A young NRI girl reconnects with her roots, one story at a time.
When I first came to Gujarat, I thought I was visiting a place.
I didn’t know I was walking into a feeling. People here greet you with a simple “Kem cho?” — and somehow, it feels like they actually want to know the answer. I learned that Aabhar doesn’t just mean thank you. It carries warmth, respect, and the way people here look out for each other. At the Rann of Kutch, I watched white salt stretch endlessly under the sky. Someone told me every grain takes years to form. That made me think about patience — how Gujarat doesn’t rush its beauty. It lets time do its work.
During Rann Utsav, dance wasn’t a performance. Garba felt like a circle where no one is a stranger for long. The music pulled everyone in, and suddenly, I was dancing beside people I had just met — but it felt like family. Food here has stories too. When someone said “Bahu saras chhe” after a meal, it wasn’t just about taste. It was pride. Care. Generations passed down through recipes and hands. Gujarat taught me that culture isn’t something you display.
It’s something you live — quietly, kindly, every day. And when people said “Aawjo” as I left, I realized it didn’t mean goodbye.
It meant come back.
Stepping into the vibrant streets of Bhuj for the first time felt like opening a forgotten photo album. The sounds, the colors, the warmth of the people — everything was a gentle reminder of home.
The evening light at Vijay Vilas Palace was pure magic. Walking through the grand halls and then onto the serene beach, I felt transported between two worlds — royalty and simplicity.
Nothing could have prepared me for the vastness of the White Desert. The endless horizon, the cultural performances, the intricate handcrafts — every moment was a celebration of Gujarat's rich heritage.
Watching the sun rise over the white salt plains was surreal. The day brought adventures — ATV rides across the desert, a gentle camel ride, and exploring the artisans' village where centuries-old crafts come alive.
Returning to Bhuj in the evening, I carried with me the memories of the desert, the echoes of traditional music, and a deeper connection to the land my family once called home.
Walking through the airport, I realized this journey wasn't just about seeing new places. It was about finding pieces of myself I didn't know were missing.
Fun in Gujarat doesn’t always come from big plans. It shows up in small, unexpected ways.
Like doing yoga on the White Desert — barefoot on cool salt land, trying to balance while the wind quietly tests you. I wobbled. I laughed. And somehow, that made it even better. Fun was also laughing when my Garba steps went wrong and no one cared enough to correct me. It was sharing snacks with people I had just met, because here, food is never just yours — it belongs to the moment. I learned that fun can be quiet too.
Sitting on a charpai in the winter sun. Watching kites dance in the sky. Listening to elders talk while pretending not to listen — but remembering everything. Every day felt simple, but full. Someone would smile and ask, “Majama chhe?” and suddenly everything felt lighter. No rush. No pressure. Just being present. Gujarat taught me that fun doesn’t need screens or schedules.
It lives in open spaces, shared laughter, and people who make you feel welcome without asking why. And somehow, those are the moments I’ll remember the most.
Experience the journey through Keyaa's eyes
Gujarat taught me things no classroom ever could.
I learned that silence isn’t empty. At the White Desert, where the land shines and the sky feels endless, I stood still and felt small — but not lost. For the first time, being quiet felt powerful. I learned patience by watching how life moves here. Salt that takes years to form. Hands shaping crafts slowly, carefully.
Stories told without rushing to the end. Nothing here is hurried, and without realizing it, I slowed down too.
Some lessons came without words. A shopkeeper counting change with care. An artisan explaining his work like it was part of his identity. Elders teaching respect not by correcting me, but by how gently they listened. I also learned that culture lives in everyday habits. Food served to others before yourself. Festivals that pull everyone into the same circle. A simple Aabhar said with meaning, not casually.
Gujarat showed me that learning doesn’t always come from asking questions. Sometimes, it comes from watching closely, feeling deeply, and staying present long enough to understand.
Experience the journey through Keyaa's eyes — four
Experience the journey through Keyaa's eyes
A visual diary of the journey — each frame telling its own story.
An NRI girl's journey of discovery, connection, and coming home to her roots.
Cultural DiscoveryFrom steaming dhokla to sweet jalebis dripping with syrup, every bite told a story of tradition. Learning to make rotla with my grandmother's hands guiding mine — this is how culture tastes.
Day 2
Emotional ConnectionI always wondered what 'home' meant. In Gujarat, surrounded by family who shares my eyes, my laugh, my stubborn streak — I finally understood.
Day 2
Sacred SpacesStanding on the Rann of Kutch at sunrise, with endless white salt stretching to infinity, I felt so small yet so connected.
Day 2
My feet stumbled at first, trying to follow the rhythm. But then the beat matched my heartbeat, and suddenly I wasn’t learning — I was belonging.
Day 2
I’ve visited India many times. But Gujarat did something different to me.
Day 2
If the White Desert is magic, then Rann Utsav is a festival living inside that magic.
Day 2For children growing up away from their homeland, the connection to roots can feel abstract — stories told by parents, recipes cooked on special occasions, languages heard but not always spoken.
These journeys are about making those connections real. Walking the same streets our ancestors walked, tasting the food that shaped our culture, feeling the soil that holds our history. It's about understanding that identity isn't just inherited — it's experienced, lived, and deeply felt.
Through Keyaa's eyes, we see India not as a distant memory, but as a living, breathing part of who we are. Every sunset, every conversation, every moment of wonder is a thread connecting past to present, tradition to future.
A note from the parents who made this journey possible.
When we left India years ago, we carried with us memories, traditions, and a deep love for the land we called home. But we also carried a responsibility — to ensure our children understood where they came from.
These trips aren't vacations. They're pilgrimages. They're lessons without classrooms. They're moments where Keyaa can see her grandmother’s smile in a stranger's kindness, taste her grandfather's stories in the local cuisine, and feel the pulse of a culture that runs through her veins.
Watching her eyes light up at the White Desert, hearing her laugh with local artisans — these are the moments that remind us why we travel back. Because heritage isn't just about the past; it's about giving our children a fuller, richer understanding of who they are.
— With love, from Mom and Dad
Continue the journey through other adventures and discoveries across India.
NRI Keyaa in Himachal
NRI Keyaa in Rajasthan
NRI Keyaa in Kerala
