✪ Amritsar ✪

Woke up at 6.30 am, finished all morning deeds and ordered breakfast aloo paratha & coffee. Until breakfast come I try to organize my day. I decided, first I went to darshan of golden temple shrine without camera and all because I don’t know how was arrangement of belonging and how much rush will be there. I don’t want to waste time on locker Q instead of Darshan Q.

So my rough plan was as below

• Golden temple for darshan

Return hotel take camera & then

• Durgaiani temple
• Jalinwala baug
• Golden temple for Photography and Lunger
• wagha Border
• Again Golden Temple for night light Photography & Lunger

So after that complimentary breakfast I leave for golden temple. As nearing the golden temple lanes was going narrow and congested. I came from Jallinwala baug side, parked motorcycle in parking adjacent to entrance and proceed. bought a head cover because it was mandatory to cover head inside temple. In front of me vast open space with marble flooring, fountains & tall entrance(Sikh museum side). At left side there are shoe depositing center & there are long Q. some people who don’t want to go in Q keeping there footwear’s front open space of shoe center. I wore a flipflop for that I don’t want to go in a Q. so I’m too place mine there and quickly entered through entrance. First of all I kept looking beauty of the temple for a while then proceed to Akal takht side to join darshan Q. the Q is just outside the entrance of that lake bridge. I rushed there and stood in line. At my right side many Sikh pilgrims are bathing in that holy lake, adjacent to that one prasad like counter where they distributing sooji halwa like prasad, serving with knife. Its took me more than half an hour to cross that bridge and entered in to the main temple. I bow down there & prayed for my successful journey. then went upper floor, there are same arrangement like below many Sikh pilgrims are reading & chanting. At first I thought that below is a Samadhi of Guru Nanak Dev ji but when I went upper floor I got confused. so I asked one of that sikh guard at the entrance. then he elaborate me that there are no Samadhi of any guru those are the holy book of Guru Granth Saheb, one is hand written & one printed…..okkk. Then I stroll there, sat edge of the lake looking temple for a while. then decided to leave for hotel. come where i place my flipflop but not found, search there for a while but they are gone and I move without it.

On return way one oldie traffic police stop me & ask license, I showed him duplicate because original one is in my bag in hotel. Then he ask me original one, I told him that it was at in my hotel room. then he ask me where are you coming from, where are you going…. when I told him ladakh he laugh and handover me license & told to go.

I reach hotel then took my Dslr and leave for Durgaini Temple. Its just 2 km away, I parked motorcycle & went inside. Its architecture is similar to golden temple & temple is dedicated to goddess Durga. I took darshan of shrine and spent some time there. the place is quite & serene.

Then proceed for Jallinwala baug. Again stop by cop, same chat & he left me. he likes my seat cover & asking me where do i get it …I told him Mumbai.

Reach there, parked motorcycle at same parking and went to explore Jallinwala Baug. It was a really narrow entrance and at entrance many rikshawalas are shouting for Wagha border tour. I roam there for a while and witness the marks of some cruel past of India.

Then proceed for Golden temple to store in my camera. This time I wore a riding shoes so i went in Q to deposit it to counter. After that, literally rumble there. tried each & every corner, each & every angle to capture that beauty. After satisfying photography, I sat on the edge of lake quietly listing those melodies in air and beholding that magical lake. some times fishes are jumping out to see me but I don’t have any thing to feed them. at about 02 pm I decided to go for lunger. Went there stood in wrong Q come to know that when one of Sikh volunteer handed me a bowl for tea. then find the right Q and finally get a chance to taste lunger. it was simple and holy Dal-Roti & Kheer. I adore the Sikh volunteer for quick & fast serving. after satisfying my soul I took leave from there.

at exit went to souvenir shop. There are so many types & sizes of kadha, I bought it one. then saw jerry cans which sikh pilgrims use to carry holy water of that lake, I bought it two for carry petrol later in my ride. Now went to parking lot, rickshawalas are still shouting for wagha border. suddenly I thought if I went with them then my motorcycle will get some rest and I can get some company too. so I decided to go with them.

I went hurriedly to hotel kept this cans and parked motorcycle there. return to take rickshaw. I ask one of them, he told me its 200 INR per person for To-&-fro journey. i revert him that i want to come here at return. he nodded ok…then he told me to seat back side. It was accommodate 8 people + driver, its took some time to fill out all the seat. I sat backside with some Sikh youngsters. Chat with them for a while. After seats was full, we leave for Attari border about 3.45 pm. Its took more than hour to reach Attari border. our driver told us that still 20 min to start parade and its last for 45 min. as soon as parade finish you come here as early as possible nor we will stuck in massive traffic jam, he warned. okkk… we are in time, so we can get to see full parade I thought. I noted rickshaw no. and move with those Sikh guys. as we nearing the stadium I can able hear loud patriotic songs & shouting. As we come nearer I saw massive crowed front of the gate I thought that they are still not allowing to enter at the stadium but when all picture was clear. I saw that stadium is already full, even gates are close. people are standing on gate, platform, stairs everywhere from where they can able to get glimpses of parade. I don’t know what to do I tried to peep through gates many times but crowd was pushing me back.

Now parade was start, I am hopeless. feeling bad, those Sikh boys are where gone in that bustle I don’t know. Stand there In crowd for a while. Tried to watch at projector which put at adjacent to gate, otherwise at least. After some time I saw from back side near stair there are only one guard. on whom loosed eyesight some people are rushing through rope fence towards stairs. I went there and request him to let me go after seeing my poor face he said go… go… fast (जाओ… जाओ… जल्दी… जाओ) my happiness is touching to sky. I went through stair, after pushing for a while I am in to the stadium… hurray !!! still 25 min parade remaining I praised to god. Finally watching the parade and enjoying that thrilling atmosphere everybody was dancing, singing, shouting. Meanwhile tried to record the ceremony in camera. after flag lowering ceremony finished I rush towards rickshaw stand because of massive crowed.

I am the first person in all 8 passenger to reach at our rickshaw, I seat down at my place our driver is taking loudly with other drivers, they are exchanging passengers. now the mess was started. those Sikh boys are never come, some other passengers filled in our rickshaw. then driver came to me and ask for money, I gave him and remind that I want to get off at Golden temple he nodded and went again arguing with other drivers. After settled with them, he came to me and request to go in his friends rickshaw. I asked him why ?  he told me that he are taking some inner area passengers. I again remind him about I want to get off at golden temple. he told yes, yes and hurriedly leave pointing his friend rickshaw. I went backside but it was full. then driver called me and give me place at his side. he politely, trying to convince me that today is too much rush (आज बहुत भीड़ है उसके वजह से थोड़ी गड़बड़ है) I feel cheated but now whom to argue I paid to another driver, so I shut my mouth and sit. In all this mess got late, stuck in traffic. its dark now, at some turn he told me to get off. I told him that I want to go at Golden temple.

Driver: Yes, yes 2 min from here….

Me: Really…

Then I get off

Walk for a minute or so then I clicked in mind that we even not cross the railway fly over then how can temple is on 2 min…..they fooled me !!!. I saw time, it was 8 pm. road was deem lit & deserted. I don’t know where I am, walking hurriedly after some time I saw one cycle rickshaw & I urged him to take me to golden temple…..

In 15 min I am at golden temple everything is lit, looking beautiful. Done some photography there and went for lunger. After that bow down last time at golden temple from outside & leave.

Again took cycle rickshaw to reach hotel. Manager still on reception, ask me to park motorcycle opposite side. i told him that i’m leaving early morning tomorrow, then he nodded ok. Its five days leaving from home now, its time to break atom bomb at home. Because, from tomorrow my real journey will be start in mountains. so this is right time to inform them about my dream. I don’t know how to tell them but finally I called mom. initially she was taking as joke but when I told seriously, she was shocked & scared. next half an hour heard lecture…..warnings, swears, anger and what not. I am listening from one ear and leaving from another, all this things are not going in to my head. Then cut call. After some time dad call me and gave me final warning, I didn’t even utter a word. this was the last time dad talk to me. even after I returned home from journey they didn’t talk with me about for one month. after that beside all the things & packed it all. Then went to sleep.

That’s all folks…..