TRIP TO VAISHNO DEVI

My dad informed me that we would be leaving for VAISHNO DEVI on the Thursday and that I need to return from the college early.

I rushed back home. After a quick packing we arrived at the railway station in the nick of time.

I feel sorry to say this but there was a complete lapse in the security. There was no interception by the police or security officials, no frisking or X-ray checks.

We boarded the train.

Arriving at the Jammu station early in the morning, there was an army-man waiting to escort us throughout the trip.

We were to be the Guests of Colonel Ranjeet, head of the artillery department for the state. A cab took us from Jammu to Katra in 100 minutes. Fauji Karan Singh had made all the arrangements- the cab, the hotel, yatra slip and a special entry pass for the darshan.

After a quick shower and a light break-fast we left Katra for the 13.5 km long trek to Vaishno Devi. The abode of the goddess is in the mountains of Trikuta Hills, J&K. The Goddess resides in a magnificient cave in the form of three Pindis.

To make the journey easy-you can hire ponies, tram car, pittoos or palkis which would drop you halfway through. Also, there are Helicopters run by private companies to drop you only 2 km from the bhavan. Thereafter, trekking.

Throughout the trek, people could be easily heard chanting the holy verse jai mata di. What was more heartening to see was, the little kids (who could barely walk on their own) taking the initiative and the elders following. The whole atmosphere was so devout and pure that it felt a different world all together. The air was refreshingly clean. The aura fashioned by the sincerity and the belief of the people was quite captivating.

Some , decided to complete the trek barefoot and another few, by just lying down and crawling their way through (not actually walking...ie).

There were refreshment centres and free drinking-water booth at every 500 mts.

We reached the bhavan in 4 hrs. After a final shower, with the entry pass we entered this small passage only few mtrs from the actual place. These few mtrs were so beautiful and surprisingly different that I actually run out of words in describing what one goes through... FABULOUS.

We trekked down the same day. After offering food to slum girl children (another belief prevalent..) we came back to our hotel. In the evening, someone informed that, then there was a waiting of over 50,000 for the yatra slip.

How lucky were we....phew..!!

Next day, we left Katra for Jammu station in the afternoon. On our way back, Fauji Karan explained us how they foiled a terrorist attack few months back. What was more encouraging to know, was that the fauji who actually successfully saved a hostage family (and lost his life in the process) belonged to the same community as the terrorists. I SALUTE YOU, TRULY.

We had a snacks-session with Colonel Ranjeet in the army mess. Another memorable experience. I must admit, it instils a great deal of pride, meeting such exemplary citizens.

We continued and finally reached the station well in time.

A trip which turned out to be so eventful had more to come. An icing on the cake, probably.

We took our respective seats in the train and after some time it started to move. It was then, when an old man rushed in and sat next to me (it was his seat actually..). What followed was, an hour long conversation. We got to learn that his son left him after his wife died.

Astoundingly as it may seem but, He retired as the General Manager of Crompton Greaves and that I had never met a person who was so much full of life and so jovial. He, still, was completely contented with his life. Cracking jokes, humming old Hindi songs, enjoying the ice-cream like a 7-8 year old..he had it all. Hats off SIR...

His clear distinct laughter is still afresh in my mind.

We reached back home safe and sound.

To end this... it was one memorable trip which I won't forget(and now more so, because I am writing this post..)

PS:- the names and the division (wrt the army..) has been intentionally changed.