Mount Neelkantha in the Himalayan Range
Burnt orange is slowly changing into a dazzling white while I remain hidden mesmerized in the dark shade that the Himalayas offer me. Tourists abound here, clicking and letting out soft sound of wonderment. I am not a tourist now. I am a pilgrim. The Indians, the Hindus mainly have tendencies to build temples and worship in such lofty places and pilgrims flow like the Ganges or the Alakananda towards them.
Before visiting the temple I also let out my soft prayer to the Almighty to let the mountain survive, thrive with the flora and fauna that it used to have those days when pilgrims trudged miles after miles without the least care for their comfort, risking their life and were blessed by the generosity of the Himalayas for you don’t know when suddenly a pristine fountain would pop up and quench your thirst and fruit laden trees would feed you so that your dry food stock would not exhaust fast. I also prayed that it might be saved from unscrupulous visitors making it a perfect litter bin. But who is listening?
A yellow beaked crow
Takes lone flight to winter sky
Like a pilgrim’s sigh
River Alakananda
Posted for Haibun Monday – Free For All @ dVerse hosted by Hayesspencer
&
Shared with Poetry Pantry @ Poets United
sumanar/lekha 
A pilgrim’s sigh …. exquisitely beautiful words.
I am so with you on this! I’ve been fighting tooth and nail to keep tourists behind their barriers here where I am. The haiku is beautiful.
I liked the phrase: “pilgrims flow like the Ganges or the Alakananda towards them.” Those rivers would flow away from the mountains and the pilgrims flow back up. Tourists are a primitive sort of pilgrim. They don’t see the significance of what they are doing. And they leave their litter around. Nice observation about getting water and food spontaneously like a gift along the way to preserve one’s supply. I normally don’t think about such gifts when I walk, but someone on a deeper pilgrimage would be grateful for such help. It made me think that a pilgrimage is a two way conversation. It’s not only the pilgrim’s activity that counts. Nice haibun about pilgrimage.
I love this!
I did so enjoy this…the holiness and respect, the giving of sustenance by the mountain. And the beyond beautiful haiku….we are listening to this plea. The pics are incredible.
Your photos and words are truly truly wondrous. Thank you thank you for sharing!
I have a temple story from the Republic of South Korea… Buddhist, I guess… but I don’t speak Hangul. Maybe I’ll share that someday in verse. Your Haibun is poignant in that it expresses the sadness caused by unmindful interlopers, and the wonder if anyone is listening. Picture perfect haiku!
This is breathtaking, Sumana. Yes, to visit a place like that does take on the nature of a pilgrimage, turning our spirits to the creator, no matter how our own faith journey is defined.
You have a beautiful way with words. I love the way you linked the pilgrims to the crow through the sense of sound.
This is beautiful. You make it sound so magical.
Beautifully written. Nuggets of wisdom.
prayed that it might be saved from unscrupulous
visitors making it a perfect litter bin
There will always be the black-sheep. Hopefully maturity prevails! Great narration Sumana!
Hank
I like the comparison of the bird to one of the pilgrims.
Both photos are so beautiful, matching the beauty of your reflective words. May your prayers be answered! The haiku is gorgeous, managing to encompass all the moods of your prose piece in those three brief lines.
While I read this beautiful poem, I, too, was a pilgrim on the path, bathed in the mountain’s serenity. Sigh. This is a gorgeous poem, Sumana.
First of all, what beautiful photos, Sumana. It would be a perfect world if everyone who visited such places went as a pilgrim rather than a tourist. I definitely hope this place is saved from unscrupulous visitors so that pilgrims can continue to appreciate it for decades and centuries to come.
Lovely haiku Sumana…
My goodness this is soo beautiful, Sumana!❤️ Especially love; “Before visiting the temple I also let out my soft prayer to the Almighty to let the mountain survive, thrive with the flora and fauna that it used to have those days when pilgrims trudged miles after miles without the least care for their comfort, risking their life and were blessed by the generosity of the Himalayas for you don’t know when suddenly a pristine fountain would pop up and quench your thirst and fruit laden trees would feed you so that your dry food stock would not exhaust fast” .. sigh.. Indeed may it thrive!❤️
A heartfelt plea and poem
Sadly sightseers leave an unsightly footprint wherever they go. It is all part of the ugliness of mankind measured normally by how wealthy they are so they are then more care less.
The land is listening… She always is. Love this.
The land is listening… She always is. Love this. The passion…
Even a crow can be a prayer. I like the image!
Tourist dollars are irresistible to everyone and everywhere tourists go places are destroyed.Sad.Beautiful pics…you are blessed to be visiting there again.
What a special place to visit…so holy and full of wonder as your pictures and words show….so sad when we desecrate the land in our selfishness.
Beautifully said, the last verse such an excellent end to a beautiful piece.
Just lovely, Sumana. I hope to visit one day.
A pilgrim’s sight…lovely!
Pilgrims will set off with intention that is connected with the land…tourists, more often, do not. To ask who is listening is pertinent on both Earthly and Heavenly levels.
Brilliant! A fascinating read. Your haiku simply ~ soars ~ A moving – and utterly lovely – haibun!.