Devotion and holiness is what the Golden temple claims of???
On entering the temple premise we noticed that most of the devotees were clad in red with a mala (chain) matching their clothes. We made our way to the free darshan queue where there was segregation of gender. The queue for the women was apparently longer. There were rule breakers who managed to jump the queue system, which irked us.
The queue system lasted for an hour for a distance that could have been covered in 10 minutes. Was it the popularity of the temple that brought it so many crowds? Read on..
Managing our way through the unruly queue, we landed on a cell (If I can call it one). There were banners at the entrance of the cell, indicating that the darshan will last for 3 hours. It was a room made of iron rods on all the four sides with asbestos roof. With LCD televisions to entertain, cafeteria to quench your hunger there were 4 cells in total. The cells also had rest rooms near the exit. The segregation was no more in vogue.
Once inside the cell, we noticed that there were whistles blown to indicate that the gates would be opened and that the devotees could proceed. Since the cells had no concrete walls it was tough to comprehend the origin of the sound. 5 minutes inside the cell, we noticed people running towards the exit. Animalism is what I would term it. Kids and the elderly were stamped. Even if you would suffocate to death, people wouldn’t move. All they wanted to do was to leave the cell as soon as possible, irrespective of your existence. After about an hour, the gates were opened. People pushed their way out and if you survived, it was destiny.
Out of the cell, the trauma was not over. Another queue was awaiting our way. After all the hardships, we were pushed to the frisking zone. Baggages were screened and people checked. If you manage to cross the queue by mistake due to the rush, you can hear a hard thump on your back (a strike by the temple authorities, an act of sanctity indeed).
Out in the open air, breathing fresh air after about 2 hours, there was a sign of happiness in our face. Before worshiping the goddess, all the devotees have to walk the shape of a star for about 5 kilometers approx. On either sides were banners of the person who had built the temple (No comments). Walking the distance we arrived at the temple.
The temple dome was glittering with all the richness that one can imagine. The magnificent stature shone in the night-light, posing a treat to the eye. The wait was worth it, the splendiferous view, the dazzling feast; I have no words to describe the beauteousness of the temple.
Tired and exhausted, we managed to make our way to see the goddess. On getting closer to darshan area we realized that the devotees could see the goddess from just a kilometers distance and just for a few seconds. If you manage to stand and exceed the few destined seconds, filthy words would fill the air, a shower from the temple authorities.
All of us were shocked from the scenes, which had lasted for 3 hours. On the way out, we noticed a crowd approaching us (in the opposite direction), with praises loud and unclear. Initially we thought that it was the goddess who was on her little tour around the temple. Folding our hands in holiness we went closer to see the goddess. This very minute made us regret all the efforts we had taken to see the almighty. The person who built the temple projecting himself to be god, posing like one, hearing praises about his own self and with a light to make his face brighter was approaching the temple. He was blessing the devotees on his way to the temple. Struck by the scene, we moved forward towards the exit. We noticed that the human god had come to the temple in a SUV, with special access through the wrong entrance. Temples, a holy shire or a money wending machine?
On the way back to the exit of the temple, we realized that the temple was just a few minutes walk from the gateway, for which we had to spend 3 hour.
We didn’t want to discuss or think about the experience of visiting the Golden Temple. We enjoyed the drive home, the highways were a pleasure to drive, clean and sumptuous. The best part of the outing was the long drives…
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