A sacred journey for a sacred cause (Haji Malang- Malangad)

Saint Haji Malang Shrine

Finally I have inked down my sacred journey from Kurla to Malangad with my faction of friends to Saint Haji Malang pilgrimage. Malangad where saint Haji Malang’s shrine is located at the summit of the Malangad Mountain 2596 feet, it is 16km from the Kalyan junction.

Brief history of Malangad: Malanggad was built in the 7th century by a Raja Nagal on three levels. The lowest level is a plateau at the other end of the plateau is the Panchi Pir (Five Saint) which lies almost at the edge of the rock and is named after the five Pirs (saints) who accompanied Haji Malang. This plateau is called Pir Machi. The next higher level is called the Sone Machi as it is the lower part of the fort and the highest level is the Citadel this is the summit of the hill and has no fortifications. Raja Nagal after initial skepticism about the Saint was greatly impressed by him and even gave his daughter to the saint in marriage.

On 26^th Sept 2010 in early hours we had boarded to ST bus to start the hallowed journey from Kalyan junction to Malangad. First I want to introduce you to my friends Farhan a Software engineer with a great sense of humor, Aadil a Medical representative with a childlike behavior and a hungry boy, Sultan Bhai amusing with the double meaning words and Mukhtar Bahi a pious man duo are the teachers and me a journalist.

It was a very sunny day and people to whom we have contacted with the concern of Haji Malang visit every comment brought us a new scare to crossing the heights of mountain. A shopkeeper in the vicinity of the Haji Malang Mountain said that “bhai do se dhaye ghante lagenge upar chadne k liye (brother it will take two and half hours to reach at peak of the Mountain)” I never expected that my childhood dream will come true in such a hazardous manner.

When we were reached to the first ladder of the Mountain instead of the Well Come board or any other caveat board there was a Toll Naka per head Rs.2/- and the most shocking thing is that there was no slip of Toll. Unusually I didn’t argued with the Toll officials and we headed towards the shrine with our belongings including water and food because as someone from our group predicted that it is the Peak of Mountain and we could assume food will be available at very high rate comparatively budget presented by the existing government and price rise issues etc had discussed by us at that time.

I saw there were multicolored sticks available at Rs.5/- per stick. I thought it might be a some part of ritual activity, but later I came to know when I was in the midst of the mountain showered in the sweat of my own and Monkeys were disturbing from all around for food and devotees around us were defending themselves with the help of multicolored sticks. 

Then I understand why devotees carrying those sticks along with them there were two reasons first to defend oneself from the Monkeys and second when you will be tired while climbing the peak then you can use it as a succor. In the meanwhile of my thought session Farhan got aid from toddler in the form of stick, his name was Shakeel a boy from Wadala Mumbai a seventh standard pupil rescued us from the onslaught of Monkeys.  We were grateful to him otherwise we were about to protest against the Monkeys like Kasmiris Stone Pelting revolt against the Indian government.  

When we were reached in the midst of the Mountain then Doli wala (Sedan carriers) crossed us in that sedan an old woman was sited, when we have asked to that Doli Wala that how much they charge for one trip he said “ sahab teen hazar rupiya ek bajoo ka” (Sir three thousand rupees for one side). Too much costly but for it requires lots of effort with high energy, the old woman devotee to whom they were carried in that sedan recently cured form cardiac disease and before that she had votive at the Haji Malang shrine that after the successful treatment she will visit to shrine.    

Malangad Mountain

While heading to the shrine all around, I never saw such a beautiful natures work serene valley of Malangad Mountain, cascade with cool and fresh water and fresh air without the admixture polluted smoke of industries. Everything was so pure and divine. The flock of Devotees heading towards shrine with great devotion for saint Haji Malang in their hearts.

Eventually we reached to plateau that is known as Pir Machi and I took the sigh of relief, but I was surprised that on the top of the hill it was hamlet all the facilities for the routine life was available even a recharge voucher also available however there was no network coverage. 

When I went closer to shrine I took the snapshot of shrine and specially dome’s images it reminds me the dome of Masjid e Aqsa, the conspiracy of Israel against the innocent people of Palestine, Gaza blockade, demolition of Babri masjid and many more things. After the taking snapshot of shrine along with the flock of devotees, we entered into the Haji Malang Jama Masjid and performed ablution then we entered into the shrine of saint Haji Malang and performed offerings on his grave. After the offerings we came back to Jama mosque and took a nap of half an hour. On 1.30pm we had offered Zohar’s prayer and then had a lunch in an inn.

In the evening when we were preparing for down side sunsets for devotees adieu, I saw flock of devotees were heading to their home with the teary eyes and some hill dwellers were coming back to their home with a very weighted  belonging keeping it on their heads. I don’t know what type of our government has employment plans for poor, on the daily basis these poor families up and downs 2596feet distance. They might be not enjoying government facilities because Malangad is not the international tourist spot and government is earning a very less margin of revenue from this tourist place. As per my observation it is good for these tribal people that government doesn’t providing facilities, because if government will take the interest to this place might be they will put it into the international market for bauxite mining. God bless us all from the dire consequences of government policies.       

Whoever said religion segregate people, ought to contemplate a shining example of interfaith harmony at saint Haji Malang Shrine.

Match fixing got in Inheritance

What else we can expect from Pak players as they have got match fixing as an inheritance from their ancestors (former player of Pakistan team). The much controversial World Cup final match of 1999 against Australia several players of Pak team were accused of match fixing case. Then this match is just a test match not a big deal for Pakistan Cricket Board. It would never be big deal for PCB to tackle this problem because they have been dumped number of times like these issues in the valley of bribe.

Three players of Pakistani team’s on the brink of life time ban from cricket if proved guilty to accept bribe. Allegedly ringleader of this biggest scandal is Salman Butt on 21^st August dedicated his team’s victory to the victims of his country those are succumbed to the flood, and now this shameful action to whom he is going to dedicate might be his sister’s wedding because in the sleuth of Scotland Yard, Britain’s metropolitan police force they have found 36Lacs cash from his room (As per Salman Butt this cash he is having for his sisters trousseau).

Similarly much controversial comrade in the Salman Butt’s camp Mohammed Asif, after struggling with the Drug Scandal now he is caught into the Spot fixing case. Asif paying heavy remedies for his wrong doings as he has been ousted from the Malayalam movie he was to play lead role in Mazhavillinattamvare (Till the tip of the rainbow) but his acting shows the different interest, if one will ask to me what type of role Asif has to play then I will suggest him bollywood’s Jannat movie role as the film was based on the same subject (Match fixing case).

 Ah! Now well come to new comer Mohammed Aamir the seam bowler of Pakistan ironically have to perform well on the tour of England, and Aamir was Pakistan’s man of the series against the home side. Both the seam bowler of Pakistan had bowled no-balls at exact points in the match decided by a match-fixer. If both will be found guilty then they will have no ball left in their hands till the life time.

Pakistan Cricket Board has to take lesson from Indian Cricket Board as it had been banned to its players in the match fixing case namely Ajay Jadeja, Nayan Mongia and erstwhile Indian team’s skipper Mohammed Azaharuddin. However, Indian Cricket Board revoked ban from them in the very short time Ajay Jadeja and Nayan Mongia but Mohd. Azharudin had faced 8years struggle to revoke ban. He got success but after winning MP election from Moradabad. It means Pak players who will be found guilty in this scandal then they will have to fight election and if they won the election then only ban will be revoked.