Sprawling lawns dotted with early risers twisting their bodies before the sun breaks at the horizon, mark the start of my day. Filled with frenzied excitement, I see people running on the tracks laid upon me; I see them eagerly waiting at the gym; I see them laughing and I even see them just sitting back, soaking in the divine charm of mother nature in search of peace.
I hear the melody of birds chirping early in the morning, I see them take a flight in the enormous sky in search of food. I am the Central Park of Jaipur, landlocked in the heart of Pink City. I find immense pride in sharing such close vicinity with the founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.
With the sunrays falling on the National flag which stands tall on my grounds, each and every patriot feels a surge of gratification running through them. The art in form of stone sculptures that I contain in my being represents something mighty, yet beautiful.
As the day proceeds, I am completely transformed, people start leaving and at some point I am left alone…but I am never completely abandoned.
Sometimes I hear the laughter of young boys and girls when the world is bathed in the warmth of sun it is me, who provides some comfort to those who seek it. To those poor rickshaw pullers who keep dragging their rickshaws in the screeching heat, it is I who shades them from the sun, those who want a place to give themselves a break from the buzz of urban jungle, it is I who takes them in my lap and let them sleep peacefully and those who have their loved ones in the hospital, it is I, who let them have a little peaceful time away from their worries, in arms of nature.
As the evening approaches and the sun gradually goes down, I transform once again. Once again I change my character, to become a family ground. A place for people to visit for some quality time with their loved ones, their young toddlers. With urban projects setting up, people look at me and get assured that their children still have a place to go out and live their childhood like the way they did, running around, playing real games, getting dust on their clothes. Indulged in the sweet melancholic music of their laughter I feel grateful for my existence.
With the sun finally sinking, the sky turns a mixture of brilliant red and orange, beautiful and serene giving the air a tranquil feel. The extravagantly colourful sky, reminding everyone of the beautiful endings is sometimes the reason behind people visiting me.
As the night falls I am quite once again, with the only audible sounds of traffic and buzzing streets and they too eventually fade away in the quite of night and I find peace watching the moonlight sky.
Picture credit: Aparna Natha and team Jaipur Beat
Content credit: Shanza Sarwana
