So what now??.....

The once golden tan is beginning to fade now.  I may need to pay a visit to a certain part of the East of London to maintain the colour.  Given the journey from Bhuj to Ahmedabad, I may need my spine readjusting too.  

Now that I’ve had some time to readjust to the climate, conditions and clock I thought I’ll blog a bit on the actual place I went to see. The actual mahima of it aside, the building itself is actually quite magnificent in a very subtle way.  As mentioned previously there are no stand out features as you would expect to see from a religious building in India.  When standing in the central courtyard – facing the famous “Room 5” and the fountain and gardens before that – you look up and around and you simply forget you’re in India.  I couldn't compare it to anything I’d seen before.  Not a temple, not a museum not even a corporate building. I felt as if I was indeed in a very unique place.  An instrumental piece of music plays in the background – it’s almost hypnotic.  The greenery and vivid plant life bedded everywhere only adds to the serenity.  You can actually sit there and stare without even worrying about time passing you by.

It costs about 20 Rs to get in.  Photography is not allowed without the purchase of a supplemental ticket.  Depending on which camera you have (mobile phone, photo, video) the price will vary.  The ticket allows you take pictures of museum inside and out with the exception of “Room 5” – the hall housing the main attractions.  There is still some work to do however judging by what has already been completed – it looks as if it’s quite minimal. 

I won’t go into great detail about the items on display however I will say that the way everything has been laid out is quite special.  A story begins as you walk in the first door and that story gradually develops as you foray through the exhibitions.  Swaminarayan Bhagwan’s childhood, His years in Gadhada, His time building temples, His time conducting sabhas, the scriptures written by nand santos – all His leelas are all recreated through the prasadi items and the descriptions placed in Gujarati and English.  It’s an experience.  That’s pretty much all I can say.  Not because I’m hiding anything.  Simply because words, pictures etc does not do justice to the visit.

So what now for Preservation Plus? The Museum has been built, the green energy has been put to use – so job done right? Well Preservation Plus may have started with the Museum, but it won’t end with the Museum.  Preservation Plus will hopefully be a long campaign that attaches itself to various projects of the Sampraday all over the world.  Building new mandirs, new schools, new halls.  Teachings, lectures, shibhirs, camps.  Preservation Plus will have no boundaries.  

At this time of global tragedy, our prayers, thoughts and support should be with those victims of Japan. With those who suffering oppression in Libya.  With anyone hurting due to natural disasters all over the world.  Preservation of humanity may sound too grand a task.  But history has taught us that every little we do, can help a lot.