FOR YOU, MOTHER: Kailashgiri of Jabalpur is seen trekking the Tirumala ghat road carrying his 80-year-old visually impaired mother on a `kavadi' on Sunday on his way to the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara.

TIRUPATI: Ramayana has a reference to a character called `Shravan', who carried his blind parents in a `kavadi' on his shoulders. A modern `Shravan' has entered Tirupati as part of his nine-year old pilgrimage.

Kailash Giri (38) of Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), who was pained to know about his mother's unrealised vow to visit Rameswaram on foot, decided to fulfill it.

In 1996, he started from Jabalpur on foot, carrying his mother in a `Kavadi' over his shoulders. After visiting various temples in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which includes, Rameswaram, Kailash entered Andhra Pradesh a couple of days ago and reached Tirupati on Saturday. During his trek to Tirumala he faced a peculiar problem. He found the narrow footpath difficult to trek with the `Kavadi', and decided to take the road route, which is prohibited for pedestrian traffic. The TTD officials initially objected to it, asking him not to risk the serpentine ghat road. However, after coming to know of his intention and difficulties, they permitted him.

Kailash and his mother are expected to have darshan of the Lord on `Vaikunta Ekadasi' on Tuesday. What could be more blissful for the octogenarian mother if she could have a glimpse of the Lord on the most auspicious day, that is believed to lead to salvation!

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