RAMDEVRA FAIR
LT COL NOEL ELLIS
23/VIII/2022
August or ‘Bhadon’ is a very
pious month, especially in Jodhpur. The reason is, transients travelling to
‘Ramdevra fair’, which is about 14 kms from Pokhran.
Baba is revered by the folks of
the Hindu and the Muslim community equally. He is considered to be an
incarnation of Lord Krishna who devoted his life serving human kind by
uplifting the downtrodden. At 33 years, he consciously took ‘Samadhi’ and
exited his human body.
Devotees from as far as UP,
Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, MP and even abroad come to offer their obeisance to
the ‘Peer’ irrespective of their caste, creed or religious affiliations. It is
sight to see and believe the devotion and dedication of the people and of
course the flood of humanity.
Way back in 1985-90, while posted
in Jaisalmer, one had the privilege to visit the temple many times. It was a
small temple then.
There was a Ramdevra railway
station near Pokhran. The steam locomotive on the meter gauge track used to chug
at double its power and half the speed, as people would hang on to every
possible place. They would sit on the rooftops packed like sardines (Til rakhne
ke jagah nahi hoti thi, literally). Even couplings between bogies were not
spared. We never heard of anyone falling off.
But we heard of a busy railway
department called ‘lost and found’. Kayin hoyo tau? Mahri lugai mile koni. What
happened old man? I lost my wife. Children got separated from their parents.
How they reunited is a story for another day.
These days with electrification
in progress, people pack themselves in every available bogie going towards
Ramdevra. In the good old days Jodhpur platform and its surroundings used to be
covered by mankind like ants. It used to be an obstacle course to arrive or
leave the railway station.
There used to be announcements
for the pilgrims not to board other trains, rather travel by ‘Ramdevra Special’
but no one cared. A foothold was enough. A five-hour journey from Jodhpur would
take them to meet their deity.
There were others who travelled
on foot. Those who could afford it, would travel by bicycles, the rest on buses
and trains. A flag pole with a picture of the Baba on his horse or with imprint
of his feet, a small ‘Jhola’ or a ‘Gathari’, bare minimum essentials and with
no or little money people travelled.
Things haven’t changed much. With
a Jaikara of ‘Jai Babe ri’, they move. The railway TTEs avoid checking tickets
as very few buy them. GRP would pull down people from the rooftops, but it was
of no use. They jumped down temporarily and climbed up again just as the train
departed which chugged at a snail’s pace, rocking them gently. Many even dozed
off but never heard anyone falling.
Things have changed now. People
can afford cars, can hire jeeps, travel by their own motorcycles, even modified
tractor trolley where the first-floor partition is for the ladies and the men
folk stick to the bottom. Flags keep fluttering like pennants, loud devotional
music in praise of Baba is played even on motorcycles with specially modified
speakers. A family of four or even five snugly fit on a bike, with the youngest
sitting on the fuel tank.
People donate for food and halt
arrangements generously. Mirchi Bada’s, Koftas, jalebis, poori sabji, desi ghee
ro halwa are served to all along roads heading to Ramdevra. A simple tented
arrangement, durrie on the floor, instead of staying under a tree in the good
old days. Snacks were served on a ‘pattal’ now in paper plates. Provision of
water in ‘campers,’ instead of ‘matkas’, is the change.
A DJ is arranged for night halts.
Loud music at full blast welcomes passers-by. Before attending to blisters on
their feet, a round of dancing takes the centre stage at every ‘basera’. With
the ‘Ram Rasoda’ open 24x7, pilgrims have nothing to bother for.
A new modification to the travel
is the arrangements of charging points. Mobiles need charging and so do their
portable music systems. Off they go traveling hundreds of kilometres shouting
Babaji ki jai all the way.
The pilgrimage begins by paying
respects to the Guruji of Baba Ramdev, whose temple is located at the ‘Massuria
hillock’ in Jodhpur, on the way to Pokhran. Therefore, this city becomes the
hub centre of activity and a transit point for all heading towards the Ramdevra
fair.
One of these days, we shall go
and pay our respects too. How soon will it be? I wonder!!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
© NOEL ELLIS
.jpg)
.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment