Over 2000 Km by road, in around 10 days. Stunning landscapes, wonderful people. That sums up our Ladakh trip. But how did it actually work? How did we make it happen? Read on to find out! Leh, the capital of Ladakh , is accessible by air and road. Flying into Leh is the easiest, and time-saving option, while the road is the time consuming one, but with the added advantage of driving past some of the most beautiful landscapes in our country. Each option has much to recommend it, and we chose the road for just one reason – altitude sickness. Altitude sickness was one of my biggest concerns, since I suffer from motion-sickness. Yes, I do travel a lot, but that is despite my condition, and, over the years, have learnt how to handle it. I struggled with it when we visited Nathu-La in Sikkim, and wondered if I would be able to manage a week at the even higher altitudes that we would encounter in Ladakh. This was the reason we stuck to a basic plan, of only 9 days in Ladakh, thoug...
No matter which temple you go to, you see people like her.
I saw her outside the Somnath temple in Gujarat. She had two stalls - one selling prasad (offerings) to the Lord, and another selling images of the Lord... The threads tied to the string above her are also for sale. They are talismans believed to protect us from evil and troubles.
I clicked her while I was waiting for Shankar outside the temple, and in all the time I was there, she did not get a single customer.... she simply sat there in that same posture, seemingly not bothered about the lack of customers. The other vendors were busy, calling out, actually shouting into the ears of anyone who passed by..... encouraging them to buy things...promising instant salvation in the name of Lord Somnath, or as they put it 'jyotirlingji', but she stood out with her silence.... I clicked the pic on an impulse, and of course, a desire to click something with my new camera!! It was only as I was downloading it that I wondered more about her - What did she think of the temple and the Lord, sitting outside day after day, selling prasad and photos to the odd customer who overcame the tactics of the other vendors to buy something from her?
As I was writing this post, I couldnt decide on a title for it.... What should I call her ? Seller of Gods? Temple vendor? Vendor outside a temple? After much deliberation, I decided to leave the title blank.... Any suggestions?
Lovely picture Anu and more than that your commentary. It is difficult to decide what to call it though.
ReplyDeleteThe last remaining patient businessperson in this impatient country.
ReplyDeletequite possibly, Gopal!!
DeleteHi Anu, long time...Nice to see you have visited Somnath temple..Good picture there. I am not very regular these days. Hope everything is fine at your side.
ReplyDeleteYes, chitra... been really busy!! Somnath was great.. will post about the temple soon! and I have yet to catch up with your posts.... hope to see u back in form soon too!
DeleteHi Anu,
ReplyDeleteYou are on my blogroll, but I am visiting here after quite a while. Great to know that you visited SOmnath. I grew up in the town next to it, Veraval and have some great memories of the temple. It has a special place in my heart. Hope you liked it too.
RajK
P.S.: Your blog design is awesome! How did you do it?
Hi,
ReplyDeleteYou are right. In most temples you will find some one like her. That look is not of indifference or disinterest. It is as though she has given up trying because she doesn't feel she can push for results anymore. Giving up is always dangerous for any individual. It marks an inner frenzy that no one else will understand.
you are quite possibly right, Swapna! there are so many like her who have sat at the same place for years, selling their wares, but lack the driving force required to push a sale... and somewhere along the way, give up! but then again, maybe they are patient, waiting for that one busy day, when they will be able to sell something.. i always wonder about these people who pester pilgrims at temples.. what do they think? do they believe?
DeleteIt is said, in silence one can hear the footsteps of God. Perhaps she is being silent to hear the footsteps of God walking towards her stall in the form of devotees:).
ReplyDeletemaybe god does walk towards her stall in the form of devotees.. how else would she manage to make a living and still come and sit there day after day? as they say, good things come to those who wait!
DeleteNice one. They are omnipresent at temple complexes.
ReplyDeletewww.rajniranjandas.blogspot.com