This year's A to Z Blogging Challenge was easily the one I enjoyed the most.
Sometime in the second week of March, I came across a mention on the web or social media (I can't quite remember which) of Dhinga Gavar, a festival unique to the city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, which is celebrated around that time. I found it quite strange and funny, and that instantly gave me the theme for this year's challenge.
When I did the "Theme Reveal" post on 13 March, I wasn't actually sure I could pull it off. I was even getting ready to change the topic either before the challenge started or midway through it.
The second half of March was spent in extensive web searches to find various "strange and unusual customs, traditions, and phenomena in India". It was by no means easy finding one for each letter of the alphabet.
The second challenge was finding authentic information about each of them. I was very particular that I would only write those that had been covered by well-known media organisations or had an entry in Wikipedia with credible sources.
I am glad I could find 26 of them; in fact, for a few letters, I even had options. With most of April spent writing the posts, there was little time or energy to visit or read all the posts of other bloggers who had taken part in the challenge or who had dropped by my blog to leave comments. That did make me feel guilty.
The least I could do was read the comments, note down the names so I can return the visit as soon as possible. Fifty-six readers shared their thoughts on at least one of my posts. Plus, there were a few friends who sent messages on WhatsApp.
Every year, through the A to Z Challenge, I meet new bloggers, and this year was no exception. Among the 56 are many of my good old blog pals as well as a few new ones. I was surprised and happy to find comments from a few bloggers whom I had known before but who had dropped off my radar.
There were many anonymous comments too. If it was a login problem that made them comment anonymously, they could have written their names at the end of the comment. I hope they were not from someone I know!
Here is a big thank you to everyone, including the names mentioned below, who read my posts and jotted down their thoughts.
Yamini (who ensured that her comments too conformed to the A to Z pattern. Bravo!), Liz, Tomichan, Andrew, Lisa, Leanne, David, Marietta, Suchita, Josna, Sundar, Ashok, Viyoma, Vallypee, Darla, SG, KP, Rajesh, Jo-Anne, Chris, Katie, Rudraprayaga, Arti, Frewin, Jabblog.
These are bloggers whom I got introduced to via this year's Challenge.
Little Princess, Karen, Ratna, Linda, Paula, Balaka Basu, Tanvi, A Tarkabarka Hölgy, Al Penwasser, Jean, Crackerberries, Anne, Anuradha, Durga, Pandian, Natasha. Sowmya, Srivalli, Melody, Sintra, Lenni, Ronel, Jemima, Fab, CRD, Idea-ist, Sumeet.
I don't have the links to the blogs of Pinkii Bakshi, Nnenna, Erin Penn, and Kristin.
Blogs are about information, ideas, thoughts, and connections.
Keep blogging!
The joy of your blog being linked to from someone's blog post, which I am currently experiencing through your post, is something else altogether :) In the good old days, so much of linking and sharing love used to happen. Anyway congrats on completing the challenge which such a tough concept!
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Pradeep - a heroic effort, and I had much fun chasing down relevant, letter-related words to match each post! YAM xx
Congratulations. Looking forward to your contribution to this A to Z Challenge for many more years.
ReplyDeleteIt can get overwhelming trying to keep up with commenting during April. Comments in May are appreciated. Yours was a fascinating theme.
ReplyDeleteBlogging is a good way for me to start my day and often end my day
ReplyDeleteHi Pradeep - you chose a really interesting and challenging theme and completed it awesomely - anyone who completes the A2Z has my admiration. Thanks for the lovely link and shout-out too - much appreciated and 56 commenters is pretty amazing too. You can breathe now and get back to normal blogging again. :)
ReplyDeleteMy congratulations and respect to you, Pradeep, for completing the A-Z challenge. I ducked out this year. Deadlines make me anxious, but it's a very good way to 'meet' other bloggers, some of whom become regulars in the blog world.
ReplyDeleteThis time your theme seemed very interesting. I read one but could not put a comment from my mobile. I will slowly read your posts.
ReplyDeleteHow kind of you to provide our links, my dear. And Yamini's feat is impressive, too. Be well!
ReplyDeleteSo good to see u took part in A to Z
ReplyDeleteBravo!
I participated couple of times in the past. I wish to do it some time again
Sticking to a theme is a different kind of challenge
I wish to read some of ur posts as and when time permits
My best
It was a pleasure reading about those exotic places. Congrats on completing the challenge gloriously.
ReplyDeleteI loved your theme and your posts. I learned so much from each one, and the fact that none were at all familiar or that I had ever heard of made them even more fascinating.
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