During the month of Sawan, when thousands of devotees travel to Baba Dham to offer prayers and perform Jalabhishek to Lord Shiva, a journey from Varanasi has drawn attention for the friendship behind it. For around eight years, Deepak from Varanasi has been carrying his differently abled friend on his shoulders to fulfil his wish of visiting Baba Dham. This year too, Deepak has set out on a nearly 105-kilometre journey on foot with his friend seated on his shoulders.
Deepak began the journey from Varanasi with the objective of not only seeking the blessings of Baba Baidyanath but also fulfilling his friend's wish to undertake the pilgrimage. Because of his physical condition, his friend cannot walk such a long distance on his own. Deepak has therefore taken responsibility for helping him complete the journey and travels with him every year during Sawan.
Throughout the pilgrimage, Deepak walks while carrying his friend on his shoulders. The 105-kilometre distance is a substantial challenge when undertaken while carrying another person. Heat, rain, fatigue, pain in the feet and the demands of continuous walking add to the difficulty. Despite these challenges, Deepak continues the journey with his friend.
The friendship between the two has continued for several years. Around eight years ago, Deepak's differently abled friend expressed his wish to visit Baba Dham and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. His physical condition prevented him from undertaking such a long journey on foot. Deepak then decided to help fulfil the wish rather than leave it incomplete.
Since then, the pilgrimage has become part of their lives. Every Sawan, when Kanwariyas set out for Baba Baidyanath, Deepak also begins the journey with his friend. Their method of travelling is different, but their objective remains the same: to reach Baba's shrine and fulfil the friend's wish.
When Deepak started this year's journey with his friend on his shoulders, the two attracted attention along the route. Several devotees appreciated their friendship, while others described their journey as an example of friendship and dedication. People encountered during the journey also help them and encourage them to continue.
For Deepak, the pilgrimage has become more than a religious journey. It has become an expression of his responsibility towards his friend and his commitment to a friendship that has continued for years. Continuing such a physically demanding journey for a friend over such a long period is a significant undertaking.
Devotees travelling to Baba Dham often walk for several days. A Kanwariya generally carries only limited belongings, while Deepak faces an additional challenge because he must continuously support and carry his friend. Even during rest periods, he has to take care of him before placing him back on his shoulders when the journey resumes.
The 105-kilometre journey can be physically demanding. Carrying weight for an extended period places pressure on the shoulders, back and legs. Despite this, Deepak attempts to complete the pilgrimage every year. His motivation is to fulfil his friend's wish.
For his friend, the journey is also an emotional experience. Because of his physical condition, he may not have been able to undertake such a pilgrimage alone. With Deepak carrying him, he is able to pursue his wish of reaching Baba Dham.
Large numbers of Kanwariyas from across the country travel to Baba Baidyanath Dham during Sawan. Devotees from Varanasi and several parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh also participate in the pilgrimage. Deepak and his friend are travelling as part of this wider pilgrimage, although their journey is different from that of other devotees.
Along the route, several Kanwariyas stop to speak with the two friends. Some ask about their friendship, while others praise Deepak's effort. For some devotees, seeing the two together is an emotional experience, particularly because Deepak has continued undertaking the difficult journey for his differently abled friend for years.
A notable aspect of their journey is that Deepak has not allowed his friend's physical disability to prevent him from undertaking the pilgrimage. Instead, he has chosen to walk on his friend's behalf. While his friend's legs may not be capable of completing the journey, Deepak's steps are taking him towards Baba Dham.
Their journey also reflects a broader understanding of friendship, in which one person treats a friend's unfulfilled wish as a personal responsibility when support is needed. Deepak has continued to accompany his friend in this manner for the past eight years.
Both devotees have continued their religious observance during the journey. Chants invoking Lord Shiva, crowds of Kanwariyas and the atmosphere of Sawan accompany them along the route. Despite the physical challenges, Deepak's objective remains to reach Baba Dham with his friend and enable him to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
The journey has also drawn attention from people who may be unable to undertake religious pilgrimages or fulfil their aspirations without assistance. Deepak's efforts demonstrate the role of support in helping another person complete a journey that they may not be able to undertake alone.
The tradition continuing for the past eight years has further strengthened the relationship between the two friends. Preparations for their journey begin every year with the arrival of Sawan. This year too, they have started walking from Varanasi towards Baba Dham.
Their immediate objective is to cover the 105-kilometre distance and reach Baba Baidyanath's shrine. Deepak intends to continue carrying his friend despite the difficulties along the route. For the two friends, the journey represents their religious faith as well as their long-standing commitment to each other.
For eight years, Deepak has carried his differently abled friend's wish of reaching Baba Dham on his shoulders. This year too, he has begun the journey from Varanasi with the same commitment. The 105-kilometre journey from Varanasi to Baba Dham is therefore also the story of a friendship in which one friend has taken responsibility for helping the other reach his desired destination.
