A Juggernaut in Goa

 

“A massive force which crushes everything in its advancing path” – Juggernauts are common place in temple towns in the Country, especially down coastal South and also towards Goa. The most famous Juggernaut in India is the Puri Jagannanth, which has become an institution in itself and draws a huge flock of crowd every year. 

 

 Goa, though famed for its beaches also has a potential tourism in its Temples and each has its own Juggernaut constructed decades ago which is brought out once a year on specific ceremonies. One such Juggernaut is in the Mahalaxmi Temple located   . The Yatra or Festival typically takes place in the month of April, though it is not as popular as in Puri and the crowd is mostly local. The Ratha or Chariot of the local Goddess Mahalaxmi is an enormous construction 2 storied high, made entirely of wood finished with intricate wooden carvings and massive wheels.  

 

The decoration begins a day before the actual day of procession with locals contributing in terms of labor and material. The materials used for decoration are locally available flowers and fruits.  Bright Red, Orange and Yellow Marigold are seen adorning the spire and pillars. The choicest locally available fruits and vegetables are put to use - chief amongst them being Coconuts, Pumpkins, Papaya, Custard Apples, Bananas, Jackfruits, Pineapple, Mangoes and Gourds. The Spire of the Chariot is adorned with Colored paper reflecting the colors of the National flag adding a patriotic fervor to the proceedings. The procession begins within the Courtyard of the Temple and is typically drawn by the Temple Trustees, Priests and people of prominence, ladies and children are best kept away to prevent mishaps. As the giant chariot starts circumambulating the deity in the temple, people are seen scurrying to get a chance to pull the ropes. 

As the procession circles the Temple 4 times, it is accompanied by devotional songs and occasional bursting of fire crackers. The procession culminates by oblations to the Goddess in the Temple followed by a ceremonial dinner for all present at no cost.

The next day is reserved for auctioning the fruits used for decoration. A typical Pumpkin which may not cost more than Rs.50 under normal circumstances gets sold for 10 times this value with many locals fighting for its possession. 

On the Ujjain Ghat

 As with other Pilgrim Centers, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh carries the distinction of being a thriving industry when it comes to Religious Tourism. The Temples with their Priests, the shops selling books on Hinduism and religious curios are all around. So also begging, but with regards to begging it becomes difficult sometimes to choose between a Beggar and a Sadhu  as  they both come in high numbers and are in equal need. Other than Religion and Begging, there are 3 other essential types of businesses flourishing herein - the Eateries, the flower vendors and the Barbers and the best place to view this would be the Ram Ghat. 

 

In 1732, the Maratha ruler Peshwa Bajirao I, got possession of Malwa, and he divided his territory amongst his 3 Commanders - Scindia, Holkar and Pawar of which Ranoji Pawar established his power over Ujjain. His Minister Ramchandra Baba, living at Ujjain was in charge of the administration. The Ram Ghat and Narsinha Ghat on the banks of the river Shipra were built during his rule. Ram Ghat has the distinction of being the oldest bathing Ghat in Ujjain and the Kumbh Mela is held once in every 12 years over here.  Thousands of believers congregate at Ghat during this religious congregation to have a Holy Dip and cleanse themselves of their Sins.  

 

 As per Hindu traditions there are 2 ceremonies which take place on a Ghat, be it at Varanasi, Haridwar, Nasik or Ujjain – one would be the Oblations you perform for correcting flaws in your horoscope or planetary issues and the second would be the funeral rites of a close relative. So every small Temple would have its own set of Priests who are specialists in these Ceremonies, and take care of all your needs on being approached. A typical ceremony may take a few hours or even days depending on the magnitude of the problem and how deep your pocket runs.

 

 The eateries here are numerous and by looks and hygiene, you may feel like giving them a miss. There are numerous small and big temples and most of them are centuries old so a Shutterbug would definitely find good time in clicking the numerous old antique idols adorning the walls and nearby to the waterfront.    

Kayaks on Kali River

Located around 550kms from Bombay, Dandeli is a less frequented tourist spot and has managed to preserve its virginity. The dense green forests abound with flora and fauna and the presence of the pristine river Kali adds to the charm. At one time the flourishing Wildlife sanctuary was teeming with tigers, now you could be lucky if you could spot a Spotted Deer or a Langur. The jungle is also home to varieties of reptiles and birds. There are few other places of interests close by such as the Syntheri Rocks and the Kavla Caves or you could simply go out for a walk in the jungle. The rapid expansion of industry has raised fears of ecological damage to the area.

 

A tourist seeking some adventure on the river can spend time on Angling or White water rafting, another popular sport catching up is kayaking. The Hornbill resort at Ganeshgudi for a nominal fee allows you to spend leisure time in the Kali waters with a kayak. For beginners a general recreation kayak is available in which one or two people can be seated. Recreation kayaks have larger cockpit openings for easy entry and exit easier, and are wider in width for more stability so you may have a less likelihood of falling in water unless you try out some acrobats. For the more experienced you can bring in your own kayaks and enjoy the ride. 

Coracles off Vietnam coast

Other than tourism, fishing is a major industry in Vietnam and as you move on the shores off the coast, a round woven bamboo boat is likely to catch your eye. Scores of such boats can be seen in the waters, or being carried across by the fisher folk after a day’s catch. To some, it may be a mode for catching fish in the seas, others may use it as a transport to move across some of the water bodies within the city.  

    

For a war ravaged Country, Bamboo is a cheap and readily available raw material for construction. And then there is not much of labor expense involved in construction compared to building the more sturdy fishing trawlers. A thin layer of varnish or coconut oil is applied for water proofing. When maneuvered by a skilled person, they hardly disturb the water or the fish, and they can be easily navigated with one arm, while the other arm tends to the net. The structure has a flat bottom to evenly spread the weight of the boat and its load across the structure and to reduce the required depth of water making it ideal for use on rivers. 

A major advantage is its resistance to the various hazards of the coast and for a boat operating in shallow water or through surf; the basketry is very flexible which can sustain shocks or dents. But then the concept of sitting on the Water surface than being within it can be a hazard and they sometimes get carried away by a strong current, though they do make a strange sight in the swirling currents, playing with the waves as they go about some serious business

Coracles harbored on a small river within the city

The Days Catch