So, what do I expect to see at a temple believed to belong to the Pandava era? At a distance a good 14 hours drive from Gurgaon?
Afterall, Bheem, apparently, played marbles with some of the spherical stone balls kept in the premises...
I expected a rigid, village temple... with lots of rules...
Rules, there were... but not the kind I was dreading....
Entry is open to all.. irrespective of caste, religion and gender.. the board declared. I was floored.
The compund is clean... the sound of a drum being beaten echoes from the hills around. The river Tons flows, way down below....the roar of the river, lost in the beat of the drums...
Kids visit the place accompanied by grandmothers....
The Pujari performs the prayers, as if the stone idols really are Gods... perhaps, the faith transforms them into Gods... who knows!
Hats off, people of Hanol, I salute you!
Afterall, Bheem, apparently, played marbles with some of the spherical stone balls kept in the premises...
I expected a rigid, village temple... with lots of rules...
Rules, there were... but not the kind I was dreading....
Entry is open to all.. irrespective of caste, religion and gender.. the board declared. I was floored.
The compund is clean... the sound of a drum being beaten echoes from the hills around. The river Tons flows, way down below....the roar of the river, lost in the beat of the drums...
Kids visit the place accompanied by grandmothers....
The Pujari performs the prayers, as if the stone idols really are Gods... perhaps, the faith transforms them into Gods... who knows!
Hats off, people of Hanol, I salute you!
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