The heart goes on pilgrimage.

What better place to journey than to incredible India where InterPlay hearts have been opening for the last four years. Cynthia and Prashant lead this journey into the heart of India to encounter the spirituality, playfulness, and entrepreneurial wisdom of a land and people that birthed religions, healing practices, and peacemaking wisdom. Daily opportunities for InterPlay, meditation, friendship and reflection will be created. We’ll visit sacred sites, enjoy InterPlay exchanges, meet scholars, artists, and teachers, and interact with tribal people, visit homes, museums, and experience local cuisine. We’ll welcome the synchronous, mysterious magic of this once in a lifetime journey of the heart.

The Trip

This trip is designed to give you a broad cultural and geographical experience of India. Begin at InterPlay India's home base, Jivan Vikas Sadan (Bandra) Jesuit Retreat House in Mumbai on the Arabian Sea. Gather with Cynthia, Trish Watts and InterPlay travelers from India, the US and Australia to play for peace. Take a boat ride to the ancient Elephanta Caves, travel to South Gujarat to visit tribal people in Dedhiapada. Visit Delhi, Sarnath—site of Buddha’s first teachings—and Varanasi on the banks of the River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, regarded as holy by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Mark Twain says “It’s older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” Conclude the trip at the iconic heart temple, the Taj Mahal.

Tentative Schedule

Jan 6   Arr. Mumbai (Jivanvikas Sadan Retreat House - Bandra)
Jan 7   Free Day until Inauguration from 5-8 pm: (InterPlay + Reflection on 'Challenges to Peacemakers')
Jan 8-9   InterPlay Workshops at Retreat House
Jan 10   Trip to Elephanta Caves
Jan 11   Mumbai to Dedhiapada via Bharuch (Train/Road)
Jan 11-13    Cultural Exposure with Vasava Tribals at Dedhiapada & neighbouring villages
Jan 14   By road to Baroda/Ahmedabad and from there to Varanasi by air
Jan 15-17   Visit holy places at Varanasi & Sarnath (Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam & Christianity)
Jan 18   am: Reflection + pm: Varanasi to Delhi by air
Jan 19   Trip to Agra & Back to Delhi by train (Visit to Fatehpur Sikhri, Agra Fort & Taj Mahal)
Jan 20   Departure from Delhi

Cost

The cost for the trip is $3100 USD. This includes all food, accommodations, in-country travel and tuition beginning the night of Jan 6 and ending the morning of Jan 21. It does not cover airfare to and from India. There may be a few meals while the group is in transit that you will need to pay for yourself, but all other meals are included. A deposit of $500 is due October 15 to reserve your spot. The balance of $2600 will be due on November 30. We expect this trip to fill up quickly so it is important to get your deposit in to reserve your spot. The trip is limited to 15 people.

Travel to and from India

Participants will be responsible for scheduling their air transportation to and from India. You will need to arrive in Mumbai by Jan 6. Arrangements will be made to get you from the airport to the retreat center. Accommodations there begin the night of Jan 6. You may arrive earlier and can probably stay at the retreat center for a separate cost. The tour will end on Jan 19 in Delhi with accommodations provided for that evening. You may depart for home or other locations from Delhi anytime on Jan 20 or after that. (Note: this means that you may want to arrange flights that arrive in Mumbai and depart from Delhi.)

Contact Cynthia Winton-Henry to indicate interest cynthia@interplay.org.

A Poem about India by Trish Watts

Remember this!
Don’t forget to dance!
Don’t forget to sing!
Don’t forget to drum!
Don’t forget to dream!

Never ever forget!!!!
Remember to dance, sing, drum and dream, this IS the way of health for a community!

Stay close to the earth
close to each other
close to the Source
close to the earth, each other and the Source
Don’t forget who you are and to whom you belong, and play, play, play
Play with abandon!

Ah…such a wild, exhilarating night of boundless joy!
What a gift!

© Trish Watts January 2009 Bardi Pada Tribal Festival, India