Trip to Amritsar – Part II

The Golden Temple was resplendent and radiated so brightly under the sun that it looked almost surreal. One must ensure that one’s hair is always covered as long as one is in the temple – this is something the Sikhs take very seriously. The temple takes volunteering to a whole new level – there are people serving water to devotees, in a non-stop, flawless assembly line mechanism, at all the four corners of the courtyard. They also go the extra mile and serve water to thirsty devotees even while the latter wait in line, for ‘dharshan’!

Among all the places of worship I have been to, the Golden Temple stands out in that it treats the devotee with care and respect. A visit to the temple is incomplete if one does not eat from the langar . This is the dining hall where volunteers serve free food (prashad from the temple) to the devotees.

Next on our ‘To-Do’ list was Wagah border – This is at the border that India shares with Pakistan. Here, every evening, there is a ceremony just before sunset when the ‘lowering of the flags’ occurs, the grandeur of which can only be seen and not explained.

We took a ‘shared auto’ from the Golden Temple (Rs. 100/- per person) and reached Wagah by 5. The ceremony started by around 6p.m. We managed to get a glimpse of the ceremony, but I guess one needs to be at Wagah at 5 to get good seats.

We started back from Wagah to our hotel at around 7.15p.m. It was probably the Saturday-evening-traffic that delayed us – we reached back only at 8.45p.m.

Now we were faced with the daunting task of making a dash for the bus which was at 9.30p.m. We split ourselves into two groups based on what was top priority for the person – food or shower. Those who opted for food went to the restaurant (lets call them ‘the Foodies’, shall we!?) and the other group rushed to the hotel (and they can be called ‘the ShowerPuffs’).

The Foodies were kind enough to pack food for the Showerpuffs. The Showerpuffs, on the other hand, took quick-showers helped the Foodies pack their bags and gave them a free hand at the showers when they returned with parceled food.

What followed was a mad rush to the bus, which, as it turned out, arrived late! So then we made the most of our ‘spare time’ at the Travels’ Office and ate our parceled food there. What made the experience even more ‘movie-like’ were the added perks – Ms. V and Mr. Snow had bought plastic plates, earlier on, so as to keep the affair less messy; Mr. Int and Kiddo had got us ‘packed-lassis’ (wow!); and I had taken tap water in a bottle so that we dint not have to wash hands after dinner at the expense of a scarce resource – drinking water…

And so, a sumptuous dinner and a 10-hour-sound-sleep later, we were given a ‘warm welcome’ by the morning rays of the Delhi sun.

Final verdict – A little hectic, all-in-all, but then again, a day put to good use – that’s how I’d sum up the trip to Amritsar. Oh – and for those who plan to visit the Golden Temple, don’t forget to take a scarf/shawl to cover your mane …

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