Introduction
Central in many religions is the notion of a pilgrimage. In many ways the west has become detached from this ancient tradition. One common misconception is that pilgrimages are something only Muslims or Hindus do. The truth is a pilgrimage is simply a long journey or search for moral significance. In western terms we would call this soul searching and avoid the journey aspect all together. Historically many major religions participate in pilgrimages. Whatever one's religion the idea is fairly universal. In an attempt to atone for past sins, ask for assistance or merely cement one's faith, pilgrimages tend to end in a place of great religious significance. In the following stories you will be introduced to several individuals from all walks of life, some rich, some poor all traveling together under one purpose.
As with most experiences, half of the adventure is in the journey of getting there. Getting there however is not a mundane task. Unlike today where transatlantic flight is an everyday occurrence, pilgrimages of ancient times often required traveling great distances. Due to the primitive transportation systems of the time the journey itself required great sacrifices of time just in getting there. In the spirit of India's rich oral tradition it is no wonder that stories were the dominate form of entertainment throughout the course of the pilgrimage. More specifically the focus will be on birth-stories. Found in almost every class and culture, these birth stories will reveal as much about those who tell them as they do about those who they involve. That will be the basic premise of my storybook. In a land dominated by the exclusionary atmosphere of a caste system, where Dalit go around with the stigma of untouchables.In this crazy world, sometimes religion is the only unifying factor. Blinding people to their racial and physical prejudices, a strange thing starts to happen. People who would have never dreamed of speaking to each other all of a sudden have something in common. As the journey progresses, the restrictiveness of the caste system begins to deteriorate as the bond that comes from being in the journey together is slowly fostered.
As with most ancient forms of entertainment, stories are king. Maybe it is human nature, or maybe it is how our minds work, but if we are told something in the form of a story we are much more likely to remember and recall it later. Not to mention in a world deprived of wireless internet and digital cable, stories were by far the preferred method for transferring knowledge. The success of the oral tradition in India is evidence of that alone. Result, our pilgrimage will be littered with familiar birth-stories, such as that of Rama and his brothers' conception and birth, as well as the divine birth of Sita. Each story will be told from the point of view of another pilgrim on the journey. As a result each individual story will have a different voice depending on who in the group is telling the story. While the stories will be tied together by a single narrator in the sense of the pilgrimage, each birth story will have a different narrator to provide a unique perspective on each of the birth-stories.
Starting in the north the party grew larger and larger as they made their way south to the town of Rameswaram. Located on the tip of the Indian Penisula it is here that Rama offered thanks to Siva after having saved Sita and defeated Ravana in Lanka. Sacred to Hindus from all walks of life, both Shaivites and Vaishnavaites, it is no wonder the town is such a popular destination. The road itself is long and sparsely populated, with wide expanses of pristine Indian country side separating each town along the way. The quiet and isolation provided by these wide expanses of nothing serve to foster an atmosphere of acceptance and interdependency within the group, as well as reverent spiritual reflection. So now come join our lowly pilgrims as they set our on the long dusty road toward spiritual and moral enlightenment.
After their first day of travel our pilgrims settle around the fire to eat, and here is their story.
The group laid sprawled in the lush orchard, letting the harsh realities of the trip fade away.. This is where their story continues.
After the magical once in a lifetime events that had transpired at the farmer's ranch, the group was energetic and full of life. Little did they know fire and tragidy were just around the corner..
As they traverse the scorching plains the group grows weaker and weaker in the absense of water. Util they come across a man in the road.