A month gone, the tragedy of Uttrakhand is still
fresh in the memory. The disaster was so great, it makes one wonder as to how
and why this happen at all.
Reasons may be many, but, who will take the responsibility
for the events that caused the devastation.
The whole thing brings to mind a simple but grave
thought – why was Nature so furious? Was mankind responsible for Nature’s fury?
The more we will destroy nature and the natural
habitat, the more disaster we will face, can well be read from this happening.
Kedarnath, the holy shrine, which most of the Hindus
will like to visit once in lifetime. At the same time, to go to this holy place
is not so easy. A thought of this takes me back to that day when I was lucky to
visit and get the Darshan of Baba Kedarnath.
After travelling all the distance from Delhi, before
proceeding for Kedarnath, it was a night halt at Gaurikund. This is that place
that has also been washed away in this landslide and flood that came down all
the way from the land of Kedarnath.
I still remember how we had to climb up many many
steps to reach out our halting place, the GMVN guest house. From the window we
could see below boys and men playing the board game of Carrom, betting and win
for some and loss for some others.
The next morning started early. After a short walk of
about a kilometre we reached the spot where horses and dolis are available to
move uphill. One can move uphill on foot as well, but the terrain is difficult.
Soon we were on horsebacks and moved on. Actually here one can get the sight
and smell of the beauty of nature. As we moved on we saw the sunrise and how
the first Sun’s rays kissed the snowclad mountain tops to give them the golden
colour.
Picturesque indeed and natural touch of gold on the
hills was a sight to see and remember. The sight reminded me of Satyajit Ray’s
Bengali film ‘Sonar Kella’, though the situation in the film was in the deserts
of Rajasthan, but the thought was moreover the same.
Kedarnath is 14 Kilometres from Gaurikund. After
travelling halfway, we stopped at Rambara for food. Hot parathas and sabzi and
hot tea was a treat.
After half an hour’s halt we moved on. Before noon
we reached Kedarnath dham. We put up at the GMVN guest house cottage in
Kedarnath as we had decided to halt overnight. The cold was biting, but, after
freshening up we went for the Lords Darshan. After lunch it was sightseeing.
Nature’s beauty can be found in bounty there. Looking at the snow clad
mountains was something that the eyes saw and will be remembered for life. We
had been advised to ask for oxygen cylinder if anyone felt breathless at night.
Two layers of warm clothes and two quilts and blankets still could not keep
away the biting cold.
The sadhus are many in number at Kedarnath. They
keep themselves warm by smearing their body with ash. Their living makes one
amazed...in the biting cold they keep warm with the cover of ash?
The special individual puja was performed by the
Head pandit of the temple, in the early morning hours made us happy as we got a
close view and the blessings of Baba Bhole Nath.
The next morning, after breakfast, we were on horseback
to get back to Gaurikund.
Kedarnath is a place of pilgrimage for the Hindus.
They go there with so much Bhakti and Shraddha in their heart and mind. But
this destruction and wreckage has cost so many lives. The rivers had shown
their ugly face and washed away so many lives and destroyed huge number of
homes.
Like humans, nature too likes to exist within the
framework of its own rules and regulations. Nature also does not like
interference. So why play with another kingdom – Nature’s Kingdom -- when we
don’t like others to come in our way.
A lesson if not learnt will make us pay the price.