Kavya, a 28-year-old software engineer from Howrah, West Bengal, had a long-standing desire to visit Deoghar, a sacred place of Hinduism in Jharkhand, mainly known for the Baidyanath temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Her demanding schedule had consistently thwarted her plans. As a devout follower of Lord Shiva, she finally resolved to embark on the journey on a Sunday.
The Sunday morning was quite hectic with meticulous preparations for the road trip. Deoghar was almost a 6-hour drive from Kavya’s home. She packed a few essentials for the trip and loaded the bags into the car. The journey began with a short prayer, a sweet little tradition of Kavya whenever she left home.
Starting from the bustling city of Howrah, known for its iconic railway station and the majestic Howrah Bridge over the Hooghly River, it was 5 am and the city was slowly waking up. The usually honking horns were silent, and the narrow alleys gradually gave way to the open highway.
Leaving Howrah behind, the landscape transformed gradually. Fields of golden paddy swayed gently in the breeze, dotted with occasional clusters of thatched-roof huts. The air became fresher and the horizon wider. Kavya felt a sense of liberation as she drove past small villages where life moved at a slower pace, far removed from the rush of the metropolis.
Crossing into Jharkhand, the scenery took on a new dimension of beauty. The road wound through dense forests, with towering trees forming a lush green canopy overhead, and golden sunlight filtering through the leaves. Kavya rolled down her window, inhaling the earthy scent of the forest and the fresh, cool air.
The drive was mesmerizing with forests flanking both sides of the well-defined road. The further she drove, the more enchanting the landscape became. Jharkhand's natural beauty unfolded before her eyes with every mile.
Approaching Deoghar, the spiritual aura of the place seemed to resonate in the air. The transition from the bustling city of Howrah to the lush green tranquility of Jharkhand was more than just a physical journey; it was a passage from the mundane to the divine, filling Kavya with a profound sense of peace and anticipation for the sacred destination that awaited her.
The journey progressed seamlessly, and Kavya arrived at her destination in just 5 and a half hours. After reaching Deoghar, she dutifully offered her prayers to Mahadev and followed all the rituals guided by Pandit Ji. Kavya experienced a profound sense of fulfillment that she had been longing for.
Having left her home at 6 am and arrived at Deoghar by 11:30 am, the clock now showed 4 pm; everything was progressing perfectly according to her plan.
After the puja, she went to a small restaurant for lunch, following the recommendations of the locals. Having not eaten anything since morning, she was starving. Around 5 pm, after enjoying a delicious sattvic thali, she decided to head home.
Approaching the nearby toll, a police officer halted her car to inquire about her journey. He cautioned, "Madam, you will have to cross the forest before entering the West Bengal border. It's already getting dark and is not considered safe. We suggest you stay overnight." Kavya, having been on numerous road trips, simply heeded the advice, thanked the officer, and started the engine.
Approximately an hour later, while driving through the silent and eerily still forest, Kavya sensed a car persistently following her. She changed lanes, slowed down, and sped up, but the car mirrored her every move, increasing her apprehension. With a growing sense of unease, Kavya accelerated while simultaneously praying to Mahadev.
She could see a small human settlement in the distance. As she approached the village, her anxiety eased upon encountering a vibrant wedding procession.
“Ah, thank God! What timing,” Kavya sighed.
The entire village was beautifully decorated with strings of glowing lanterns casting an ethereal light, and people were dancing to lively, yet strangely timeless, music. The air was filled with the sweet scent of incense and the flicker of firelight, adding an almost surreal quality to the scene. As she neared the village, she was engulfed in a strange aura; it was a vibrant wedding, yet she could sense a strange calmness within her.
“Maybe the place is blessed with a spiritual aura,” she thought.
The procession offered Kavya a reprieve from the loneliness of the forested road, and the car behind her seemed to have vanished. Out of curiosity, she peeked at the groom’s face, but it was completely covered by an elaborate bejeweled veil. The guests’ eyes seemed to shimmer unnaturally in the lantern light, and their laughter echoed as if coming from a distant place. The baaraatis danced with exuberance, and Kavya noticed that their shadows flickered oddly, not always matching their movements. Despite the oddities, Kavya felt an unexpected comfort in the presence of light and people, a stark contrast to the darkness and isolation she had just experienced.
She continued her journey to the Bengal border. The road was dark and deserted when she saw two patrolling officers on bikes. They approached her and asked the usual questions about her journey.
One officer remarked, "Madam, you are quite brave to have crossed the forest alone. The area is not considered safe." Kavya replied, "Yes, I was warned by the police officers near the Deoghar toll. I felt a car was following me, but a wedding procession in a village saved me."
"A wedding?" inquired the officer. The other officer interrupted, "But there were no weddings tonight according to our records. Whenever there is a wedding in the village, they have to inform us for safety purposes." Kavya froze for a moment. The officer then brought her back to the present, "What happened, madam? We've heard about the bhooton ki baaraat (ghostly wedding) from the villagers. It seems you have just witnessed that." They laughed and gestured for her to follow them to the Bengal border.
Kavya, still in shock, reflected on the strange procession. The baaraat had seemed odd, but it had been her savior from the chasing car. She couldn't decide which was more mysterious: the persistent car or the ghostly wedding. But one thing was certain—Mahadev had saved her. Earlier she thought everything was moving perfectly according to her plan, but little did she know that she was part of Mahadev’s perfect plan. As she continued her journey home, she felt profound gratitude and awe for the divine guidance that had led her safely through the night.
Author Bio
Pinki Bakshi, a spiritually inclined and free-willed individual with a curious mind, is a trained Yoga instructor holding a diploma in Yoga. With a background in the medical field, she brings a unique perspective to her versatile writing. Through her blog, Chetna Nirvana, Pinki explores everyday experiences from a writer's lens, blending spiritual understanding with life's nuances. Her goal is to infuse serenity into busy lives and humanize spiritual development, drawing inspiration from both tranquil landscapes and the practice of yoga.
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