RAJASTHAN RHAPSODY (GAJNER) 2025: Day 02 - 02

GAJNER’S GRAND FINALE

PHOTOSHOOT, INNATE TALENT AND LAKEFRONT MELODIES

 

Day two, afternoon, and the excitement was brewing! After enjoying the wildlife safari in the morning and a sumptuous breakfast later, we opted for a leisurely forenoon, exploring the sprawling complex of enchanting Gajner Palace. Those ancient trees? Majestic is an understatement!

Who is enjoying more? The parrots taking a bath or we watching their delight?

And the parrot party at the fountain? Pure avian delight! Plus, moments of peace under a sprawling Peepal tree with a cup of tea – unadulterated bliss!

The serene temple where one could seek blessings from Lord Shiva & Lord Ganesha in peace.

There was a small temple in front of our suite, with two statues, one of Lord Ganesha and the other of Lord Shiva with Shivaling, an ideal place for a peaceful prayer and uninterrupted meditation.

But the real buzz? The group photo was at 4 PM sharp! The dress code was in place. Our organisers had outdone themselves, crafting a royal Rajasthani experience, especially for the women. For the gents, dapper blue jackets. For the ladies? A pink lehenga dream! They had taken the trouble of dispatching the kurta fabric to us in advance, and we all had pre-stitched our kurtis. Opening the lehenga bag in the room, I was astonished to find a pack of safety pins with it to tuck the chunri in place! Talk about attention to detail! If I wore a hat, I would have doffed it for Rashi, who silently organised everything for us in the minutest detail.

The lively members of the group, women in Rajasthani Lehenga and men in their dapper blue jackets

We were required to assemble for the group photo at 4 PM as the light was ideal then. Now, the lehenga was a breeze, but the chunri? That was an altogether different story! Frantic reference to YouTube tutorials was of no use. Time was ticking away! Panic mode was setting in, especially with my Matha Patti refusing to stay in place. But hey, a little improvisation and a dash of determination pushed me to disregard the need for perfection. I was ready for my lehenga debut! And let me tell you, it was exciting! There has to be a first for everything! And for me, at this ripe old age, it was a godsent opportunity to flaunt a lehenga for the first time in my life. Oh! I was thrilled and decided to don dark shades too, “Tashan ke liye” as a true Dilliwali.

After the photo session, we indulged in some tea and snacks on the lawn, but the heat was a bit of a party pooper for the satin lehenga. A quick change later, and we were off to the lakeside for a musical extravaganza!

The rays of the setting sun playing with the still water of the Gajner lake.

The sun was setting over the lake! The breathtaking mix of hues was beyond description. It was impossible to decide which was better, the sunrise over the desert landscape or the shimmering sunset with reflections on the lake.

The musical evening started soon. And what an extravaganza it was! The members of our group, the 75-80-year-old rock stars, took the stage! Some could barely stand, but their voices? Pure gold! What a talent and splendid performance! Were they engineers? Top executives? Or secret Bollywood stars? We were left speechless!

The music flowed non-stop. The frequent applause echoed in the nearby jungle across the lake, and the evening stretched into the wee hours of the morning. It was a night of pure magic, a testament to the incredible spirit and talent of the group. Hats off to these superb individuals!

Gajner Palace was not just a destination; it was a stage for unforgettable memories, a celebration of life, and a reminder that talent knows no age! And remember, life is a song, so sing it loud without hesitation!

Stay tuned for more adventures! We still have a day left from our itinerary of visit to Bikaner as a part of our three-day Rajasthan Rhapsody.

(To continue)

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