An incredible journey on foot, my holy walkathon, the Ganga Parikarma, covering the distance of more than 5000 km, circumnavigating Maa Ganga.
Maa Ganga, this is how India venerates Ganga, the holiest river of country.
My holy walkathon has two facets to it:
As Atulya Ganga walker…
I walked around 2500 km with Atulya Ganga.
This walkathon, also called as Mundamal Ganga Parikarma, commenced from Prayagraj on 16th December, 2020.
Six walkers; Indu, Col RP Pandey, Hiren Patel, Rohit Umarao, Rohit Jat, Shagun Tyagi, pledged to walk whole parikarma.
I walked with co-walkers upto Gangasagar , where Ganga merges in sea. A milestone achieved.
Then took U-turn at sea and walked other side of Ganga, crossed states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and entered Bihar. My rhythmic walk continued. But all changed in Barh, a town in Patna district of Bihar, wherein I suffered from leg injury.
Got examined by orthopaedic surgeon. Extensive tests done. Reports came satisfactory.
With rest of few days, I was permitted to pursue my walk, as per doctor’s instructions, to walk slow and for lesser distance daily.
At Atulya Ganga, walk is a group activity with fixed daily distances, for everyone to meet. And this was how I had trained myself as well.
But after leg injury my need and my pace of walk differed. I knew I cannot match with my co-walkers in such scenario. Atulya Ganga advised me to go home as I was deemed unfit for the group walk.
Whereas I was determined to pursue my walk which meant that I needed to walk independently.
Thus, with all fond memories treasured in my heart and with utmost regards, I left Atulya Ganga to embark on my independent holy walkathon, thereafter. Despite of all physical and emotional challenges I did not give up.
Continuing my holy walkathon. To make me proud. To make womanhood proud.
And indeed to make Atulya Ganga proud that their full parikarma woman walker Indu is still holding flag high.
Even if it takes one year to complete my holy walkathon, due to less distance covered daily, Indu won’t give up.
As Independent walker…
Second phase of my walk starts as an independent walker.
My holy walkathon. The Ganga Parikarma. Walking at my slow pace during complete healing. Not walking more than 15 km presently as per doctor’s instructions. While connecting with people. Experiencing home stays with families. Honored. Priviledged. Sweet gestures of people make me realize that home is where you receive love and care. Eternally grateful for each such moment.
A bigger issue…
When I decided to walk alone, other big issue popped up.
Woman walking alone for hours daily meant strictly no.
Everyone considered woman walk highly unsafe. More so in Bihar.
All kinds of safety issues were put in front of me.
WHY CAN’T A WOMAN WALK ALONE IN MY COUNTRY?
This question bothered me deeply.
And made my resolve even stronger to pursue my holy walkathon.
I decided to address this issue during my walkathon and prove as well that no fear can stop a woman’s dream towards #DEKHO APNA DESH
What could be more appropriate a mean, than walk, to explore and experience own country? And I am rightly doing so with my holy walkathon, my Ganga parikarma. For the reverence of my Maa Ganga. For the love of my country India. And for the pride of womanhood.
My holy walkathon continues…
