“OMG!” exclaimed our grandpa exploring a laptop, trying to catch up with the digital age. It was a bit beyond his capabilities to keep up with this mindboggling change that is all encompassing today. It left him in a dizzy but he was not the one to give up easily, be it digital banking, digital payment of bills and taxes, travel bookings, online medical appointments, distance learning, art and music and, of course, digital relationships.
Amid this, how could places of worship be left behind? Sitting in the comfort of his home, he could access his favourite deities, watch all the rituals in detail at close quarters and also receive prasadams digitally. This is our octogenarian grandpa’s favourite pastime now. However, he opines that it is like watching a cookery show and drooling over the food without tasting it; hence, not satisfying at all!
As he watches, nostalgia sets in and he repeatedly narrates the story of a pilgrimage which he undertook when he was 60 years young! He cherishes it as the ultimate experience of his life. Looking back, we are happy we supported him to take it up, even though with a little trepidation.
It was in the 1980s, when a veteran pilgrim enthused a group to venture on a 25-day gruelling temple tour ending with Badrinath and Kedarnath. The man’s enthusiasm was infectious and our grandpa vibed well with him and decided to go along. Within a couple of days, the news spread among friends and relatives and 25 seniors were willing to go along.
We, the children and grandchildren, were apprehensive about the travel conditions, communication issues, weather, boarding and lodging and emergency medical help. But the leader’s positive attitude inspired the group not to back out and miss the once-in-a-lifetime chance to get the Almighty’s blessings.
Meticulous planning with a detailed itinerary was chalked out. Bubbling with high-voltage energy, the group had an emotional send off at the city railway station with New Delhi as the first leg. All of us returned home in a pensive mood, spending the next 20 days awaiting the safe return home of the group. There was no communication about the pilgrimage during that period.
At the day dawned for us to receive the group, we expected our grandpa to be exhausted. To our surprise, and relief, the glow on his face and the twinkle in his eyes explained his sense of achievement. The detailed daily jottings in his diary of the pilgrimage from day one is a travelogue he still revises now and then, talking about it to near and dear ones.
After such a fulfilling experience, a digital darshan is a poor substitute for grandpa, which is mostly opted for by our modern hale and hearty youngsters instead of an actual temple visit. His thought on it: Do we go all out seeking the Almighty or do we beckon him to our drawing rooms from the tips of our fingers to bless us?