The Sangh - Part 2

Traditions are funny things. They tend to overburden you with norms and expectations, without ever having to explain the reason behind the actions. But strangely enough, they always do have a purpose. It's just that the purpose gets lost somewhere along the way. 

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 After that first meeting in Chail, the Sangh eventually evolved into a tradition. It became a part of their yearly calendars, and there was no two ways about it. Traveling not only from different parts of the country, but soon from different parts of the world, the family converged at locations ranging from Ooty to Gangtok to Kumbalgarh to the deeper parts of the Himalayas. Resorts were blocked well in advance, applications for leaves submitted to work, travel arrangements made in meticulous detail, and bags packed to last an entire week.

To outsiders, it might have often appeared a little bizarre – the idea of 20 family members dropping everything for a week every year and traveling to a remote location to be with family. Maybe it is. I certainly haven’t met anyone else who has such a tradition. It can be difficult for someone who has never been a part of the Sangh to understand this particular tradition.

Or perhaps it can be really easy to understand it, if they consider a simple premise: maybe all the family members really do want to meet and spend time with each other.

Granted, they all had different reasons. For some, it meant spiritual guidance. For some, a chance to walk down memory lane. For some, a chance to build new memories. For some, a chance to learn. For some, a chance to share. For some, a chance to unwind, allowing everything else in their lives to fade into the background. In the end, it didn't matter whether their reasons were same or different, as long as they were there. 

Like I said, traditions do have a purpose. It may not be obvious, but it's there.

Sometimes, you just need to dig deep enough to uncover it. 

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In two days, the family will begin their journey to a new location, marking the beginning of the 16th Sangh Meet.