Ganga Talao – The Pious Journey

As Promised, coverage of the Journey to and from the Ganga Talao by a pilgrim

My Journey

Departure : Thursday 11pm from Port Louis

Reached Next Check Point : Friday 10.30am, Ganga Talao

Departure : Friday 4pm from Ganga Talao

Reached Next Check Point : Friday 7.30 pm, 15 Canton (some KM’s after La Marie)

Departure : Saturday 8am from 15 canton

Reached Next Check Point : Beau Bassin Saturday 11.am

Departure :  Saturday pm from Beau Bassin

Reached Next Check Point : Saturday  5pm, Coromandel

Departure : Sunday 8am from Coromandel

Reached Next Check Point : Sunday 10.30am, HOME(port Louis)

The Journey was of 3 days. Needless to say, all of us were really very tired(still tired).

History

Origins of the Maha Shivratri – In 1897 Shri Jhummon Giri Gosagne, a ‘pujari’ (priest) of Triolet saw in a dream the water of the lake of Grand Bassin springing from the ‘Jahnvi’, thus forming part of Ganga. The news of the dream spread rapidly and created quite a stir in the Hindu community. The following year, pilgrims trekked to Grand Bassin to collect its water to offer to Lord Shiva on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. The lake was then known as the ‘Pari Talao’,

Every Year Since Then, People from the hindu community unterdake the pilgrimage from their home to the (now known as) Ganga Talao.

The Event( Near Grand Bassin)

I was on the roads, and I will speak from what i saw and compare the event  to last year’s.

CLEAN.

The Organizers did a really good job. You could see people with their plastic bag cleaning the road(near Grand Bassin), keeping it as clean as possible.

Road.

The Road

The Road was extended (again), so that there would be a better traffic flow, and to make the last few Kilometers More comfortable for those  walking.

Parking

Taken care of. But still NOT ENOUGH. More than 100 000 people converging toward on point, obviously, the parking will eventually get filled, for consequence, a traffic jam on the ONLY ROAD TO GRAND BASSIN.

Some people were stuck 6 hours in the traffic jam, Neither Could move Forward, nor backwards.  (Around Mare Aux Vacoas)

Food Distribution at Grand-Bassin

The queues were way too long, and those who came to Grand-Bassin on foot didnt really get to eat there, simple because they could not afford to stand in a long queue. Maybe the dudes should do something for this.

Toilets

Is it just my imagination, or did they actually build new toilets ONLY FOR LADIES. WTF???

The Event (as a whole)

No Major Accidents.

The Policeman were everywhere, and they were controlling the situation. Hats off to them. They did a very good job.

Lights

There wasn’t a single Place where there was no light(in the night). Thanks to all the people who let their light on for the sake of the passing by’s, and thank to the Public Road and Infrastructure Dept for the Good organization.

Not only Hindus

Proud to be Mauritian. In this event, there were not only Hindu’s walking. I saw Some Chinese People, some Christian, loads of Tamils and Telugu, and even some foreigners. This event has become Nation Wide.

Food Distribution on the road.

We walked at night, and we did not get food until we reached vacoas. Advice to those Leaving home at night, take some food with you. When the Sun Started Shining, there was an abundance of food on the road.  Thanks  to all  those volunteers helping!

Did I miss something?

I missed something? Well.. then.. comment on it.

Issues

Kawar

Yes, those big artistic *things* that people carry. Some of them were absolutely gorgeous, and some WAY TOO BIG!! For instance, the one coming from “petite riviere” surely shocked everybody. It took almost both lanes of the roads, and blocked traffic in both direction.At place, It was so high that it could not pass by some electric lines X-meters in the air.

Their was an announcement on the television by the president of a famous religious organization that suggested , Do not build BIG kawars. That announcement was made 3 DAYS BEFORE people set out for grand bassin. What re they?? Crazy??? People start building those 40 days before they set off.

Moreover, Policeman cannot stop them. For the good and simple reason that you have already understood.

Suggestions for Kawars

Make a request about this on TV, Radio, Newspaper, ONE MONTH BEFORE the EVENT. Put a Limit, kawars width should NOT exceed the width of ONE LANE. I believe there are some people who would still be “tro exciT” to make the big ones, at least, they cannot say “i did not know “

Roads

We al know there’s only one way to reach grand bassin and one way to exit grand bassin. Wouldn’t it considerably reduce traffic problems if there was another road?? Sure it would cost a lot, but it would solve a lot of problems. I believe it is worth.

What Next?????

We went to Ganga Talao, Returned, with the water. What do we do with that? Well, Everybody goes to the mandir(mom waiting for him!)  in his locality and pour the water over the shivling there. This i a symbol of sacrifice, respect and devotion.

Sunday Monday night. The MAHA SHIV RATREE,(translation, the great night of Lord Shiva, all those who have been fasting will go to the temples in their localities and spend the whole night (till morning) praying. This prayer is divided into 4 parts and thus called(4 peher ki pooja) pooja?? pooja? lol.. 

The Kawar Dance

Upon Reaching Home with the kawar, it is traditional that a dance is performed in from of the temple! Here s video i had the chance to Film. 2 Minutes. Enjoy.

And now, Some Pictures Worth Appreciation…

The UOM Kawar! (Thanks to F@T@L_3RROR for the Pic!)

Reaching Mare Aux Vacoas

Known at the Red Bull “repere”. They Dont distribute redbull though.

The “More Intelligent” dudes who build kawars with wheels.

Hey Look!! A byc-Policeman!

Some Kawars

At the The Ganga Talao

A huge Kawar from Triolet

A Salade we made @ coromadel.

Best Kawar | Best Ambiance | Best Music Award Goes to

This group was Awesome.. I wish every group with a kawar was like that, it would have been awesome. Those who like to “fer-vilain”. Learn.

Some Maths

Based on Google Earth Length Calculation. Distance from my home to Gbassin is 38.9 Kms. So Considering the curves and all. Round it to 45 Kms.

Time take from home 11pm to 10.30 am. 11hr 30 minutes. Excluding the resting time and all.

Using sozz’s equation of speed.

Speed = 45/ 11.5

Speed = 3.9….

Approximate Speed = 4 Km/h

Thank you for reading my article. Though it was a bit long. Hope you liked it!