Rehguzar#02 : The ties of body and soul

The holy city of Haridwar if you compare and contrast, hosts you with an altogether different kind of “mature” wind. As you pass by the street art turned picture gallery for the Kumbh Mela, a sanctifying vibe starts to slowly envelope you.

It’s 6 in the evening and you realize you’ve just missed the aarti. While crossing the bridge above, you turn left to catch moments of glimpse of the “Bhagirathi”

Lo and Behold…

What you witness makes your eyes gape, jaws drop and ears prick up to assimilate her angelic melodious burbling. It’s as if she’s open-heartedly giving you a grand reception. All you want is to fling open your arms and run down to her, meet her, listen to her. 

Only if your friends were not sluggish and behaving like oldies. So, it’s 9 before they decide they must step out for dinner. God! Almost whole of the city’s already asleep by now. Anyways, down to the ghaats after a wholesome dinner…

Staying alone for no more than a couple of minutes at the Har ki Pauri Ghaat will fling a question mark directed straight to your mortal existence, your very purpose as a mere statistic. I quickly set myself aloof and untouched from the chitter-chatter of my friends planning their supposedly bright “careers” onward. 

And now, there are two opposing voices that remain at war of words in your head. One mightily questioning and the other searching for answers, thoughtfully..

..or only vaguely, perhaps.

Could clearly get wind of Neeraj Arya’s lyrics floating in the background in sync with this gurgling holy waters fearlessly defying everything since time immemorial. At that instant, making her way in front of my eyes.

क्या लेके आया जगत में, क्या लेके जाएगा,
दो दिन की जिंदगी है, दो दिन का मेला…

Submerged in Sanctity

What a sight the ghaat has now transformed into the next morning. You make your way through hundreds of sages, pilgrims and common men and survey for a suitable spot to bathe.

I don’t think I surpassed four or five dunks, those too at intervals. Although, I went waist level down there underestimating that I would succumb to the chilliest water I’ve immersed myself into and should not risk my breath.

But self-respect is a thing. 

You sit there on the steps letting the warm winter sun glimmering over the waters leisurely dry you. Meanwhile, humming the song that you played on loop back in the hotel room since you woke up.  

जो पास तेरे वही तेरा
बाक़ी सब मोह का फेरा
तू क्यूँ समझ ना पाया
तन मिट्टी है मन माया

It’s all about abandoning the regrets, ego, thoughts of treachery or unfair treatment, expectations and all the crap inside as you dip inside the mystical waters and emerge out feeling cleansed from inside.

Natural Detoxification!

Or maybe that’s how I see salvation as.

Already brimmed with too much mysticism? Hold on. More chakras still to be activated ahead in Stantikunj Asharam. 

Suspended in Spirituality

A peaceful place of refuge from the rush of the outside crooked world. To the naïve, this foreign land is inhabited by hyper minimalist and super patient aliens adorned in saffron. 

And now guess where you unknowingly step in.

A Bookstore!

You throw caution to the wind to first complete reading the n number of books bought just to decorate the bookshelf. And now increase your luggage by the equal n number.

Well, just strolling around the campus leads to a sudden upliftment of consciousness and soul soothing tranquility.

So, God forbid, if ever you’re unsettled, illusioned or caught up in the web of worldly fallacies…

Kuch din toh zaroor guzaro Shantikunj mein.

A gentleman brought to our knowledge that they organize free spiritual camps for self-refinement cum alien transformation year-round.

Oh! No way you be late and miss the evening aarti again. Right to Har ki Pauri..

An entirely different scene this time. Thousands gather to be a part of this divine aura that stirs you so intensely, your hands lift up and join involuntarily in tribute to the "Patit Paavani".

Even time halts itself to take a bow!

It truly feels as if an invisible energy has cast a spell in the air.

रातों को चाँद तारे लहरों में झूमते हैं

फूलों भरे किनारे पैरों को चूमते हैं

सूरज बिखेरता है किरनों के हार तुझ पर

और करती हैं हवाएँ नक़्श-ओ-निगार तुझ पर

सब हैं निसार तुझ पर सब हैं निसार गंगा

ऐ शानदार गंगा

ऐ पुर-बहार गंगा

(an excerpt from Hafeez Jalandhari Sahab’s nazm “Ganga”)

Over to concluding this self-elevating trip roaring and calling from up a higher altitude above. 

(Just hoping you remember the parabolic curve from the previous post)

Enlivened in Escapade

Sandwiched with mountains from both sides, time to surrender yourself along with a raft to the turbulent waters in Rishikesh.

Paddles raised high up in the air, the crew full of energy and enthusiasm cheering “Gange Maiya ki… Jaiiii” . And off you let her carry you in her arms, whole spiritedly!

Having tested my physical capacity in Haridwar, it’s an occasional chance to be at the hem of breaths and feel alive in the craziest and truest sense.

You’re carefree. You’re wild. And you’re there, in that moment!

Submerged in Sanctity. 

Suspended in Spirituality. 

and Enlivened in Escapade

Drenched deep till my heart and shivers reaching my soul tied to the body, this was how the Rehguzar reached its culmination.

If there’s anything that this invisible but agonizingly dominant virus taught us in the past two and half years is that don’t reason things much, think much, plan much. Life’s too short to keep chasing false security, materialism and careers.

नाहीं भरोसा पल का,
यूँ ही मर जाएगा,
दो दिन की जिंदगी है,
दो दिन का मेला…

 

As I wind up this metaphorical journey with you, another ravishing Safar awaits me far South...