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RAMDEVRA FAIR

 

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

 



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