The train ride to Kolkata was late …. Not surprising …. 3
hours late and I had to bear the heat since I was only on sleeper class …. I
bid the Taiwan boys farewell as the train arrive and they board the AC3 and I
the sleeper …. This time I was fully prepared to kick whoever was in my seat
out to get some sleep on the long 9 hours journey.
One evening we headed to the famous Kali Ghat temple where
rumour has it the finger of Kali the goddess was kept there. This was a place where pilgrims all over India
comes to have a worship, a revered temple …. We got there at 5pm, found a place
to check in our shoes or slippers for a fee and got into the long snaking
queue. 1 hour 30 minutes in the queue later and they closed the gate into the
temple for an evening Puja.
Once is enough for a lifetime Ktan told me
Yep … once is enough …. I agree …
Fortunately I did not have to kick anyone …. Got my seat and
slept the time away till Kolkata.
Ktan was waiting for me at the platform as I exit the train
….
Long time no see …. I
was in good hands now … a local guest of Ktan and family.
Without Ktan I would have never step foot into the Kali Ghat
Temple or seen things in Kolkata on my own. A local guide change a lot of
things that you see and observe instead of touring the popular places. Locals
playing carom and chess under a bridge every day, pubs or watering hole they call
em, downtown luxury pub with a skyline of Kolkata, best local Mughlai cuisine …
it is always a privilege and honour to be a guest in another’s humble abode
The Kali Ghat Temple – Kolkata
Kali Ghat Temple - Kolkata |
Stuck for another 1 hour 30 minute before the temple reopen
the gate and we were shoved into the centre of the temple where everyone was
shoving and pushing their way to see this one black statue of Kali. The finger
is nowhere to be seen …. Kept somewhere in the temple ground. 3 hours of queuing
and you are shove in and out in two minutes.
The experience of the Kali Ghat temple showed me a small
glimpse of how extreme both side of Indian people can be. In a holy ground such
as a temple people ply the place for blessing or for giving offering but the
more famous the temple, the more it attracts the black hearts whom prey upon
the kind soul.
The amount of devotees and level of admiration that was
shown was beyond believe. Dirty smelly drainage sewage water in the gutters
that was the remains of water used to wash the goddess was being dipped as holy
water and placed on the forehead like a bindu. In every praying alter there was
someone sitting there performing the head poke for the public and money is
asked. As if praying without giving money is a sin.
Inside the scared centre of Kali temple a small place barely
a meter wide and 3 meters length, people was shoved pass the goddess statue in
seconds, shouts and chants are mixed up together with water and dye splashed
everywhere. It was the dirtiest temple I have ever seen. Everything was wet … a
single incense was burning and dye or as they call it vermilion, was splattered
everywhere with so much flower garland thrown and together with it anything
that the locals can get their hand on and if it makes sense throw it …. Money
of course is the most common.…. If I did not know it was a temple I would have
mistaken it as a garbage bin.
A single Hindu was on the floor with his head bowed hands
open, devoted and determined to pay his respect and hoping his prayers will be
answered …. Around him, people step over him, push him, accidentally kick him
as the crowd was shoved pass the goddess … he lasted 10 seconds before being
shove away by the waves of the crowd.
Getting out …. Phew … that was one of a kind experience ….
This was the second time Ktan been here … the first was with
his grandfather when he was a very small boy and had no will of his own ….Once is enough for a lifetime Ktan told me
Yep … once is enough …. I agree …
Reaching home, his parent asked with wide eyes … you manage
to get into the centre shrine ?? They normally dun allow tourist into the inner
circle !!
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