Experience
of a Life Time:
After
attending many fairs and festivals, parties, conferences, get-togethers,
but never had a delightful experience
that the Teej Mata Festival.
I casually went to the Tripolia Gate to cover the procession on
its course. I was taken by surprise that the people gathered there
had the same enthusiasm as the first day and were as many as them
also. After majoring the interview with
Mr. Raghuvir Singh and Mr. Gangwal
of R.T.D.C., I was distracted by the performance of the
Kalbeliyas and so were the foreigners who were clicking photographs
of every movement of the body. Everybody was engrossed and so was
Mr. Rajendra Singhji Shekhawat S.H.O. Manak Chowk., who
has been witnessing the festival several times. The entire police
and law arrangement was looked after properly.
I
had no other choice but to interview him with sound knowledge of
the Teej Mata. Suddenly but surely he asked me to accompany along
through the inner gates of the Tirpolia Bazaar and amazingly I found
myself with the Teej Mata getting ready with her entire jewelry
and Rambabu who"s family
has been involved right from the beginning of dressing the Deity
which at least costs Rs. 20 crores approx. The most important part
of the entire procession was the time factor. Though I didn't confirm
it earlier, but the procession was lifted up sharp by 6.00 p.m.
I
had this greatest opportunity of walking along with the Deity. The
three Main Pandits were leading it. I got a chance to speak to one
of them and to my utter surprise he was speaking english as good
as mine. Thinking that it was a blessing of the Goddess of granting
me accessibility to move around everywhere. I went ahead of asking
the Pandit about the descending of the Goddess, which he explained
in a sensitive way. Further he asked me to notice the momentum of
the stride taken equally by the persons who were carrying the Howdah.
It was as if the watch had been timed. It was decided past so many
years that Mata had to reach the resting place at 7.00 p.m. sharp
not a minute before and not a minute after and it did.
After
reaching Tal Katora the Deity was fed with fruit, milk, nookti,
chapati, Ghewar and Jal by panditji reciting prayers. My most precious
moment of the procession was this that I was asked by Panditji to
stand beside him alone with the purdah being drawn from the public,
while the Bhog was being offered. Then panditji applied the first
Tika on my forehead to be blessed. After this the Deity was suddenly
lifted up and the procession started back on the journey to her
residence keeping the same pace. My excitement started getting wilder
as it was time fixed for 8.00 PM for the Deity to reach back with
a slight change in the route of return. As I was walking just in
front of the Deity along with the Band Baaza, nearing the gate,
I turned back to look for Panditji who was pointing me at the watch.
As I saw 8.00 PM on the watch I lifted my head to regard the timing,
the gate had closed with all the attendants and the Deity taken
inside. I then left the place with utmost satisfaction and unbelievable
mind.
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