Adventures with the Raos - Mohini

This is my friend Mohini, and she always brings me on the best adventures! She's the one that brought me to the yoga class at the school on my last visit. Mohini heads up the Ashram's Ganeshpuri Yoga School project. She is extremely well educated, with multiple degrees. She has dedicated her life to supporting tribal village communities. She is my best resource for the culturally proper way to do anything in India. She is a powerhouse, and creates positive change in so many lives. She knows so many people, and has so many friends. I'm proud and lucky to call myself one of them. Mohini also took me on my first scooter ride on my 2023 visit, which was delightful. It's never a dull moment when Mohini is around!

The night before the retreat began, I headed out with Mohini and a half dozen other women to an event in Vajeshwari, the next village over. It was a women's gathering at a local Brahma Kumari Ashram.

There were games, including this one where you had to put on a sweater while keeping a balloon afloat.

And this one, where you had to blow up a balloon enough to pick up the cup and create a stack of cups.

I think they were being nice and letting me win - lol! Then there were some refreshments - these potato fritters were spicy. The bread helped calm the heat.

One of the teachers there gave me a tour of their Ashram, and let me take pictures of the beautiful artwork lining the walls.

My friend Mohini performed an Agni Hotra, which is a fire ceremony done daily at sunrise and sunset. It is simple, quick, and purifies your body and environment.

These women in white are the swamis in this tradition. They have taken vows of renunciation, and are the teachers for this Brahma Kumari community.

We were also celebrating India's Republic Day, so someone was dressed as Mother India.

Jai Ma!