Summer Vacation Excursions- Part IV

Summer Vacation Excursion Part IV

Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

My younger son had completed his graduation and post graduation at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research at Mohali, Chandigarh. As usual we had gone to Punjab during summer vacations. I and my wife hired a cab and came to Chandigarh to attend the convocation ceremony in which my son was to receive his degree from some eminent science administrator of the country. We attended the ceremony which was full of serenity and gaiety and we stayed for the night at the house of our relatives. In the morning we started for Himachal Pradesh. But before entering Himachal Pradesh we paid a visit to the historic Gurudwara of Anandpur Sahib and the famous sikh museum known as Virasat-e-Khalsa. We were four passengers in the taxi, I , my wife , my younger son and me. It nearly took us an hour to see this museum which has been aesthetically designed among dual water pools displaying rich cultural heritage and history of Sikhism and Punjab. We entered Himachal Pradesh through Una district after crossing Nangal. On the way I came to know that our driver was hard of hearing and he could not hear properly from his left ear. So he had to bend towards me to listen to my suggestion. The first stop in Himachal Pradesh was at Temple of Goddess Chintapurni. There was a great crowd at the temple and due to mismanagement it nearly took us three quarter of an hour to get the glimpse of the deity. After that we entered Kangra district and passed along the famous Kangra fort which was nothing but ruins. By evening we reached Palampur and as the darkness of the evening descended we reached this town which was headquarter of a unit of Gorkha Regiment, Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University and ICAR Institute of Medicinal and Herbal plants found in mountains. We stayed at the residence of father-in-law of my niece who was working as Senior Agriculture Scientist at this institute. Their accommodation was in the campus of this institute So we stayed at their residence whish was on ground floor of the residential complex. After the night stay with the family of three members- my niece’s father-in-law and mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Dr.Gahlan who was father –in-law of my niece though walked with crutches but he could drive his car perfectly. In the morning he took us to a nearby temple of Jakhmi Mata who had injured during the struggle with demons while saving her devotees. After breakfast my niece’s sister-in-law Parul was sent along with us for the sight seeing to Dharamshala and Mcleodganj. Dharamshala was administrative capital of Tibetan refugees who had migrated from Tibet after China occupied it in 1962 and spiritual leader of Tibetans Dalai Lama took shelter in India. Though we did not stay at Dharamshala but we passed before the Parliament House of Tibetian Government in Exile. The roads of Dharmashala were quite narrow and flooded with traffic so we chose not to stop her but to proceed towards Mcleodganj which was a place 23 kms away from Dharmashala. After passing Cantonment area whose gates were named after great military leaders of independent India like Field Marshal Carriappa, Field Marshal Maneckshaw, General Thimmaya and the like. Our first stop at Mcleodganj was at The Forest of the Whispering Woods which was a grave yard with tall Deodhar trees. When breeze blew through the trees its leaves made such a sound as if some giant was whispering. It included a number of graves including a large grave of one of the Viceroys of India who had passed away in India after working as Viceroy of the Carribean. Besides a large grave there was also a large metallic bell of the Church that had faced a thunderbolt. After this graveyard we went to visit Dalai Lama’s famous Buddhist temple where cookies, chocolates, cakes, candies and other biscuits were offered as tribute. After seeing the temple thoroughly that had wooden rolls which was one of the ritual of Buddhist prayer. We also saw another Buddhist temple that had intricate wooden carving and paintings. After it we went to see the temple of demon deity Bhakasur that sent me into confusion whether Himachal Pradesh was only an abode of Angels known as Devbhoomi but it had also accommodated demons like Hidimba, Bhakasur and Ravana or rather demons co-exixted peacefully with angels in this land. Outside the Bhakasur temple I saw a Rajashani men laying a folk tune on a stringed instrument. That was my another observation during my visit to Himachal Pradesh that wherever there was a worship place of demon there was a Rajsthani folk singer outside it. After seeing the Bhakasur falls where only my younger son could go we came back to Palampur as the darkness of the evening descended. Next day the family with who we were staying took us to a nearby place known as Baijnath where Ravanna along with his brothers Vibhishan and Kumbhkaran stayed and prayed to Lord Shiva to get more powers. Ravana was steadfast in his prayer so he succeeded while Vibhishan and Kumbhkaran squandered away the opportunity. It was just a coincidence that we met another relative at Baijanath, my Brother-in-Law’s elder brother who had also come to visit Himacha Pradesh and were coming from Manali and stopped at Baijnath. So we came back to Palampur along with then and while Gahlans were entertaining new guests we took leave of them and came back to Punjab.              

Summer Vacation Excursions Part III Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

                        Summer Vacation Excursion Part III

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Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

This was a special year for me as this year I was turning fifty and that too in the Summer Vacation. As usual I had gone for the vacation to Punjab and I was in the village named Sujapur to which my in-laws belonged. So I decided to have something special in this special and historic year of my life. I decided to visit the holy shrine of Hemkunt Sahib, the place where Guru Gobind Singh ji meditated in his earlier life. And we also decided to visit other historic gurudwaras at Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh and Rishikesh in Uttrakhand. So I was joined by my family members- my wife, two kids who had grown into fine young gentleman by now and other member of my in-laws family including my wife’s two sister-in-laws and her aunt and of course the driver of the taxi. We started from village Sujapur early in the morning and after crossing Ludhiana and Ambala Cantt, we entered Punjab and by early afternoon we were at Paonta Sahib a historic Gurudwara associated with the life of Guru Gobind Singh ji. As he had stated at this place for some time. After seeing the famous Gurudwara we proceeded to Rishikesh via Dehradun. As we passed through Dehradun I had the majestic glimpse of the majestic Chetwode Hall of Indian Military Academy and imposing structure of Forrest Research Institute. It not only renewed my memories of this place visited a few years before and the memories of this place associated with my parents and my elder sister as they had spent a few years here when my worked as Physics Demonstrator in Indian Military Academy from 1952 to 1962 A.D. As the Sun was moving towards western horizon we reached Rishikesh and at this place we decided to make the night stay and to proceed further towards Hemkunt Sahib in the morning. In the evening we visited the famous Rama and lkshaman Jhoolas (Bridges) built over great grand River Ganga and that joins two parts of the town. In the morning we proceeded towards Govind Ghat which was a journey of about eight hours on the serpentine roads of mountains via several places like Rudrya Prayag and Joshi Math. In the evening we reached Govind Ghat Gurudwara where road to Hemkunt Sahib ends and there is only a mountain trail that has either to be covered on ponies or on foot. We stayed for the night at Gurudwara Govind Ghat and in the morning we proceeded to another place Govind Dham which was nearly 13 kms mountain trail from Govind Ghat. Here I grossly miscalculated my stamina and energy when I decided to go on foot along with  my sons. My wife was more pragmatic and practical in this matter as she hired a pony from the very beginning. One sister-in law of my wife surrendered within a couple of kilometers from Govind Ghat and she simply gave up the idea of going to Govind Dham and Hemkunt Sahib. After staying overnight at the Gurudwara Govind Ghat we started for the next phase of journey to a place known as Jhanjharia or Govind Ghat. Pony owners were so clever that they continued to walk along with us. I was unable to understand why they were doing this but then I came to know that as the journey and steepness of the path increased as the pilgrims started growing tired the rate of pony owners went up cashing in upon the need of the pilgrim. This place Jhanjharia was about 13 kms from Govind Ghat. As we progressed on the journey even our clothing seemed burdensome and I handed over my bottle, and outer wears to my wife who was riding a pony. On the way we rested to have a refreshing cup of tea and also on the way we came across a glacier which was a novel experience for me though the glacier had turned brown due to the dirt of the pilgrims and ponies walking on it. Even those people who were on ponies had to get down and cross the glacier on foot because even the hoofs of ponies slipped on the frozen ice of the glacier. After crossing the glacier the terrain was getting steeper and steeper and the going was getting more and more difficult. But people coming from the opposite direction were always motivating and inspiring me to complete this phase this journey. It nearly took 8 hours for me to cover 13 kms of this mountain track. As the sun was going down in the western horizon I slowly walked into the airport which was the beginning of Jhanjharia and Govind Dham. I had gown so tired that it appeared as if I had no feet underneath me. My wife and sons quickly rented a room for me in a hotel and I and my two sons rested in this hostel for the night. I slept instantly and I did not know how night passed but my legs were still aching in the morning that it appeare nearly impossible for me to continue and finish the last phase of this journey but still I was contented that at least I could  come up to this place. My wife along with her relatives stayed in the local gurudwara of  Jhanjharia or Govind Dham. In the morning I expressed my incapacity to continue my journey but my wife had other ideas she talked with a coolie who would take me on his back in this phase of journey and agreed to carry me on his back right up to Govind Ghat. Some of his fellow coolies even taunted him that he wanted to become a millionaire in a fortnight. But his reply was that he appears to be fat but he is hollow so he does not have much weight. So after breakfast I started the last phase of this pilgrimage on the back of this collie. He bent forward asking me to shift my weight also forward which would be more convenient for him. Though this journey was not comfortable but there was no option or alternative. Soon all the members of our group separated from each other as my wife was riding a pony, my sons were still walking and I was riding a man. Soon the walls of snow appeared on both the sides of the path and army men were removing the snow to make path for the pilgrims. This was not end of my trouble in this journey. As my carrier was moving on a steep path a young man immaturely came running with ponies and one of the pony collided with the coolie and he fell down on one side and I on the other side so as to avoid slipping into the valley I shifted my weight on the other side as a result of which I came down crashing on the ground just besides a rock and my head banged against it. Collie was more worried about me than about himself as he feared that now I would change the coolie and refuse to pay him. As I was resting beside the rock a number of pilgrims surrounded me and some body offered me water, while some other offered me glucose, fruits, cashews, almonds and sweets that gave me instant energy. So I decided to continue my journey on the same coolie after getting well. Now I could hear the voice of divine Kirtan coming from the Gurudwara. Soon I sighted the dome of the building of the Gurudwara with saffron flag flying. As soon as coolie put me down just in front of Gurudwara I sighted my wife who due to low temperature and thin air was having a sinking feeling she was holding the hand of her sister-in –law. So I took the round of the Gurudwara which is surrounded by the chilly ice water of frozen lake around it. I came inside the Gurdwara to pay my obeisance and thanked the almighty for accomplishing this journey successfully. Some devotees were taking dip in the holy pond even seventy years old aunt of my wife also took dip in it but I could not muster up that much courage. On the way back all the members of my family again separated from each other giving this feeling that everybody has come alone in this world and he will have to depart alone from this world leaving all the worldly things behind. So on the way I talked with my coolie who had changed at Jhanjharia. I really appreciate the stamina, courage, and skill of these people who were helping the people in completing the pilgrimage. A real salute to man and almighty God who had made such a flexible human body that could be moulded to any extreme. On the way the sight that was heartening and encouraging was the sight of my two sons and my wife riding their ponies and crossing me on the way. And as they passed they cheered and encouraged me to endure a bit more as I was quite near to complete the journey. By the time it was dark of the evening and lights were coming up in the town of Govind ghat my coolie put me down safely on the ground. I knew that my body has grown stiff and my arm was aching due to fall so I visited an ayurvedic dispensary to get some ointment. What I feared proved to be reality as next morning my hand was swollen and my body was aching badly and we had to resume the journey back. But we continued our journey back as our taxi operator waived at us as soon as he sighted us and after one stop at Paonta Sahib for the night we were home safe and sound. This was the only journey of my life in which not only I had used automobiles but also my foot and back of another human being to complete my journey.