Hey Jude: #WordlessWednesday
“And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.”
– Hey Jude (lyrics), The Beatles
1st October, 2018, 2:20 P.M.
Did you wonder why this post has been titled Hey Jude? Of course, it’s the Beatles song. But then why Hey Jude and why not Here Comes the Sun, Let it Be or I Want to Hold Your Hand?
Well, the thing is when we reached the meditation and activity hall at the Beatles Ashram, in Rishikesh; this intensely beautiful song was blaring on a boom box. It was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life, and a visual treat to boot..
Beatles Ashram:
If you are thinking; is there a Beatles Ashram in India? Well there is! The Beatles spent the winter of 1968 learning Transcendental meditation from Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, in his ashram, in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. The ashram got popularised as the Beatles ashram over the years, as the Beatles recorded one of their albums here as well – The White Album or The Beatles. The ashram has been abandoned for years now, but more recently being developed into a heritage site, as part of Rajaji National Park.
Coming back to Hey Jude, when we entered the massive hall, a bunch of German girls sat in the middle of the hall, blaring this soul-stirring song. We were transported to another world; a world where the Beatles would be playing live, and their images towering over the façade of the walls.
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I apologies for being awol for the last two weeks, and not commenting on all your lovely posts. Kindly forgive me, as life was way too swamped. I’m going to play catch up as soon as possible. Thank you for bearing with me. And for linking up with us with your wondrous #WordlessWednesday posts, week after week.
Much gratitude.:)
#WordlessWednesday
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19 thoughts on “Hey Jude: #WordlessWednesday”
I have all of The Beatles’ tapes (cassettes), memorabilia and fan-drool stuff. Love them. Grew up with them. To know there’s a Beatles Ashram is so amazing. Thank you. I’ve even belted out their songs on Tuesday Assembly at College. Great times!
Hugs! Thank you Natasha! Always a pleasure to visit your blog.
I love those pictures. Amazing look and that wall and hall must be so good to visit.
Though Beatles were so cool, I agree with Sunita on the culture and things they did and promoted. Two sides to a coin.
Yes, it was one-of-a-kind experience. The Ashram has a certain mystical charm, as it lies nestled against the mountains, surrounded by verdant flora and fauna and the gushing river Ganges on the other side.
I got a tree shot for #ThursdayTreeLove but have been keeping such hectic schedules that I have been unable to link up. Does the link open this week?
Oh yes, I do agree about how Beatles despite their great music, promoted a generation of pot-heads. It is for this reason they came to Mahesh Yogi’s Ashram to make amends in their life through Transcendental Meditation (TM)
I was never a Beatles fan, except for a few songs here and there. More recently I think I have taken to their music. I’m guessing the Ashram visit might have propelled the interest.
Though after I married Alok he introduced me to John Lenon’s music. And I was quite taken in by his anti-establishment approach towards life and music in general. Wonder if you have heard the song, “God” by him. He wrote it around the time he was breaking away from the Beatles. You got to listen to the song to believe it! Here goes:
Thank you for your imprints. <3
That was exactly my thought. We have a Beatles Ashram? I read about Beatles connection with India. Glad the ashram is now a heritage site.
Yes, we do! Though the name has got lost in translation; it’s Mahesh Yogi’s Ashram, but better known as the Beatles Ashram. They were such a rage and continue to be, so the name, I guess.
Yes, after years of lying abandoned and in shambles, it is being renovated new to a heritage site. It’s too beautiful a property to be left lying otherwise.
I love love love the song. Beatles are my favourite and I had no clue that there is a Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh. How amazing!
Yes, pretty incredible Rachna. Good to hear you love the song. Love it’s soulful rendition by Paul McCartney, myself. 🙂
Your words transported me to this place, Natasha! Could almost imagine your experience, watching the German girls and hearing Hey Jude playing in the hall! I love the Beatles…and their music, having grown up listening to them as they were very popular back in the days when we lived in the NE. I love how you took this shot and the way you got the wall in the frame, with those iconic images! Wow!! Fab post from you dear Natz. Loving the Haridwar series and looking forward to more. <3 🙂 <3
Awwww thanks a big bunch my dear kind-hearted friend. Your words always fill my heart with so much motivation.
Good to know you grew up listening to the Beatles too. You have to visit this Ashram some day. I know you will love it, for sure. Perfect setting, the Himalayas in the background, a rocky bed of land that follows the gushing Ganges, the ancient trees and the eighty-four meditation caves, that look back at you with the haunting echoes of the times gone by.
I’m so happy to hear you are enjoying the Haridwar series.
Much love <3
This looks like an amazing place with great music.
The Beatles make me sad and this psychedelic phase of theirs makes me even more depressed. Knowing how so many pop artists are potheads is not really very encouraging to hear and sadly I can’t get the image of these stoned singers influencing the young….. I know they were great musicians who were unique and revolutionary but on the other hand they also symbolised the flower power generation which to my mind was quite depraved and degenerate.
Agree dear Sunita. No two ways about that.
Now that’s also why they came to India:
Beatles were all still going strong on LSD to “tap into the cosmic subconscious, or eternity, or whatever,” as a 2008 New York Times
article puts it. “The Maharishi’s transcendental meditation techniques promised to get them there without the chemicals.”
But all said and done, I still feel we must credit them for some great music, that influenced our lives. If we were to leave aside the drugs.
It’s unfortunate how some of the biggest legends in music made the best music under the influence of drugs; be it Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and multiple others.
Beatles Ashram……… wow
Wow, yes 🙂
I did not know about the Beatles Ashram!! I do enjoy their music and this post has been very informative about influence of Indian culture on them. Thanks! Linking to your Wordless Wednesday!
I’m so glad to hear that Archana. Thank you so much for linking up with us week after week. We enjoy your posts. 🙂