Greetings of the day,
I didn't feel like doing anything special this morning so I just made a plan to long drive with friends. The weather was also good cool breeze was blowing so I said let's go somewhere where we can enjoy some nature and also get peace of mind. My friend said, Come on brother, let's go to Zandhanuman today. First I was a little wondering where this zandhanuman was then I came to know that it was near Jambughoda amidst lush green forests. I had heard a lot about this place but never got a chance to visit here. So what happened next – we started the bike and left early in the morning.
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The road from our village towards Jambughoda is very beautiful. Hills, greenery on both sides and small waterfalls are also visible in between. Monkeys were also sitting at some places on the way, watching the people coming and going. The road was a bit crooked at some places, but now the road has been built there, earlier I had heard that it was a complete forest road. Now it has become much better.
As we reached near the temple, the crowd was increasing. Many people were coming on tractors, jeeps and bikes. At some places people were also walking on foot. When we got closer, we saw that the road was going from one direction, completely one way. Police and volunteers were also standing there controlling the crowd.
After reaching near the temple the situation was different. There is so much crowd that it is difficult to carry a bike. People were walking on foot after parking their bikes and cars 4-5 kilometers in advance. We also did the same. Parked bike on the side and started walking. There were small stalls on the way - somewhere balloons somewhere toys somewhere wooden flutes were being sold. The faces of children were shining with happiness. There was a fair like atmosphere all around.
Most of the people here were from tribal community. His clothes, speech and lifestyle were different. Some women were selling things made of wood, some men were showing toys made of bamboo. Idols of small Gods made of clay were also seen in the hands of children. Everyone had their own colour.
After walking for about an hour we finally reached near the temple. The sound of "Jai Hanuman" could be heard from a distance. Temple is in the middle of hill surrounded by greenery and forest. There was a distinct coolness in the air. When we went inside temple the energy there was something different. People had brought coconuts incense sticks and flowers. Seeing sound of bells the sound of bhajans and the enthusiasm of the devotees made the heart truly happy.
Some people were sitting on the ground singing bhajans, while some families were having darshan with their children. The priests there seemed to be of very simple nature. He told that every year a big fair is organized here on Hanuman Jayanti where thousands of people come.
It looked like a whole fair was organized around the temple. Small shops and food items everywhere. Somewhere corn was being cooked, somewhere hot jalebi was being made. Children were running with colorful balloons. At one place, folk dance was also going on where tribal women were dancing in their traditional clothes, to the beats of dhol and mandar.
His way of dancing was so different and interesting that we stopped there for some time. There was a simplicity on his face as if he knew how to live happily away from the troubles of life. There was truth in his speech, songs and laughter.
Slowly it started becoming evening. When the sun started setting, we saw that dark clouds were covered over the mountains. There was a hazy atmosphere all around, coolness in the air, and the leaves of the trees were moving. It seemed as if the entire mountain had come out of a story book. There was lightning at some places but there was no rain. At that time the view of the temple looked even more beautiful.
The forest path had become a bit deserted, but people were still going. The sound of the drum was coming from a distance. Standing there for some time we just felt the nature – that silence, that wind, that atmosphere.
When we started returning in the evening, we saw that food (Prasad) was being prepared for thousands of people at a big place. People were sitting in queues and everyone was being given food – rice, pulses vegetables and sweets. The most important thing was that everything was free. There was no discrimination, everyone was sitting together and eating food – children, old people, women, youth.
Seeing this the heart became happy. The village people themselves make all these arrangements. Some people were helping in the kitchen, some were distributing plates, some were giving water. Everyone was serving together like a family.
When we returned it was dark. There was still movement of people on the road. We picked up the bike and slowly started walking towards the village. The sound of crickets occasional call of an owl and the rustling of the wind were heard all around the way. It seemed as if the forest was bidding farewell to us.
On the way we stopped at a small tea shop and had tea. Some old people sitting there were talking-some about farming, some about the weather some about the temple. The atmosphere of that small tea stall was no less than a story.
This trip to Zandhanuman was very special for me. This is not a big city temple, but the simplicity here, the people here, and the atmosphere here – everything touched the heart.
This temple in the middle of the forest is like a confluence of nature and devotion. Whoever comes here, does not return empty-handed – he takes with him devotion as well as spiritual peace.
If you ever go to Panchmahal district or Jambughoda of Gujarat, then definitely go to see Zandhanuman once. It's not just a journey, it's an experience-one that teaches you that true happiness lies in simplicity, and God is found wherever the heart is true.
| Photographer |  |
|---|---|
| Device Camera | Redmi note 11 pro + |
| Current Location | INDIA |
