For a change, Santa has decided to accompany a group of relatives from the plains on a visit to a famous mountain shrine – Kedarnath. He’s dressed to impress in his “city best” – a thin, fashionable jacket, smart trousers, and brand-new, shiny city shoes with smooth soles.
He’s carrying a flimsy umbrella, proudly declaring it’s “all one needs.” Banta, who happened to be visiting the same shrine for his own reasons, is well-equipped with sturdy trekking shoes, a waterproof jacket, and warm layers.
As they ascend, the weather, true to mountain form, takes a sudden turn. A cold wind whips up, followed by a sharp, icy drizzle.
Santa’s fashionable jacket offers as much warmth as a sieve. His umbrella nearly turns inside out. And his shiny shoes find every slippery rock and patch of mud, leading to a comical series of near-tumbles and mini-slides, much like a “foxtrot,” as Banta later describes it.
Shivering, drenched, and miserable, Santa finally stumbles towards a tea stall where Banta is calmly sipping hot tea.
“B-B-Banta!” Santa chatters, his teeth clattering.
“Th-this m-mountain is t-trying to k-kill me!”
“My f-f-fashionable shoes have b-betrayed me!”
“And this u-umbrella is a f-fair-weather friend!”
Banta, trying to suppress a smile, helps Santa find a sheltered spot and offers him a spare warm shawl from his bag.
“Ah, Santa, it seems you brought your city ‘shaan‘ to the mountain, but forgot to pack its ‘samajh!”
“What samajh?” Santa grumbles, wrapping the shawl tightly.
“The travel agent said it’s a ‘comfortable trip’!”
“The mountain has its own definition of comfort, Santa, and it rarely consults travel agents,” Banta says gently, but with a hint of amusement.
“Coming to these high altitudes, where the weather can change faster than a chameleon changes colours, requires respect and preparation.”
“Sturdy shoes with good grip for these rocky paths, layers of warm clothing because the temperature can drop suddenly, and a proper raincoat or windproof jacket, not just a city umbrella, are not fashion accessories here – they are your suraksha kavaach.”
He continues, “Every year, so many enthusiastic visitors and pilgrims, like yourself today, come unprepared.”
“They see sunny pictures in brochures and imagine a pleasant stroll.”
“But the mountain demands respect.”
“When large numbers of unprepared people venture into these sensitive and often harsh environments, they not only put themselves at risk of illness or injury, but also strain our local resources if they need help or rescue.”
“Imagine if a real hazard struck, and thousands were caught out like this – it would be chaos.”
Santa, now a bit warmer and much humbler, looks at his muddy, fashionable shoes with disdain.
“So, my ‘hero-style’ entry almost ended in a ‘zero-degree’ exit!”
“You’re right, Banta.”
“These mountains are beautiful, but they are not a city park.”
“One needs the right ‘vardi‘ to meet them.”
“The government should put up big boards: Slippery Shoes and Silly Umbrellas Not Allowed Beyond This Point!'”
Banta chuckles. “Perhaps, Santa!”
“But more than boards, what’s needed is awareness before people even start their journey.”
“And a system that encourages ‘responsible pilgrimage and tourism,’ where visitors are informed and prepared, and where the sheer numbers are managed so that everyone, including the mountain, stays safe and healthy.”
“Fewer, better-prepared visitors are always better than a crowd of shivering, slipping Santas!”
संता – बंता की इस जुगलबन्दी से आज हमने क्या सीखा:-
- पहाड़ो में आने वाले पर्यटकों व तीर्थ यात्रियों को अनिश्चित मौसम तथा कठिन भौगोलिक स्थिति के लिये तैयार रहना चाहिये और अच्छा जूता, गर्म कपड़े तथा बरसाती / छाता साथ ले जाना नहीं भूलना चाहिये / Tourists and pilgrims visiting mountainous regions must be adequately prepared for unpredictable weather and difficult terrain with appropriate clothing, footwear, and rain gear.
- तैयारी के आभाव से व्यक्तिगत जोखिम बढ़ने के साथ ही स्थानीय आपातकालीन एवं स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं का बोझ भी बढ़ता है / Lack of preparedness increases individual risk and can strain local emergency and health services.
- आगंतुकों को जागरूक तथा तैयार किये बिना तीर्थाटन या पर्यटन को बढ़ावा देना गैर जिम्मेदार रवैया है / Promoting mass tourism/pilgrimage without ensuring visitor awareness and preparedness is irresponsible.
- प्राधिकारियों को आगंतुकों को पहाड़ो में सुरक्षित रहने के प्रति जागरूक करने के साथ ही, उपयुक्त साजो सामान के बिना प्रवेश की अनुमति नहीं देनी चाहिये / Authorities should focus on educating visitors about mountain safety and potentially restricting access for those who are ill-equipped, alongside managing overall numbers.
संता – बंता की यह जुगलबन्दी आपको कैसी लगी, कृपया हमें जरुर बताये
व
इस जुगलबन्दी को बेहतर बनाने के लिये अपने सुझाव अवश्य दें।
हमें हमेशा की तरह आपके सुझावों, प्रतिक्रियाओं व कटाक्षो का बेसब्री से इंतजार रहता हैं और सच मानिये इसी के आधार पर हम अपने आप में, अपनी सोच व रचनात्मकता में सुधार करने को प्रेरित होते हैं।
सो अच्छा – बुरा जैसा आपको महसूस हुवा हो, कमेंट जरुर करते रहें।
Leave a Reply