INDIA EXCERPT

Two weeks in Northern India traveling with a group of artists

as a part of a sociological project on humanity.

Why did I travel to India...

"WE ARE TRAVELLERS" Film and Docu-Series 

Forty pounds of clothes, camera gear, tents, and sleeping bags strapped to our backs. I assumed that it would be difficult to lose sight of any one of us in the group, and yet the bustling crowd of people in the New Delhi train station had swallowed up any sight of the man who had brought us all here together.

Rahul Himanti, the director of We Are Travellers, was the organizer behind this upcoming documentary on humanity. We Are Travellers is a project of compassion and peace at its very core, and subsequently brought together eight people from seven different countries to begin the first stage of filming. As I looked around at the hundreds of people scurrying past me, I began to consider aborting the mission of finding Rahul, and instead looking for a cup of chai.

However, emerging from the crowd just as quickly as he had retreated, Rahul motioned rapidly for us to follow him to our train track for boarding. In my jetlagged state, I was thankful for the delay in our boarding time; which coincidently was just enough time to find a chai tea.

Traveling together as a group of strangers in India was surprisingly fluid and natural. We had all joined the project to promote positive connectivity in humanity; and I believe we all craved a new adventure as well. We were travelers from Russia, Poland, France, Haiti, Lithuania, India, and the United States. Languages merged and our cultures were shared in mutual curiosity, respect, and understanding. Nights were spent in musical harmony as we sang, played instruments, and laughed together.

We were housed by Ashrams and families who opened up their homes to us. We were given the opportunity to learn and practice meditation while staying at the Satkhol Himalyan Ashram at the beginning of our journey. This became a daily routine for many, if not all, of us. I remember after the first group meditation we all attended, one of the veteran students at the Ashram pulled me aside. She told me that we were all connected through a metaphorical string. She spoke of the string as an unwavering connector that had been formed between all of us, and between any soul that we had come in contact with in our lives. At the time, I believed her, but I did not understand what that string truly meant yet.

Over a year later, and I have been shown the meaning of the metaphorical string multiple times. We have all taken different paths since filming ended on the first segment of We Are Travelers, but when I am meditating I can feel the string pull me towards my fellow travelers. The string will continue to loosen and to tighten throughout my life between each individual. And while I may not get to see some of them again in this lifetime, it is a beautiful feeling to be connected. 

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW FOR AN INSIDE LOOK.

The image below was shot on 35mm film by Rokas Gecevicius. Can you believe it was his first time using a film camera?! I find the colors and composition beautiful. 

The women in Uttarakhand lent us these beautiful traditional Sarees to wear for a community celebration. Music, dancing, singing, and laughter ensued for the whole day. 

Looking for a way to volunteer in Northern Uttarakhand? ROSE Kanda is an NGO helping educate the children in the rural area. Check out the video for more information. 

Volunteer or Visit ROSE KANDA 

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