http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/disability-no-deterrent-for-lord-shiva-devotees/115502.html Polio-afflicted Lord Shiva devotee Lakhan on his way to the Kanwar pilgrimage. Tribune photo: RAMESHWAR GAUR
Sandeep Rawat Tribune News Service Haridwar, August 4 The annual Kanwar pilgrimage to fetch holy Ganga jal from Ganga ghats in Haridwar is among one of the longest and toughest pilgrimage in the country. A few decades ago it was mainly treaded on foot, but with the change of time vehicular Kanwar pilgrimage has become a major one. Still thousand of Lord Shiva devotees complete this pilgrimage on foot as per traditions and customs. Treading 100-400 km on foot is an arduous journey but many a Kanwariyas take inspiration from physically challenged fellow Kanwariyas, who tread this pilgrimage on foot. Braving physical limitations, odd weather conditions and shoddy Kanwar stretch, these differentlyabled devotees seem to be quite different from normal Kanwariyas. A young Deepak Semwal from Hapur, who got afflicted with polio at an early age but this didn’t deter him to go on Kanwar pilgrimage. Having utmost dedication for Lord Shiva and holy Ganga, Deepak has been coming here for the past 10 years to fetch holy Ganga jal and offer it at his hometown Shivaliya on Maha Shivratri. Lakhan, who lives at the Badarpur border in National Capital Region is severely afflicted with polio and can move only one feet at a time. Undeterred by his physical disability, Lakhan treads 250-km on foot to fetch holy Ganga jal. Delhi resident Pradeep Kumar has been visiting the place despite his both legs affected with polio. Kumar says that Lord Shiva calls me and he treads the path easily, fellow Kanwariyas also motivate and help me. Many a Kanwariyas on seeing these physically affected persons get strength to complete the pilgrimage. While most feel that if Deepak, Lakhan or Pradeep can undertake Kanwar pilgrimage on foot then why people are coming in vehicles in the Kanwar fair. These differentlyabled devotees surely gives message of their dedication, spiritual spirit and overcoming their physical shortcomings through mental power. -- Avinash Shahi Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
