DAY 120 - MANALI

120) TUESDAY, 25 OCTOBER 1977 : 0KMS. - MANALI

 

It was raining the whole day and it snowed on a hilltop. I saw clouds floating down the valley,  covered with thick fog that we could not see the village on the opposite side of the mountain. 

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But it was in the evening, when the rain stopped that we could see the white hilltop, covered with snow reflected the bright moonlight. What a romantic scene!

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DAY 119 - MANALI

119) MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 1977 : 41KMS. - MANALI

 
We drove out from KULLU heading to the north to MANALI.   There are many Tibetan refugees living  here on the  mountainous  terrain, where the hilltops are covered with snow and sometimes invisible because of the clouds as this area  is on high altitude up to 6,000 ft.   

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We visited  a sulfur bath & spa. Our last stop for overnight  today is in VASHIST. 

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DAY 118 - KUL(L)U / VALLEY OF GODS.

118) SUNDAY, 23 OCTOBER 1977 : 0KMS. - KUL(L)U / VALLEY OF GODS

 

We stayed for one more day in KULLU.

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DAY 117 - KUL(L)U / VALLEY OF GODS

117) SATURDAY, 22 OCTOBER 1977 : 122KMS. - KUL (L) U / VALLEY OF GODS

 
In the morning, we were invited by the Lamas for breakfast at the temple and I was very surprised again seeing them pressing their palms together to do the “WAI” in greeting us.That was unusual for Thai customs that we should firstly greet and pay respect to the monks or Lamas. Before we left, we made donation to the temple RS 40. - to raise funds for construction of a new church, that still does not exist.

Young Lamas - Photo : tibetravel.info / Google images search

We drove passing through JOGINDARNAGAR, MANDI and arrived in KUL (L) U of regional HIMACHAL PRADESH. Along the way, we saw many Sadhus (most of them not wearing anything but only a little piece of loincloth) and  priests (clad in yellow robes). They leave hair and beard growing unkempt and were walking in the same direction with ours. We also passed several Hindu temples.

 

Sadhu - Phot - fotovisura.com / Google images search

Sadhu - Photo : onlineutility.org / Google images search

From MANDI, it is a route along high slopes, looking so dangerous and fatal if falling down as it is a river and a dam (under construction) on another side. Some parts  of the route are damaged and under maintenance.  The sceneries along the way are very beautiful sights of natural forest conditions. There are also small waterfalls almost all the way.

KULLU Valley - Photo : lifestyle28you.files.wordpress.com / Google images search

We were very fortunate to arrive in KULLU  during the festival of Dussehra (Hindu festival), the period of which Hindu people celebrate the victory of Rama (God) towards Ravana (Evil). The celebration lasts for  nine consecutive days.

 

DUSSEHRA RATH YATRA - Photo : himachallive.com / Google images search

There were parades with statues of Rama or Shiva (I was not really sure) around the area. And there was a fair and entertainment shows, such as folk dancing – just like a temple fair in Thailand.

 

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For some spectacular shows, you must pay for a ticket.

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Tribal dance during DUSSEHRA Festival in KULLU.

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Many people came to celebrate the Dussehra festival.  I had a chance to see many people wearing  different styles of clothing. There are some who look like Chinese and women keeping their long  folk braids. They dressed in gorgeous colorful pattern designs. I wanted to buy the same for my Mom but  the colors were too flashy and too many colors.  I finally bought 2 pieces with simple design, costed at RS 76.50 and RS 85. -.

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I saw married Hindu women anointed at their forehead with red rouge as well as on the line of parted hair on their head.  Men wear earrings on one or both ears, while women can wear more than that.  They wear the nose jewelry and earrings on both ears  from upper part down to the lower tip along the edge of the ear.

http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com - Photo : Tilo Grabowski

Some Sadhus or ascetics sat together by the wayside,  some wearing but a loincloth and painted their bodies  with white powder (I've heard that some Sadhu smeared their bodies with cow dung and water) without wearing any clothing, in spite of the cold weather. Instead, they gathered sticks to make fire and sit around it for warmth.  They look more like beggars than  priests , or like hippies  because they do not work or possess anything .  With minimum belongings, they wanders and  beg  indefinitely for food or money from  common folks.

 

SADHU - Photo : wikipedia.org / Bing images search