalling the moment after the TV played songs from Mouna Raagam and Thandavam back to back, featuring the TAJ. Here goes the story.The college trip part of our curriculum in 2008 gave our batch two unforgettable experiences, the Taj hotel in Mumbai was bombed a couple of days after we had visited the place and had happily photographed ourselves right in front of it. We had chills when we saw the place being telecasted live for close to 24 hrs the day of hostage.
The better half of the trip was more than a soother. We woke up to the chilly December morning in Delhi to be told by our coordinator that the D Day at Delhi has come and it was the Taj, amid confusions if to wear a black or a white, Oh yes the wardrobe decisions are never easy to make, I settled for a black, mentally I just wanted to standout at Taj and not realizing it was more than a backdrop any day.
After a good deal of bargain at the gates for a thread bangle and cleaning of camera lens, I followed the herd along the path that led to the memorial. I feel a chill run down even now as I recall that moment, the moment I got the glimpse of the marvel in front of me, the euphoric moment to be true. It was beyond the white marble, more than the intricacy, not even the symmetry or the architecture. It was Taj , completely, yes the whole is always greater than the sum of the parts, even if every part is a delight by itself.It made me go bi polar(discovered the word recently, didn't know it was that then), the moment where your vision goes hazy, mouth goes dry, hands numb, legs fail to move, the surrounding go mute but the mind is ecstatic. The moment I cant express through words, that just was understood by my heart more than my mind.
Every time after this transcendental awakening, whenever I see a painting or an image of the Taj, I cant help thinking how it makes me feel so small. A wonder made by man to represent the best of feeling s of mankind, that which makes you fall in love with it, again and again, endlessly.
Wah Taj!!
( I am sure a second trip to here will be better because,
Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.-Paulo Coelho)
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