Five
AT GOVIND GHAT GURUDWARA
A Cater-pillar, a road roller and a stone crusher were still parked at the site. On a roadside board, were noted the 'gate' timings for the information of in-coming and out-going vehicles. Policemen were on duty to regulate and control traffic. From this spot one road branches out for Badrinath temple and the other leads to the Gobind Ghat Gurudwara and beyond that goes to Gobind Dham, Hemkund Sahib etc.
Together with porters, we proceeded to-wards the Gurudwara- situated at an altitude of 5720 ft. above sea level. On our right, down below, was visible the wonderful churning of the gushing waters of the Alaknanda and the Himganga. The way was almost a continuous descent up-to the Gurudwara. We walked through the narrow bazaar profusely decorated for attracting the customers. Hotels built on the shops were also in view for the public at large. We may have travelled three-fourth of a KM. when we were inside the Gurudwara complex. Everything was new and appeared strange for the first timers.
There were a large number of halls available for the yatris. Mostly the halls were booked quite in advance of the journey, so as to avoid inconvenience to the yatris. The junior jathedar travelling with us went inside the Gurudwara to inquire about the particular hall booked for us. By good luck it was the same hall in front of which we were standing. The porters unloaded their pithoos in the hall and left having got their charges. The yatris occupied the space in the hall.
We rolled out our beds and put other things under the pillow or in the suitcase. Meanwhile, we also got blankets arranged from the storehouse. The blankets made the beds warm and cozy.
To satiate our curiosity, we left the hall to visit the huge Gurudwara complex. We could see the yatris walking, sitting or relaxing all over. We went to the Darbar Hall to pay obeisance and participate in ‘Ardas’. We minutely observed the Darbar Sahib room, got ‘parshad’ and came down the staircase. Thereafter, like other yatris, we also went to the langar hall, where langar and tea were being served. We also had both these items. Then, we moved towards the river Alaknanda and had its frightening glimpse at night. It flows in the backyard of the Gurudwara over a rocky course. We got information about the location of the public conveniences. The store room and the "gathri ghar" were just near our hall. Near the store room we saw a drum full of walking sticks which were left by the yatris returning from Hemkund Sahib. We picked up two for use during further journey. We placed the chosen sticks in our room. We were surprised to see that most of our companions had already collected sticks from that drum, understanding that no sticks may be available like that by morning. Then we left the hall to visit the small bazaar a bit closely. We passed through it slowly to see if anything was worth purchasing. No specialty was discernible as everything on display could be purchased at Rishikesh at cheaper rates. There were halwai shops too. We had two medium glassfuls of milk at rupees 20 per glass. The rate was fourfold than that at Dehradun. Pakoras and parathas were also available on order. The halwai shops were full of customers. There was a pretty big rush of yatris, as the ones, who were stranded due to the landslide, were also joined by fresh ones. After a short sojourn in the area, we returned to our room.
Slowly the talking ceased, as everyone preferred to take rest and sleep. The morning was expected to be full of activity. So, maximum rest was advisable. The room light was put off to ensure complete silence and sleep.
One by one, our companions woke up early in the morning. Some had even got back into the bed after finishing bathing etc by 5 a.m. We too were ready by 6 a.m. The tap water was very cold. The bath taps for gents were still in the open space. Hard water did not wash off soap from bodies easily. All facilities including public conveniences and bathing/drinking water taps were quite adequate for the public.
Having got ready, we went to the sanctum sanctorum to pay our respects to Holy Granth Sahib. Thereafter, we marched towards the langar hall. We had tea, chapaties and dal there. On the way back, we saw two counters. At one counter, money was received against receipts for the supply of parshad to the yatris. At the second counter, parshad was handed out against the receipts issued by the first counter. For convenience of the yatris, parshad is handed over centrally at Gurudwara Gobind Ghat, even against the receipts issued at Gurudwara Gobind Dham or Hemkund Sahib.
Paramjit suggested that we should try a phone call for Dehradun. But we were told that no P.C.O. facility existed at the place. Likewise no electric power station was in service there. That is why, continuously a heavy-duty generator was working. Three big electric generators were seen fixed in a room near the river bank. It was a matter of great pleasure to see that one of the generators was donated by the sangat of Gurudwara Machhi Bazar, Dehradun.
It was the morning of 7th July 2002. The time was approaching 8 a.m. We were waiting for the arrival of our co-yatris. They were to chalk out further programmes, as one day had already been lost in transit. We had deposited the extra luggage in the' gathri' house, as a probability could be to proceed further towards Gobind Dham. There was an air of suspense around us as to what next! We were a bit apprehensive about the visit to Badrinath temple. But, there was also a simmering hope that the yatra period could be extended by a day to set right the programme. We were busy in spinning our own web.
It was a little over 8 a.m. To our surprise a sevadar travelling in one of the other buses banged inside the hall and asked everybody to get ready for onward journey to Badrinath. All the other buses had bypassed Gobind Ghat and continued plying for Badrinath. It took just an hour to get collected and clear the hall, as some persons were not available for quite some time. However, all of us were inside the bus by 9:05 a.m. Finding everything O.K. the driver started the bus at 10 past 9 a.m. for onward journey to Badrinath temple.
The air of uncertainty had vanished. The bus reached Pandukeshwar at about 9: 16 a.m., where it was stopped to wait for the fixed time as per one-way traffic timings applicable at the "gates". This place had a few houses and a few shops comprising tea shops, general merchandise and shops of light woollens. The travellers do add sustenance to the pockets of these shopkeepers.
We left Pandukeshwar at 10:30 a.m. and passed by the side of the parked vehicles, which had returned from upstream. At 10:55 a.m. we crossed Hanuman Chatty. On our left, parts of glaciers were visible. At some places lower tips of the glaciers were seen touching the Alaknanda. At a place, the river water was flowing under the snow. It was a wonderful scene of a snow bridge with the water gushing below it.
www.hemkundji.com
AT GOVIND GHAT GURUDWARA
A Cater-pillar, a road roller and a stone crusher were still parked at the site. On a roadside board, were noted the 'gate' timings for the information of in-coming and out-going vehicles. Policemen were on duty to regulate and control traffic. From this spot one road branches out for Badrinath temple and the other leads to the Gobind Ghat Gurudwara and beyond that goes to Gobind Dham, Hemkund Sahib etc.
Together with porters, we proceeded to-wards the Gurudwara- situated at an altitude of 5720 ft. above sea level. On our right, down below, was visible the wonderful churning of the gushing waters of the Alaknanda and the Himganga. The way was almost a continuous descent up-to the Gurudwara. We walked through the narrow bazaar profusely decorated for attracting the customers. Hotels built on the shops were also in view for the public at large. We may have travelled three-fourth of a KM. when we were inside the Gurudwara complex. Everything was new and appeared strange for the first timers.
There were a large number of halls available for the yatris. Mostly the halls were booked quite in advance of the journey, so as to avoid inconvenience to the yatris. The junior jathedar travelling with us went inside the Gurudwara to inquire about the particular hall booked for us. By good luck it was the same hall in front of which we were standing. The porters unloaded their pithoos in the hall and left having got their charges. The yatris occupied the space in the hall.
We rolled out our beds and put other things under the pillow or in the suitcase. Meanwhile, we also got blankets arranged from the storehouse. The blankets made the beds warm and cozy.
To satiate our curiosity, we left the hall to visit the huge Gurudwara complex. We could see the yatris walking, sitting or relaxing all over. We went to the Darbar Hall to pay obeisance and participate in ‘Ardas’. We minutely observed the Darbar Sahib room, got ‘parshad’ and came down the staircase. Thereafter, like other yatris, we also went to the langar hall, where langar and tea were being served. We also had both these items. Then, we moved towards the river Alaknanda and had its frightening glimpse at night. It flows in the backyard of the Gurudwara over a rocky course. We got information about the location of the public conveniences. The store room and the "gathri ghar" were just near our hall. Near the store room we saw a drum full of walking sticks which were left by the yatris returning from Hemkund Sahib. We picked up two for use during further journey. We placed the chosen sticks in our room. We were surprised to see that most of our companions had already collected sticks from that drum, understanding that no sticks may be available like that by morning. Then we left the hall to visit the small bazaar a bit closely. We passed through it slowly to see if anything was worth purchasing. No specialty was discernible as everything on display could be purchased at Rishikesh at cheaper rates. There were halwai shops too. We had two medium glassfuls of milk at rupees 20 per glass. The rate was fourfold than that at Dehradun. Pakoras and parathas were also available on order. The halwai shops were full of customers. There was a pretty big rush of yatris, as the ones, who were stranded due to the landslide, were also joined by fresh ones. After a short sojourn in the area, we returned to our room.
Slowly the talking ceased, as everyone preferred to take rest and sleep. The morning was expected to be full of activity. So, maximum rest was advisable. The room light was put off to ensure complete silence and sleep.
One by one, our companions woke up early in the morning. Some had even got back into the bed after finishing bathing etc by 5 a.m. We too were ready by 6 a.m. The tap water was very cold. The bath taps for gents were still in the open space. Hard water did not wash off soap from bodies easily. All facilities including public conveniences and bathing/drinking water taps were quite adequate for the public.
Having got ready, we went to the sanctum sanctorum to pay our respects to Holy Granth Sahib. Thereafter, we marched towards the langar hall. We had tea, chapaties and dal there. On the way back, we saw two counters. At one counter, money was received against receipts for the supply of parshad to the yatris. At the second counter, parshad was handed out against the receipts issued by the first counter. For convenience of the yatris, parshad is handed over centrally at Gurudwara Gobind Ghat, even against the receipts issued at Gurudwara Gobind Dham or Hemkund Sahib.
Paramjit suggested that we should try a phone call for Dehradun. But we were told that no P.C.O. facility existed at the place. Likewise no electric power station was in service there. That is why, continuously a heavy-duty generator was working. Three big electric generators were seen fixed in a room near the river bank. It was a matter of great pleasure to see that one of the generators was donated by the sangat of Gurudwara Machhi Bazar, Dehradun.
It was the morning of 7th July 2002. The time was approaching 8 a.m. We were waiting for the arrival of our co-yatris. They were to chalk out further programmes, as one day had already been lost in transit. We had deposited the extra luggage in the' gathri' house, as a probability could be to proceed further towards Gobind Dham. There was an air of suspense around us as to what next! We were a bit apprehensive about the visit to Badrinath temple. But, there was also a simmering hope that the yatra period could be extended by a day to set right the programme. We were busy in spinning our own web.
It was a little over 8 a.m. To our surprise a sevadar travelling in one of the other buses banged inside the hall and asked everybody to get ready for onward journey to Badrinath. All the other buses had bypassed Gobind Ghat and continued plying for Badrinath. It took just an hour to get collected and clear the hall, as some persons were not available for quite some time. However, all of us were inside the bus by 9:05 a.m. Finding everything O.K. the driver started the bus at 10 past 9 a.m. for onward journey to Badrinath temple.
The air of uncertainty had vanished. The bus reached Pandukeshwar at about 9: 16 a.m., where it was stopped to wait for the fixed time as per one-way traffic timings applicable at the "gates". This place had a few houses and a few shops comprising tea shops, general merchandise and shops of light woollens. The travellers do add sustenance to the pockets of these shopkeepers.
We left Pandukeshwar at 10:30 a.m. and passed by the side of the parked vehicles, which had returned from upstream. At 10:55 a.m. we crossed Hanuman Chatty. On our left, parts of glaciers were visible. At some places lower tips of the glaciers were seen touching the Alaknanda. At a place, the river water was flowing under the snow. It was a wonderful scene of a snow bridge with the water gushing below it.
www.hemkundji.com
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