Well not me exactly.
Or at all. But as you will see walking pays an important part of this blontary.
So, thanks Proclaimers for providing the title to this week’s entry.
I am struck this week
by the willingness to sacrifice for one’s belief. I mentioned a few weeks ago
that Ramadan was starting – 30 days of fasting by believing Muslims. During
daylight hours, observant Muslims go without any food or drink; they break
their fast with Iftar, or the meal that breaks the fast. I have watched staff
members and students observe their fast and gather in our auditorium for
evening prayer and Iftar. I am not a stranger to fasting but I haven’t come
close to fasting for such a long period. I am impressed with those who have fulfilled
this important aspect of their religious observance.
Now to the walking
part. Shifting from Muslims to Hindus, this week marked an important Hindu
observance: Kanvar Yatra. During Kanvar Yatra participants carry water from the
Ganges to their local temples that honor Shiva (see below), where the water is used in purification
ceremonies. This is where the above referenced 500 miles comes in. It is not at
all unusual for Kanvarias to cover hundreds of miles. Originally participants
walked or ran the entire distance, usually barefoot. Now, most often they
participate in teams, taking turns in walking or running. In between, they ride
in the back of trucks, in cars, or on motorcycles. One characteristic of most
of the trucks is blaring VERY LOUD music. You can hear the trucks coming from a
long ways away. Participants keep going 24 hours a day until they complete
their journeys. There are rest stations, provided by local communities, to
support those who are walking. At these rest stations there is food, drink, and
even medical attention for those who need it. Providing support to the
Kanvarias is considered as much a form of worship or service as actually making
the journey.
Also originally the
water was carried in simple pots on either end of a bamboo pole carried across
the shoulders. Those simple arrangements still exist but they are increasingly
rare. They have been replaced with elaborate scaffolding of light wood and
paper or fabric. Even full shrines are carried by teams of walkers, some with colored lights all over them. Here are some pictures Rae and I took. All of
these were at night so the quality isn't great but I think you’ll get the feel
for what we saw.
Rae here,
I’m going to add a
few other random thoughts and tidbits that I got out of watching part of this
process. It seems that there are only
male runners. There seems to be very
little involvement of women. Women are mostly
standing along the road and giving out some food, water, or just cheering on
the runners.
Phil talked about the trucks that travel along
with the runners and play loud music. Sometimes the music is live, being made by the
actual riders with a heavy emphasis on drumming, but quite often it seems to be
broadcast from some sort of recorded source. There is a platform built on the top of the
truck and that is where the musicians or other supporters sit, stand and dance
around. They are usually quite
enthusiastic and excited. It would be pretty
hard to miss the fact that they are coming your way. I don’t know if the open space below the
platform is used as a resting place for the runners or a place to store
supplies, or what. While the picture we
got is blurry hopefully you get a bit of an idea.
Most of the runners
are dressed in orange. I’m not sure of all
the significance other than it is connected to saffron, and that is what they
call that color of orange. Saffron in Hinduism
is a highly religious color associated with sacrifice, abstinence, and the quest
for light and salvation. Hopefully that helps explain some of the
significance.
The walkers/runners
of the pilgrimage make their journey down the same roads that all the rest of
us travel and I know we have mentioned on more than one occasion how crazy and
crowded the traffic here, and other places is.
In most areas there are no special provisions made in the way of
clearing a lane or blocking off areas.
The trucks and runners somehow manage to make their way through the traffic
and the traffic somehow manages to accommodate them. I guess when you are used to avoiding cows,
you can also avoid some noisy trucks that are announcing runners.
It was a fun to watch and learn a bit more about.
Phil picked me up after work one evening and we traveled a ways out of
Delhi to try to get a better look at the runners and a bit of the process. It was getting dark and most all our shots
were taken from the car so the quality is not great, but hopefully you get the
idea. It is a highly religious event
that takes place in the middle of the everyday world. Amazing, crazy, and inspiring.
Hope you enjoy the
pictures.
Namaste.
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