Journey Of Faith-Part 1: Exploring Religions

We had very limited time in Dharamshala, and I wanted to make every single minute count. The charm of the place isn't easy to describe. The scenery is mind-blowing, the food is simple and nutritious, and the people are warm. Of all places I've been to across the length and breadth in India, this is possibly the only one that made me want to stay back. The biggest reason? The Thekchen Choeling Temple.
Step inside and a sense of calm envelopes you instantly. It’s is almost completely silent, but you do hear the low sound of the prayer wheels, and the gong of the bells. It's easy to get absorbed by the peace, and obey the bright yellow signboard at the entrance that says "Respect the sanctity of the place and observe complete silence". For a place that's as calm and peaceful as the monastery, it makes you wish the friendly Tibetans didn't have to go through the hardships. The “Journey Of Faith” couldn’t have begun at a better place. The monastery is a symbol of unflinching hope and dreams. It’s a testimony to the fact that through all the turmoil, faith will pull us through.

Some prayers for good luck and well-being later, we made a quick dash to Kangra before setting our eyes on Amritsar – our halt for the night. Driving through winding Himachali roads with the Dhauladar range looking over you is nothing short of breath-taking. The Tucson feels at home in the hills, and masks its heft quite nicely. What’s also particularly useful is Android Auto. Google Maps work without a hitch, and since your phone is plugged in via the USB, it never loses an ounce of charge. Pretty sweet!

We headed to Amritsar via Pathankot, which made for a no-frills point-to-point drive. Smooth tarmac and a relatively empty highway meant the Tucson could finally stretch its legs after being limited to the tight hilly roads in Himachal. The nearly arrow-straight highway does get quite boring after a while, but the upside is you save a lot of time. A continuous triple-digit cruise meant we were in Amritsar just in time for evening snacks. Surprisingly, everyone unanimously agreed on what we should eat. Kulchas! Wolfing down a couple of paneer, Amritsari and masala kulchas each meant we crashed in our hotel rooms only to wake up in the wee hours of the next day and head to the Golden Temple.

Early hours at the temple only amplifies the experience. With the surroundings engulfed in darkness, the main building stands out like nothing else I have seen before. The sheer scale and opulence of the place speaks volumes of the giving nature of the Sikh community. The followers place their faith in the teachings of Guru Nanak and the Holy Scripture - the Guru Granth Sahib. Customs require you to cover your head and wash your feet as you head in. The teachings also ask one to let go of five traits – lust, greed, attachment, rage and conceit – to be one with the divine. The belief isn’t limited to seeking a way to connect with the one. The Sikh also harbour a strong faith in the theory of karma. It’s made amply evident by the “Langar” that serves free food to anywhere between 1 lakh to 3 lakh people, irrespective of caste, creed, sex or religion.

The experiences at the monastery and the temple only reaffirms my faith that there are multiple ways to seek your connect with the almighty. Two completely different religious sects shared similar traits – humility, compassion and selflessness. “Be good, do good”, I made a mental note to myself as we drove out of Amritsar towards Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan. But, there’s a little detour involved and our explorations will reveal the plurality of faith in the coming days. Stay tuned

Follow the journey here