A Home Away from Home

Landing in Imphal (Manipur), witnessing the mighty mountains, embracing the cool, fresh air, and stepping into a life-changing journey — me, my aai (mother), and baba (father) were welcomed with Batata Vada. Yes, you read that right — Batata Vada! I was so happily surprised that our very first stop, even before reaching my new home, was a small joint where a lady was frying Garama-Garam (hot) Batata Vadas — though here, they called it Aloo Bora. Later, as I sat in my new place with a cup of Red Tea in one hand and Aloo Bora in the other, I felt a mix of emotions. I was happy to find a sense of connection — a kind of similarity between Maharashtra and Manipur, with a hint of difference brought in by the taste of mustard oil. It was familiar, yet different.

Meanwhile, our local karyakarta, Sarita Didi, came to greet us. She brought Banana Flower Sabji and shared that it’s customary to offer this to newcomers — It’s rich in fibre and helps the gut adjust to the local environment.  This simple gesture took me back to my beloved Konkan region — where we eat on banana leaves, cook Banana Flower Sabji, have fried bananas, and so much more.

The evening went well with Red Tea, Aloo Boras, and Warm Welcomes!

That night felt different. I was with my aai and baba — but in a new home. My aai was helping in the kitchen, cooking — yet the smell of the tempering (tadka) was different. It was mustard oil!

The night was colder and quieter than the bustling city nights I was used to. It was peaceful — calm, silent, and still. We had a Kendra Praarthana in front of Omkara. I had learned this prayer during the Sevavrati Shivir at Kanyakumari. I don’t know why, but the line “Bhavatu Vihat Vighna Dhyeya Marganu Yatra” (May the journey on the path of the goal remain unhindered by obstacles) always fills me with faith — faith that everything good shall come.

Yet, something inside felt new — a quiet kind of uncertainty. I wondered what my parents must have been thinking in that moment! How their daughter, who had never left her home — born and brought up in the same city — was going to manage here.

I looked at the moon — it was half visible and half covered in clouds. It felt like a reflection of the state of our hearts — half lit with hope for what’s ahead, and half unsure about the change.

And so... the journey begins!