From 21 May to 5 June 2006, Swamiji is visiting the Garhwal region of the Himalayan range, leading a group of 200 devotees from all over the world. This is the third consecutive year that Swamiji is making this trip. This region of the Himalayas is closely related with the legends of Hindu mythology, especially with the legendry heroes of great Hindu epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Garhwal has its prehistory hidden in the heavy veils of time and nestles some of the magnificent peaks of the Himalayan range.
The places covered during the visit are in the Uttaranchal State of North India and include: Rishikesh, Yamunotri, Uttarkashi, Gangotri, Joshimath, Srinagar, Kedarnath, Badrinath and Haridwar. Of these, the four places - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are collectively called the Char Dham - the four hallowed shrines of the Himalayas.
20 May, New Delhi - Eve of the Himalayan trip - welcome procession by devotees of Delhi.
20 May, New Delhi - Holy water offering to the Maha Meru, which is a mystical representation of the Cosmos. It has subtle-energies polarized and embedded in it and represents the whole Universal Energy and the energy in every animate and inanimate object. It is capable of removing any cause of disharmony in any part of the human body, environment and family life, if its potency is properly utilized. The Maha Meru transmits the Divine Energy, when sanctified in the proper way.
22 May, Delhi - In the following three pictures, Swamiji is seen walking with a coconut in his hand towards the buses in New Delhi, which are ready to start the journey to Rishikesh. He offers camphor on the coconut and breaks it (the coconut is broken to symbolize the breaking of the ego), flagging off the start of the journey.
22 May, Delhi - In the following two pictures, Swamiji holds a pumpkin in his hand and breaks that too in front of the buses, another custom before start of any journey, before the group sets off to Rishikesh.
22 May, Rishikesh - The group arrives in Rishikesh. They are seen here on the banks of the sacred river Ganges, getting ready for the puja and homa that followed.
22 May, Rishikesh - A homa (an offering with the fire element) in progress after taking a dip in the Ganges.
22 May, Rishikesh - Swamiji blesses and gives the saffron robe to each one to wear for the rest of the Himalayan trip
22 May, Rishikesh - Swamiji with the group at Rishikesh at nighttime.
