The students woke up in the morning. They were ushered into flying machines called vimana yantras which will take them through a distance of 4500+ miles from Scotland to Kashmir. The school they were going to were located on the foot hills of the Pir Panjal in the Inner Himalayan region.
Breakfast was served on the vimanas. It was comforting to eat on a flying vehicle and see quarter of the world the same time. They travelled across Germany and glimpsed the Black, Bavarian and Bohemian forests; across Poland and Ukraine and towards Russia. Then they flew through the Oxus Valley in Central Asia and witnessed the flow of the Amu Darya. They reached Afghanistan: flew through the Hindu Kush and finally reached Kashmir.
The vimanas landed on a large meadow. It contained a huge number of herbs including Himalayan Yews, Holy Basil, Jambul Trees, Saffron, Turmeric and Wood Apple. There somewhere around 60 to 80 students which included the members of Dumbledore's Army and the Malfoy Gang.
"What is that smell?" asked Ron.
"I think its basil", replied Hermione, sniffing for the source an aromatic aroma. It was extremely soothing for their olfactory senses. But before they could bask and delve into the garden, they were startled by the manifestation of 2 figures, with distinct Indian appearances.
The first one was a man, somewhere around Professor Snape's height. He wore a saffron shawl bordered by designs on a green strip, and a supple, unstitched cloth wrapped around his waist and legs and knotted in the waist. His face was round and fair skinned. His being there was in many ways similar to Dumbledore. However he did not possess of Dumbledore's aura of grand fatherliness and warmth. He had a shipshape beard that extended till his chest. His eyes were iron grey and his vision was focussed. His very presence caused the students of Hogwarts to remain silent. He had a sharp nose. Finally, to deepen the sense of inquiry among the students, he had three symmetric and horizontal white stripes on his forehead.
"I think he is a Shaivite", whispered Hermione. Ron and Harry exchanged questioning glances.
Following him was a woman wearing a blue saree. Her hair was tied into a big bun and it was circled by what looked like a cord of jasmine. Her face was lived-in and she looked as if she'd smirk if Voldemort or Dumbledore challenged her in a duel. She had jet black hair and to add with it a pair of sharp, penetrating black eyes. She had a small, straight nose and thin lips. Her forehead was covered by a round vermillion dot.
The woman began to address the gathering
'Namaste and welcome to Moula Maantrika Mahavidyalaya, one of the most premier institutions of magic in the world. I am Sita, the Shikshanamatyaa of the Bharatavarsheeya Maayamaya Parishad, that is, the minister of education of the Indian Magical Council, the Indian equivalent of England's Ministry of Magic. Accompanying me is the Pradhaana Guru , Shrimad Jotin Dikshitah. It is very wrong on my part to keep you waiting here. Now both of us shall accompany you all to the school's premises.
Dikshitah was scrutinizing every student and unlike in England, never even bothered to cast a second glance on the Boy Who Lived. He began walking, and he was rather sprightly and brisk for a man of his age. He led the students to a foyer, which was decorated with carvings on wood and colourful Indian crafts. He halted near a door. He announced in an orotund voice:
"Now all of you shall pass through these doors. You'll be received by a group of 15 volunteers. Further instructions will be given by them. Now, go on then."
Little did the students know that it is these doors that will lead them to a year of adventure.