Bhog ceremony in Faridkot

Travelled to Faridkot yesterday to attend a(bhog)death ceremony).The woman who died lived in the neighbourhood but the funeral etc took place in their village.The village was about 6 kilometers away from Sadiq which might be roughly 30 kilometers from Fridkot.The village is named Pindi.As I asked from others a person could reach Guru Har Sahai town if he travelled 15 kilometers further on the same road.Onething special about the journey was that the air was smoky.It is because the farmers have recently burnt the paddy straw which is left out after the harvest.The air used to be such soothing and refreshing when I was a child.The modern farming is perhaps putting a heavy strain on the environment.Being quite near the Pakistan border the area appeared to be comparitively less developed.We were served food before and after the function.The Kirtania had earlier been to Canada as he himself mentioned..He was dressed like a Nihang Singh.After the prayer session there were condolence speaches by the political leaders.We went by a mini bus hired by the relatives of my neighbours.I offered to share the fare but they refused to take money from me.

Chess fever

Sewapreet went along with his mother to Ludhiana on train to take part in the open chess tournament.I got a call from them that the match would continue till late evening.I and Simran decided to go there on the car and acompany them so that they do not have any problem.
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'Tum Karo daya mere Saein------'this shabad is being heard from our room at Gurudwara Kalgidhar Ludhiana.We stayed here last night as Sewapreet is taking part in the Open Chess tournament.The fourth round of match is going to start at 8:30 am at Sita Mata Mandir.Some matches were to take place early morning the next day.The four of us sat in the car.Jam Jam Jam!The traffic jam near Clock tower area was very very severe.Initially we wanted to stay at Gurudwara Alamgir(outside Ludhiana).Then we thought of Gurudwara Dukhniwaran but ultimately went to Gurudwara Kalgidhar.Nice parking place,clean washrooms,good room,good langar,good everything.These days Rs 100 is charged for the room service.
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The problem Sewapreet has at this type of outings is that he is not used the Indian style toilets.Just now he came with the news that he has cleared his bowel.Ha ha.!
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Out of six matches played by Sewapreet 2 were won,1was draw.It could be because most of his matches were with 9th or 10th grade students and he himself is in the sixth grade.We did not wait for the award ceremony and left for Jagaon.When we left the Kalgidhar Gurudwara'lady sangeet' was in progress.The Shabad that was being sung was 'Praani eko naam theavo--------apni pat saeti ghar jaavo------'
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There was not much traffic problem in Ludhiana as it was Sunday.At a red light we bought the sun screens that can be put on the windows of the car.The fellow was quite a smart sales man.He said he would give 2 screens for Rs.50.Since I did not wish to buy I said I wanted four.He agreed and then I had to buy.Later I felt that they were not worth Rs 100.We reached back home safe and sound.It is quite a big thing in Punjab.

Attending marriage at village Sekha in Sangrur District

Today is Saturday and we would be getting our car ready for a visit to
Saikha which is in district Sangrur.
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The petrol pipe of the car was leaking and hence the petrol was being
wasted. We got it replaced and got the tyre pressure checked.Fifty
five Rupees were spent on it.Simran dusted the seats.He had already
washed our humble Maruti 800 a day or two ago.
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Today is Sunday.It is 6.12 am.I am sitting in the car waiting for
others to come.
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We reached Sekha village through Barnala highway.Someone rightly
guided us but we were thankless as we found the road and kutcha in the
middle for about 1 kilometer.In all that road was about 6 kms.But it
was nice as it was through the lush green fields.After attending the
marriage someone again guided us to follow the same route but we were
quite thankless and followed the broader road.After reaching the
highway I got a feeling that a policeman is giving me an indication to
pass through a narrow lane.As a principal i do not look at the
policeman and avoid eye contact lest they should start checking the
documents.And then I realised my mistake as there was a flyover under
construction in front of us.We had to take a U turn and go a long way
through the Bazaar to cross the railway line and reach back to the
highway.at the highway my maximum speed was 100 km per hour.But that
was for a short time.We had paid a toll tax of Rs.34 for going and
coming.Money paid wouldn't have pinched had the flyover been
functional.Why are things so slow?Last year also I found the flyover
under construction and who knows how much more time it would take to
become functional.

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Sent from my mobile device

Drivers in my country need to have the skills of a pilot or rather an astronaught

Went to Dhuri by car to attend the Bhog ceremony of the brother in
law.Whereas while traveling through villages by car has an advantage
that fatal accidents are averted,there are a few disadvantages as
well.On some occasion a tractor may emerge from a lane
unexpectedly.Chances of tyre puncture are more.There are compartively
more bumps on the village roads.When two vehicles cross each other
there is a very narrow margin between them.A driver almost needs the
skills of a pilot to drive on the rural roads.Today my car was on a
speed breaker.It went back a little on its own and ...... it hit a car
that was just and just behind.The girl who was driving that car blew a
loud horn and came to us at the Jagraon road.I told her politely that
she ought to maintain a little distance while driving.The rear tyre
got punctured today near Raikot.It is a bit difficult to remember the
turns at the village ring road.After entering Raikot a right turn is
required near a barber's shop and after
that the way is almost straight. From the village Johalan it is simple
as one has merely got to follow the black road.At Lohgarh left turn is
required and then perhaps one need to just follow the black road
which would lead to Chappa.From Chappa there is a direct road to Dhuri
but I did not take a chance as last week we were advised that some
repairwork was taking place.Now that could be all the more difficult
for a car.So the route via Mithewal had to be adopted.On entering
Chappa left turn on the village ring road and then second left turn
leads to Mithewal.From Mithewal right turn is required at the village
ring road and then Perhaps the second right leads to Manal.From Manal
the route to Dhuri is simple.

A visit to Dhuri.

We went to Dhuri on the motorcycle.It was quite cold.From Raikot we
took the route through the villages.First we went to Jholan.Then to
Lohgarh.From Lohgarh to the village Chappa.From Chappa we went to
Mithewal.Mithewal could have been bypassed but we were advised that
there was some road repair of the sort being carried out on the
shorter way.From Mithewal we went to Manal.From Manal there is a
highway type road to Dhuri.I guess Dhuri bridge is 23 kilometers from
Manal.Several villages were there on the roadsides.The road was quite
fine.Dhuri is roughly 70 kilometers from Jagraon.We must have
travelled around 75 kilometers.There are some benifits of traveling
through the countryside.Firstly a person can enjoy the beauty of
country side.Secondly a person can avoid major accidents for which the
main roads of Punab are notorious.While coming back I was alone on the
motorcycle and took the same route.

A visit to Machiwara

Machiwara is in Ludhiana but the road from Machiwara to Ludhiana city is in a really bad condition.The Gurudwara is magnificient indeed.

Roads

Road from Raikot to Barnala is in good condition.Toll tax is taken but it is worth that.Road from Jagraon to Raikot is also ok.It is not wide but is ok as per the traffic.

visit to chandigarh

The road leading to Chandigarh is the least impressive.It is narrow.The recommended speed is 60km per hour.