Deoghar, July 21: Imagine mounting a 72-feet high dome for a tenner.
But, Shravani Mela, which started yesterday in Deoghar, has surprises aplenty that the rational mind can't fathom. The 30-odd men who climb the stone domes of Shiv and Parvati to link them with threads at Baidyanath Dham, believe they are the chosen ones following an ageless ancestral profession.
For Bhola Bhandari, 32, it is a way of life. He's been doing it since he was a teenager, all through the year, the demand for his services peaking on Shravan days and Shivratris.
From sunrise to sunset, Bhola, with the help of a chain and virtually no other support, scales the domes of Shiva and Parvati temples at Baidyanth Dham - of the 22 temple shrines in Baidyanath Dham, the lotus-shaped one for Shiva stands the tallest at 72 feet, the one for Parvati is shorter - nimbly to link both with red gatbandhan threads bought by devotees, symbolic of a happy conjugal and family life.
For this, the temple management committee gives him Rs 10 per climb. Though the price of threads differ, depending on material, the wages of climbers stay Rs 10. The glory of the profession eclipses everything else.
Sometimes, if he is lucky, the devotee offers him a tip, varying between Rs 10 to Rs 500. But that isn't often. Sometimes, there is no tip.
But, Bhola, who scales the pair of domes for an average of 20 times, says the money, around Rs 200 plus tips, doesn't matter.
"We are doing this for Bholebaba and the people," he beams. "There's never been an accident. Ever. In fact, we enjoy our work the most in Shravan, when it rains," he says.
Like Bhola, Shyam Sundar Bhandari (26), Chandan Bhandari (30) and others, all belonging to the Yadav community in villages of Mohanpur block, located around 5km from Baidyanath Dham, eke out a living tying gatbandhan threads for devotees.
His friend Shyam Sundar said his grandfather, who also used to climb domes, died recently at the age of 126 years. "When age caught up with him, he stopped climbing domes and started doing mundans (ritual head shaving) near the temple complex. He stayed healthy all his long life. One who serves the Baba will never die a painful death," the 26-year-old said.
"I'd like my school-going son to take this up this ageless profession," Bhola added.
Temple priest Manoj Naraune said gathbandhan was mainly performed for a happy family life.
"I must tell you a recent case," he said, explaining how miracles happened. "A couple, who had married against their family's wishes, had taken the Baba's blessings before going on their honeymoon. But, over the years, their marriage ran into rough weather and their divorce proceedings were nearly over at Patna High Court. By some twist of fate, they encountered each other again and their relationship kindled afresh. They settled their mutual differences and came here to seek Baba's blessings. Now, they are both together and working in Delhi. They come to Baidyanath Dham regularly."
"Baba sees everything with his eyes shut. He has a cure for all," the priest added.
