*Day 1* जय काल भैरव बाबा!
I flew 🛫 from Mumbai to Varanasi. Landed at 12pm. We were received at the airport by the tour leads of Shabdmrut Paryatan शब्दामृत पर्यटन with a welcome drink. A ride to the hotel, a Punjabi lunch and a nap later we were ferried to the venue for an orientation to the Yatra.
Pictures of my room with a lovely view of a neem tree swaying in the cool wet breeze from a drizzle.
A talk by the firebrand speaker and actor @sharadponkshe 🧨 He mostly talked about How to bring Prabhu Shree Ram in our life and motivated to be a proud Sanatani in all spheres of our life. Never forgetting the teaching of our ancestors and sacrifices of our leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Veer Savarkar etc.
Post the lecture and a Punjabi dinner. We were herded for Darshan to Kaal Bhairav mandir. Kaal Bhairav is considered the Kotwal of Varanasi. He is worshipped first and then Kashi Vishweshwar.
Lining up in the serpentine lanes of Varanasi. We started around 9 pm and got Darshan at 12am just before the mandir closed down. It was a good 3hrs negotiating our way through filth in those claustrophobic lanes. Fraction of a second for a Darshan and you get pushed away. To say the least it was a traumatic experience 😰
Relieved to be back in an open space and breathing normally. We returned to the hotel for a short sleep as the next day was going to be an early start. I was doubtful if this is what I wanted to experience in this Yatra ? I had come with an open mind. Not really seeking spiritual peace knowing the history of Kashi. Not just me all other people were disgusted with the environment and there wasn’t even a trace of holiness. 🫤 Govt. needs to make drastic changes to this area so pilgrims don’t suffer. Come back to read what followed. Thankfully for the better !
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