What is cycle yatra and why

As a learning journey as part of the Swaraj program, The k6 batch along with 3 facilitators decided to go for a six day cycle yatra.

The cycle yatra is a journey you embark to reclaim your lives. The major concept is to journey through the villages without mobile,money or food. Stop at villages along the route and create relationships with people, find work to earn you boarding and lodging.

While each individual will learn and experience something unique from this journey. As a group we had some thoughts and objectives.

• To surrender ourselves to the universe, Have faith in the universe and its people. To gain back the trust in our people and the nature. Reconnect with gift culture
• To rediscover the concept of money and strong dependability on it.
• To connect with the rural India and take a peek in the village life and probably rediscover concepts we have lost by living in the “developed society”
• To appreciate the beauty of villages, local knowledge and nature.
• Do some physical exercise :)
• To experience slowness
• Spend some time with ourselves and reflect.
• Connect with the Swaraj community(K6 batch) on a different level.

Also as a group we agreed on our constraints for the journey.

• No money or monetary transactions
• No gadgets
• No food and we will earn our food. Avoid processed food.
• No watch and we will avoid asking “what time it is” and see if we can find out time in another way
• No using constructed toilets. Experience going in the open
• No first aid kit. How can we heal ourselves without conventional methods?
• No cosmetics or personal care products. Use natural things
• we will carry only basic cycle repair kit, rest we will see...
• We will be learners seeking to learn, not as teachers.
• and rest whatever the journey unfolds for us.

I carried only one extra pair of clothes, torch, water bottle, towel, sweater, socks,a warm cap and sleeping bag. I also carried sacks to spread and sleep on.

I found it amazing how smoothly my six days went with such minimum things.