Mixed feelings about the trip
By Aparna Sen
@Dreamerby (9912)
Calcutta, India
January 4, 2025 12:07pm CST
I reached home today. Infact its been just 3 hours since I walked in through the front door of my house.
I visited the temple on the 3rd day of our trip (2md Jan, 2025). The temple was overcrowded as expected and there was no proper crowd management by the police personnel present there. People were attempting to disrupt the line from every direction. It was not a pleasant experience
not something you expect at a holy place.
A temple is supposed to be where people find peace and bliss. However, improper crowd management has negated that belief.
Anyways, Overall so-so experience I would call it.
How was your 31st and 1st Jan?
How did you spend the New Year's eve?
not something you expect at a holy place.
A temple is supposed to be where people find peace and bliss. However, improper crowd management has negated that belief.
Anyways, Overall so-so experience I would call it.
How was your 31st and 1st Jan?
How did you spend the New Year's eve?13 people like this
17 responses
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
I watched the fireworks on New Year's eve in Puri.
2 people like this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
@MrDenata yep that was the only good part
2 people like this
@Shivram59 (47133)
• India
6 Jan 25
I understand. There is always a huge crowd in the Jagannath temple. The crowd management is not proper. A couple of months back I had been to Ayodhya. When I went for the darshan; there was a huge crowd;too. But the crowd management was very good. I didn't have any problem there.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
7 Jan 25
Yeah. Especially inside the temple. There's a high risk of a stampede.
1 person likes this
@Shivram59 (47133)
• India
7 Jan 25
@Dreamerby I have experienced it. We had stayed at a hotel. The manager hired a panda for us and he helped us to have a peaceful darshan.
In Ayodhya we did not have any problem like this.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
7 Jan 25
@Shivram59 Yeah normally we don't go through the "panda" aka priest route but this time I wished we had done that
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (82924)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Jan 25
We just enjoyed being home. I think I gave George hot dogs.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (82924)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Jan 25
@Dreamerby Problems often don't go away unless we make them, so I get it.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
@kaylachan yeah I had a trailing hope that my health will be better with the new year. But no chance. I am again laid up in bed with gastric problems and chronic constipation since today afternoon.
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
New year is just another day I guess. The problems don't go away magically. But the fireworks on New Year's eve in Puri was beautiful.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (14180)
• Ireland
5 Jan 25
@dreamerby I panic at the thought of unruly crowds. I get very claustrophobic- you can imagine how I felt crammed into bottom class on Indian trains.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (14180)
• Ireland
5 Jan 25
@Dreamerby I did Delhi - Calcutta in 3 tier non a/c class. 36 hours.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
No you should not board the general compartments in Indian trains.Go for ac three tiers. I as an Indian have not had the courage to board one.@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
@xFiacre you made the mistake of choosing non ac.
Oh you mentioned claustrophobia. So you should go for ac 2 tier.
@arunima25 (92897)
• Bangalore, India
4 Jan 25
I lost my maternal uncle. I was in his last rites and rituals. I returned home on 2nd.
I always avoid going to temples ( especially the famous ones) during such days. They are too crowded.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
I am sorry for your loss. I hope everyone in your family copes up with this loss soon.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (92897)
• Bangalore, India
5 Jan 25
@Dreamerby Thank you for the concern. Time heals. Mom is better now and going back to normalcy.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
@arunima25 Yeah she will take time to cope up with this loss.
1 person likes this
@aureategloom (11025)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
4 Jan 25
i missed previous discussions - what kind of trip?
these days were like any other day
these days were like any other day 1 person likes this
@aureategloom (11025)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
10 Jan 25
@Dreamerby that sounds fun. did you like the trip? did you go on your own or with agency?
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
11 Jan 25
@aureategloom no we went on our own. We have been to Puri so many times. Its almost like our second home.
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
I went to Puri, Orissa. It was a 5 day 4 night trip spanning from 31stDec, 2024 to 4th Jan,2025.
@luisadannointed (10127)
• Philippines
8 Jan 25
We spend it at home with the family and listen to the fireworks from outside while watching the fireworks display in TV.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36788)
• Philippines
5 Jan 25
I am so sorry there was no proper crowd management. They could have anticipated the crowd.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36788)
• Philippines
5 Jan 25
@Dreamerby I hate crowds because of the thinking I might get stepped on.
@DaddyEvil (167203)
• United States
4 Jan 25
I'm sorry your experience at the temple didn't go as well as you hoped/expected.
My daughter and I stayed home and played online. I visited on myLot for a while and watched a couple of movies. It was a quiet and restful New Year's Eve and New Year's day.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (167203)
• United States
5 Jan 25
@Dreamerby 
No, not family time when we're online. Sometimes we cook together but on those two days I was on my laptop in my bedroom and she was on her laptop in her bedroom. We can hear each other if we talk loud but usually we stay quiet while online.
No, not family time when we're online. Sometimes we cook together but on those two days I was on my laptop in my bedroom and she was on her laptop in her bedroom. We can hear each other if we talk loud but usually we stay quiet while online.1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
Wow great father-daughter duo! Yeah family time is the best!
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
Yeah its really a sad state of affairs there inside the temple.
Glad to hear you spent your New Year well.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (213036)
• United States
5 Jan 25
I'm sorry the temple experience was a disappointment. I spent New Year's Eve and New Year's Day alone. It was very quiet. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (213036)
• United States
8 Jan 25
@Dreamerby I was feeling ill for a couple of days; but I'm feeling a bit better now.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
oh I am sorry. Hope you are doing fine.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (28874)
• Philippines
5 Jan 25
I am sorry to hear that you did not have a pleasant experience. I just celebrated New Year’s Eve at home.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (28874)
• Philippines
6 Jan 25
@Dreamerby Could not agree more
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3838)
• India
5 Jan 25
Most important temples in India are expected to be over-crowded during important days and festivals. And it seems New Year eve and New Year were no different , atleast in your case. I spent both days indoors. Watched a bit of tv and browsed internet. Did not go much outdoors on both days. Loved to have some lone time , perhaps may be not to think of old times perhaps. But then there is life and it gets busy as office has got started and well back to busy schedules and activties. Hopefully have enough things for next 8 months and then need to see how things go . Atleast your trip seems to be fine and guess would have enjoyed with relatives. Enjoy the weekend!
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
The fireworks in Puri on New Year's eve were beautiful though.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153627)
• India
4 Jan 25
Too bad you did not enjoy your temple visit
New Year was just another day here.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
Ah I see. The fireworks on New Year's eve were beautiful in Puri. So that was a good part.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9912)
• Calcutta, India
5 Jan 25
I hope this year turns out to be better than the last year.
