Spiritual event at Welchi Restaurant

I know Prachi Karekar since my days in Stuttgart,  back to 2013. She has always been a kind, loving and affectionate person and was passionate about food. She was a home baker and many people in Stuttgart knew her due to her culinary skills.

She was a part of the  online Adhyatmavari group that I run for different spiritual activities. When my mother in law was here in 2023, she had offered to teach two easy Adhyay (12 and 15) from the Bhagwad Geeta and Prachi was one of her students. After the two Adhyay got over, she and two other friends of mine learnt the recitation of all the 18 Adhyay with her online, once my mother in law went back to India. 

At that time Prachi had a lot of things going in her life with taking care of the little one to going to a restaurant for cooking, managing the house and still keeping in touch with the daily lessons online. Kudos to her dedication and commitment. 

When she started her own restaurant with such a beautiful name Welchi (it means Cardamom is the Marathi language), my joy knew no bounds.  I congratulated her and always wished to take my mother in law to the restaurant whenever she visits me.

We had that chance on the 24th May, where a few friends of mine gathered at her restaurant for a spiritual event. When I approached Prachi with the idea, she literally cried and told me that no matter we will do the event. I was not sure if it would be a good idea to do a spiritual event at a restaurant and if people would be interested to come on a Sunday morning. I planned the event as to what could be do or chant and conveyed it to Prachi. She was more than happy. She immediately designed a Satwik menu and sent it to me. I didn't have any choice but to say yes to all the lovely things she was going to prepare. 

Four of us would be traveling from Karlsruhe to the restaurant and four friends were going to come from around Stuttgart. 

We gathered at 10:30 am and after initial chitchat and tea, we started the session with chanting the Ganpati Stotra followed by Maruti Stotra, Ram Raksha Stotra and Ram naam Mahatmya. 

Then I gave a brief overview about the Bhagwad Geeta and the key takeaways for me from it. We chanted the 9,12 and 15th Adhyay after that. Yasha, co-founder of Adhyatmavari group put forth the interpretation of 2 Shlokas from the 3rd Adhyay, Karmayog. I took up one Shlok from the 9th Chapter and tried to explain the deep meaning behind it. My mother in law talked about the 16th Adhyay where she explained the good and bad virtues in a human being and how a few bad virtues overpower many good virtues and how should one try to keep the bad virtues at bay. We concluded with doing the Ram Naam Jap. 

The atmosphere was blissful,  peaceful and after a two minutes silence, we all got back to the worldly affairs. 

The menu was prepared with lot of efforts and love. Prachi, her family and her staff served us the food with lot of affection. The food was delicious and we enjoyed every single dish from the menu. Bharli vaangi and Amrakhand were the highlight for me. 

With our stomachs and hearts full, we said goodbye to Prachi and blessed her with many more beautiful years serving people with food that she prepares with so much love and passion. A photo of the participants was a must at this stage.

The restaurant had positive vibes and the spiritual event enhanced it further. Chanting, recitation not only helps you connect with your inner voice, but it also soothes your nerves and calms you down.

Here's wishing Prachi the best in her endeavors at Welchi and a big thanks to everyone who made this event successful by their presence and participation.