We started our journey to Valsad on 19thNov, 2014. This was my first train journey to a distant place so I was very excited&tensed. In train you have to compromise with your comfort but my companions helped me a lot to adjust with all things. During the day I was watching the scenic beauties of different places through the windows of the train. We shared food with each other.

After two days train journey on 21stNovember we reached Surat and from there we went to Valsad Sri Sarada Math by bus. All of us were very tired at that time but when we saw Matajis smiling face at the gate, we forgot all our pains. There we stayed at a guest house named Sir Ram complex near Math.

On 22ndNov we went to Sanskar Kendra Hall to attend the convention. At the inaugural session there were Smt. Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister, Gujarat, Most Revered AmalapranaMataji, Revered Nikhilaprana Mataji and many other respectable persons. Afternoon session’sKathak performance was very nice. The panel discussion was very interesting and the moderator was Rev. AtandrapranaMataji.

In the evening session Rev.AmitapranaMataji spoke very well. I must talk about Bhasha Vaghani, Ambassador of ‘Save the Girl Child Project’ Surat. She spoke on Swamiji and the importance of women in the society. There was an exquisite performance of the traditional Garba the folk dance of Gujarat.

On 23rd Nov, Rev. Amalaprana Mataji and Rev. Atandraprana Mataji delivered very inspiring speeches. Dr. T.G.K.Murthy’s lecture was powerful. In the afternoon session Rev. Amitaprana Mataji and many other renowned persons spoke on different topics. Dr.Suruchi Pande’s speech was markable. In the evening session we met Bhakti Sharma, Swimmer Nation Champion. She shared her success story and told us how Swamiji inspired her. The tribal dance was very energetic and entertaining.
On 24th Nov we went for our local sightseeing. We visited the Shiv Mandir, Sai Mandir, Swami Narayan Mandir, Tithal beach and Mataji’s Mandir etc.

On 25ht Nov we went to visit Mumbai for a day. We saw the Kanheri caves but I cannot express the experience in words. It was simple awesome. We prayed inside the cave and it was echoing all over the place. From there we went to proper Mumbai city and we saw from the bus Marine drive, houses of celebrities, Wankhede Stadium, Sea line, Necklace beach and many other important buildings. At last we went to see the gate way of India and saw Taj Hotel. From there we ultimately reached C.S.T station to board the Mumbai Mail.

In the train we spent a very good time with each other. This trip has been very important for me because I have been many things which I can never forget. Gujarat food was totally different from ours but I liked them. The experience has been unforgettable. Previously we have participated in many programmes organised in our state of West Bengal to mark the celebration of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary. However the Gujarat experience has been different and unique. In this tour we have explored a new state which was totally unknown to us. This trip was full of excitement and we have learnt a lot of things.

We may not understand their language but their attitude was very positive towards us. This trip has justified the name of the project, ’Know your country’. We have explored another state got the taste and feel of another culture and this was definitely an important step towards knowing my country.