नवसकाळी २०२५

।। श्री आशापुरी देव्यै नमः ।।

 

a pilgrimage, re-imagined.. नवसकाळी २०२५
 

You don't choose your passions, your passions choose you. (read in white) 🤍

 

for the past six years, the rhythm of नवरात्री has been measured not by the beats of the दांडिया, but by the steady crunch of boots on the trails in and around पुणे ⛰️.. translating to नवसकाळी, more than नवरात्री, the practice has been a nine-day pilgrimage across the city’s iconic hills and mountains, सिंहगड, तळजाई, खंडोबा / वेताळ / पाषाण टेकडी, घोरावडेश्वर 🏟️ - a challenging, reflective, and deeply rewarding experience 🎖️.. this year, the seventh of the streak, the established tradition faced an unprecedented change 😞, transforming a familiar ritual into a powerful lesson in adaptation and commitment 🤗..

(doodle #48) tumbler 🧋 

It's all about shifting the focus from "I'm proving" to "Improving".

the plan of execution was different this time, actually there was no plan at all 💬.. instead of preparing the backpack 🎒 for पुणे, family obligations called me to नाशिक.. while the scenic trails were off-limits, the spirit of the nine-day practice - the sustained, focused effort - was not 🤜 🤛..

Discipline, focus and consistency can take you farther than you think.

initial days were spent walking the quieter, more intimate paths in and around Parksyde homes.. the landscape was different, the energy was calmer 🌇, but the intent was the same - to dedicate body and mind to a sustained physical effort, treating the daily walk as a form of meditation and devotion 🧘‍♂️.. it was a beautiful contrast to the rugged ambition of otherwise treks, a change to portrait mode that provided a new perspective on the meaning of "pilgrimage" 🏘️..

Karma bides its time. (read in yellow) 💛

second day, however, brought a true test of resolve 🥺.. un-seasonal, continuous rain - a remnant of the erratic weather patterns 🌧️ that began earlier this year - turned the planned walk into a wash-out.. for the first time in seven years, a day was genuinely "lost" to the elements..

this setback, however, only fueled the fire..

 

 

 🎯 a sub-90 ✅.. the first ever

Feel the weight of your heartbeat, and remember that being alive right now is already enough.

 
upon returning to पुणे, the familiar lure of the सह्याद्रीs called.. for some reason, things happen differently every year on the seventh day, and this (seventh) year too wasn't any exception 🌦️ - the day's afternoon was well spent at सिंहगड, along with वैभव, चिंतन, and few सिंहगड veterans (रवि, सुबोध, देवू) unexpectedly crossing-by on the way up or down 😇.. this single trek became the symbolic anchor of the entire practice - a powerful return to the roots of the tradition, a nod to the majestic terrain ⛰️ that has been typically playing major role in defining नवसकाळी..

Instead of looking at others, how about we look at ourself?

for the remaining days, the focus was purely on compensating for the lost miles ✌️.. despite the initial interruptions and the geographical shift, the core rule of the tradition was upheld.. if not elevation gain, at least the distance was well achieved to the heights 📈, rather lengths 📏, of an average of 9 kms per day over the nine considered days of the event.. the walks became longer, the pace more determined, turning the city streets and accessible local paths into an extended, relentless training ground 👟.. even with the knowledge that this year's नवरात्री had ten days, going by the title नव, the plan stuck to the dedicated nine-day structure, honoring the event's original format ⌚..

 

Have interests outside your job. This is much more fun.

this year, although it was never planned, was a powerful departure from the six that preceded it.. it taught that the true "event" is not the location, nor the height, but the discipline of sustained movement 🕺.. the practice proved itself to be portable, resilient, and adaptable.. while the familiar sequence of सिंहगड to तळजाई to खंडोबा was broken, the dedication to cover the distance 🐾 and maintain the average was not..

Life is too short to re-invent the wheel.

 
नवसकाळी, now seven years strong, is less about conquering the peaks and more about conquering the small excuses in the mind 🙄.. it's a testament to the fact that personal traditions can survive shifts in geography, weather 🌧️, and life circumstances - they simply evolve.. life is hard, but so are You.

 

Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.

next year, the mountains will surely call again, to which a welcome response shall be prepared 🙏.. but this year's experience in नाशिक and on the plains of पुणे has redefined what it means to be on the move during this sacred time 🪅.. it was a truly unique, resilient, yet another successful year of hiking walking into the spirits of नवरात्री नवसकाळी..

 

थोडक्यात stats - 81.4 kms 👣..

.. and just to let the blog title "trekking" not feel left out 👇

the day 10ᵗʰ - life is hard, but so are You.