Road to Salvation – Vaishno Devi on Sunday

A Bandar at Bhairon

The pilgrimage is not complete without a visit to Bhairon Nath’s temple which is further up, at a height of 6620 feet, and at a distance of 1.42 km from Bhawan. My legs were aching to bits. But this had to be done.

Megs and Ginny fell behind as usual. But this actually turned out to be much tougher than initially anticipated. I was taking a break on almost every tenth step. But on and on they spurred me, those old, haggard men moving ahead of me with renewed determination, and the harried parents, each with a wailing kid on the shoulder. I urged my tired knees to move on. Move on...

The Pithoos

A trip to Vaishno Devi is a lesson in human faith. When you look at the myriad crowds that make up the faithful - the newly wed bride, the toothless old man, little children running along screaming, “Jai Mata Di”, the hopeful poor who sleep along the pathways too tired to continue, the rich who waddle along on the worn Pithoos, it makes you wonder what miracles must happen that so many expectants come, year after year, braving the heat, cold, landslides and distance.

As for me, it was one of the best experiences of my life. Even now, I can feel the sweat break down my back as I approach Bhavan with muted excitement, the rewarding bliss of standing in the dark cave praying for a miracle, the relentless march back braving the sun, wading between the Kachars, Pithoos and pilgrims, the resolve to complete the pilgrimage and seek her blessings.

And I know I would go there again. If she calls...