In search of divinity

Brief Recap       Part 1 ( http://chiragdeep.blogspot.in/2017/09/a-visit-to-kailash-manasarovar-part-i.html )  covered the experiences of 40 pilgrims who had gathered from all over the country in Delhi on 12 Aug. Part II ( http://chiragdeep.blogspot.in/2017/09/a-visit-to-kailash-manasarovar-part-ii.html )  described the sojourn through Kumaon Hills over a period of nearly ten days till they crossed over into China on 26 Aug. Expanding the frontiers of understanding       As we walked down to our buses waiting 500 metres below the Lipulekh pass, I mused on the history of the region. Our Rishis had a unique understanding of the geographical frontiers of the Indian civilization. Recognizing that the regions around Kailash and Manasarovar region were the source of three rivers that fed the Indian sub continent - Indus, Sutlej,  and the Brahmaputra, they extended the ideological frontiers by weaving myth and legend around these regions. Militarily, Zorawar Singh, the Dogra General,

Sunset over Manasarovar Brief Recap              Part I  ( http://chiragdeep.blogspot.in/2017/09/a-visit-to-kailash-manasarovar-part-i.html )  covered the experiences of the 40 pilgrims from all over the country who had got together in Delhi to undergo medical tests and complete visa formalities before departing for Almora. After many ifs and buts, the Yatra finally commenced on 16 Aug.  Sojourn through Kumaon Hills     Once we left Delhi we were in the competent hands of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) who had a mighty job on their hands since the entire schedule had been disrupted. Batch 16 had to be retrieved from Sirkha where the bridge at Malpa had been washed away. Batches 14 onwards would now have to be helilifted from  Budhi to Dharchula on their return journey and Batch 16 onwards would have to be helilifted both for onward and return journeys. Apart from this, the civil population in these villages was severely affected due to the disruption of logistics. For

              ‘Moko kahan dhoonde re bande, main tho tere paas re’ or “Where do you search for me, I am always close to you” sings Kabir. Unfortunately, the stresses of daily living and the frustrations of hopes belied and expectations not met give the lie to this claim. I tend to agree with Osho when he says, “ The old man has been a worshipper of dead Gods in temples and mosques and synagogues ... the new  man is one who denies God but will instead find his living God in the trees, in the birds, in the rivers, in the oceans, in the mountains, and in the stars...”.         The insistent pull of the mystical and the divine demands to be heard...and this time we decided to heed the call by applying for the Kailash Manasarovar  Yatra organised by the Ministry of External Affairs. The lucky draw proved how unlucky we were ...... we were put on the waiting list for Batch 17 scheduled to start from 12 Aug in Delhi. It was subsequently confirmed after several drop outs as rains conti