Relishing the charms of a city!

As we speak Amritsar is gradually transforming itself into a city of tourists. Amritsar has a rich history linked to our independence and thereafter (Jallianwalah Bagh) and contains the holiest shrine of Sikhs- the Harmandar Sahib or the Golden Temple; the Bagah border being other attractions drawing multitude of crowds. I today visited a temple known as Sheetla Mata mandir or Durgiana temple which is a mirror image of the Golden Temple. In here is hosted everyyear the world famous Langoor Mela for ten days during Navaratras and run up to Dusshera. Inside the Durgiana temple there is a Bara Hanuman Mandir with Hanuman ji's statue in a particular pose rising from the ground. Believers say that childless couples who seek God's blessings are gifted with sons by the God himself. In thanksgiving, these blessed couples dress up their sons as langoors when the kid attains a certain maturity and age. For 10 days a very strict regime is followed where these Langoors are taken to the Bara Hanuman temple barefooted and presented at the altars of Hanumanji morning and evening. The langoors are dressed in silvery dresses with conical caps and a gada to hold. Such is the fame of the temple that the temple overflows with devotees at all times of the day during the fest. The temple also sees a procession of people dressed as hanumanji, their feet and hands lost in the chorus and dance to please God. Outside the temple, we could see the regular Gol-gappa walahs, and the famous challi (Magic Masala corn seems to have stolen the recipie), along with numerous vendors selling flutes, bow-arrows, lighted latoos, bracelets and accessories of numerous kinds, and religious books etc. As I stepped out of the boundaries of the temple, I resolved that I will come here again.