Visiting India as a guest of the Government of India

There are moments in life that exceed our wildest dreams, and I recently experienced one such moment. What began as a fun challenge turned into a life-changing adventure. The External Ministry of India hosts the Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz every few years, inviting the top 30 winners to India for the Bharat Ko Janiye Yatra from all over the world. I took part in the quiz for the first time and, to my amazement, won a spot on the BKJ Yatra. When I received the call from the Embassy, it felt surreal. Luckily, my work project had just concluded, allowing me to take two weeks off for this incredible journey.

The journey was set to commence with our participation in the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, hosted in Odisha this year. From there, we would travel to Delhi, Agra, Vrindavan, Jaipur, and Mumbai, before concluding the adventure and returning to our respective countries.

Filled with excitement and a touch of apprehension, I arrived in Odisha, India, on 7 January. At that moment, I had no idea that the memories I would create and the bonds I would forge with my fellow winners would become cherished experiences that I would hold dear forever.

This blog series aims to document my journey and experiences as I immerse myself in the rich history, heritage, art, culture, cuisine, and hospitality of India from a completely unique perspective.