Other States - Orissa   

A `penance' to fulfil mother's wish

Sib Kumar Das

TENDER TOUCH: Kailash Giri and his mother Kirti Devi taking lunch in a temple at Kanisi near Berhampur.

BERHAMPUR: This `Sravan Kumar' of the 21 century is carrying his visually challenged mother on his shoulders on a `Char Dham' yatra by foot.

Kailash Giri of Hinota village of Jabalpur district in Madhya Pradesh is on his way to Puri with his 80-year-old mother in a makeshift swing.

Kailash claims to have been travelling since 11 years two months and 12 days to pass by the city on Monday , thereby entering Orissa from Andhra Pradesh.

Places visited

"He may not be a public figure. But, his immense love and respect for his mother is exemplary, says Rangadhar Panda, a resident.

Kailash's makeshift swing comprises a strong bamboo shaft with two swings attached to its two ends that he carries on his shoulders. On one swing sits his mother while his day-to-day articles are put on the other to maintain balance.

His mother accepts that his son has taken up the task as a penance and has already taken her to places like Prayag, Kashi, Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Rameswaram, Madurai, Tirupati and a trip along the length of the Narmada during the past 11 years.

Journey ahead

From Puri, he will head for Kolakata via Bhubaneswar and then walk to Pashupatinath in Nepal, Badrinath and Dwaraka to complete the trip.

Kailash started the arduous journey when he was some 21 years to fulfil his mother's wish to take up `Char Dham' yatra as he recovered from a long ailment following his mother's prayers.

He lost his father and elder brother when he was young and decided to take up the journey on his own physical efforts rather than asking for money from anyone.

Everyday, he manages to cover four to five km and prefers to take rest along with his old mother at some roadside temple.

He cooks food from whatever people give him and serves it to his mother first. He says that his mother's affection is his greatest strength.

"After seeing my penance, if a few youths start respecting their aged parents and see almighty in them, I will be satisfied," he says.

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