Kedarnath Door Opening Ceremony 2015 – Part 4

Morning I wake up early but there are no signs of life so I went inside again. After 1 hour when I back helicopters carrying urgent supplies have started hovering simultaneously on clear blue sky. I went to temple. Decoration is still going on. I sit in front of temple verandah and watch everybody working. One policeman come and says  – I am working here since last 3 months. He describes me the same scenario, which already many have told me. I was here when that tragedy happens. What an atrocious time, luckily I remain safe. I sit there for long watching up above Himalayan peaks, sky, clouds and working people. Far from temple, River Mandakini is flowing slowly with sweet whisper. Religious songs are echoing in valley. I returns for lunch and came to know that procession of Lord Shiva could be reach anytime. Guy who serves me lunch tells me – Madam local village people and other pilgrims will be come with procession then you would be no more alone. I give him smile and concentrate on delicious lunch. When I back to tent site, I could see lots of hustle bustle there. No need to say that security personal and journalists has started coming now. Meanwhile procession also reached with array of pilgrims. I saw few women too so now nobody would say I am the only woman here. Anyways they are dancing, singing and enjoying the moment a lot. Now I am also part of procession with my camera…

Temple is now a chaotic place. 3-4 hours later, everything becomes silent. I also back to tent where five members  of very reserve Maharashtrian family, one old man, three guys and one more trekking loving man are accompany me today. Trekking loving man and three boys introduce themselves to me. Old man, sort of talkative, shares his adventures stories nonstop. One of three boys tells me – my neighbor’s family was here in that fled flesh and they lost. Their family still waits for them. Can you imagine how difficult it is to believe that their family has been lost. I can feel the pain coz I see them hysterically waiting for family. His eyes fill with tears and mine too so I walk out. It’s drizzling and temperature is going down. I can see bustle everywhere. Spending sometime outside, I back to tent where without waiting for anything man starts again with his adventures stories. It was dark so we went for dinner. We had to wait in a long queue for dinner and now I am sharing my dinner with lots of moths flying over lights. I back to tent and lie down…

 Morning I wake up early but I had to wait long to get fresh. I went to temple though door would be open at 8.54 A.M. Trekking loving man accompanying me. We went backside of temple. He tells me - when I came here in past years, it was a cluttered with huge buildings and luxuries hotels and River Mandakini was in opposite direction but now I am amuse to see that except snow nothing is left here after fled flesh. When we back, temple was bustling with police activities because VVIP’s can reach here anytime. Pilgrims starts making queue for opening ceremony. I also join them but suddenly all become chaotic coz Door Opening is getting close and VVIP’s are also reaching. All media is here and journalists coming again and again for asking same silly questions like – How you feeling now ? How are the arrangements ? Do you think that Yatra could be manage successfully? Are you happy with arrangements and so on. In every second, journalists coming and asking the same questions. All become hectic, messy and irritating...

Suddenly I saw saint sitting on snow cover roof far from this chaos and enjoying Hukka (Smoke). Meanwhile queue amalgamate into mismanage mob. Temple premise is echoing with prayers enchanting by pilgrims. Around 8.58 Door Opens. VVIP’s take first Darshan and went off. Now it’s others turn and all want to go first so no one is following line and I stuck between mob.  I am struggling to come out but now there is no point to back so I flow in this huge ocean. Somebody push me from behind and I hit with long stone stairs. Crossing stairs I entered into big room carved with ancient statues of god and goddess but its dark, smoky and jam packed with pilgrims. I am struggling to keep my steps forward. Most of the time I was not moving but I been pushed forward through mob. Anyhow, after 1 hour struggle I reach to the holy serene of Lord Shiva. Now I can say I have completed my trek successfully though going out is another struggle…

After lots of struggle, I came out and stand for a while to take a look to the temple, chaos, snow, peaks, sky, workers and everything then back to tent. I will back through Helicopter where again it was long wait due to VVIP’s movements. Atlast I get Helicopter, which will drop me Fata village. I am too late so worrying for bus to Haridwar coz I don’t want to go by same root which I took for arrival. It’s 1.15 and after half n hour I get taxi for Guptakshi and from Guptkashi to Rudrprayag. It’s 4 O’clock now but luckily I get another taxi for Rishikesh which is near to Haridwar. Now I can enjoy the beauty of valley but wishing to reach soon. Around 10 P.M. I reach Rishikesh and take bus for Haridwar. It’s been 11 P.M. but my luck favor me again and get bus for Nainital.

I been part of one devastating story, which is still scaring me, but when I back to Nainital I open news channel to keep myself update but heard one more heartbreaking news about Nepal Earthquake…

End