Thirty-year-old Tareshwar calls himself an atheist but he treks up the Himalayas along with other yatris during the Amarnath season. He watches the sadhus dance in trance, joins them sometimes or simply sits by the cave temple and gets soaked in the beauty of the mighty mountains. “I prefer historical temples which are more difficult to reach. It tests the endurance of mind and body and helps to strengthen my will power. There is a unique kind of peace at such places,” he says. Holy shrines and temples which were once meant for the old and the religious are now being visited by the youngsters equally. Whether it’s the utopian shrines up the Himalayas in the north or the millennium-old grand temples in the south, more young people seem to be interested in exploring the history and culture hidden in these places. Taking a break to tour ancient temples and talking philosophy, art and architecture is now as cool as going on a foreign trip.
While some prefer temples tucked away in the hinterlands that are less-frequented by pilgrims, some like to jostle with the crowds on the banks of Varanasi and Gaya. If it’s the art and architecture of the temples that attract some, the local stories and myths associated with the places intrigue others. Take Ajeet Rai, a 25-year-old Fashion designer who has done a round of the famous temples in and around Delhi. “I just returned after visiting all the shakti-peeths. They all seem to have inter-connected myths – the famous tale of Sati is narrated in parts at the places. This is going to be the inspiration for my next collection. I shall design the motifs based on the myths,” says Ajeet. “Last year, I went to Dwarka and a few temples around Gujarat, where I heard the famous fable of the destruction of the port city once said to be ruled by Krishna. Such mythological tales give a boost to my creativity. Most of my story-boards for the collections I design are based on these stories.”
Shubham, 27, a blogger, is someone who has a penchant for places connected with the history of Buddha. “Apart from Bodhgaya, which is famous, there are few towns related to Buddha,” he says. “I enjoyed visiting Sarnath where he gave his first sermon and Kushinagar where he is said to have attained nirvana. It helped me connect with the teachings of Buddha.” Apart from the spiritual aspect, young visitors believe that the good-old temples invariably have something interesting to deliver. Tareshwar who is crazy about reaching lesser-known shrines, refers to Kinnaur Kailash in Himachal Pradesh as his most exciting experience ever. “The climate allows you there only during a few days in August. For the rest of the year, the cold is unbearable. The experience can be compared to the one in Ladakh,” he says.
Young pair Chandan, 29, and Bhavana, 24, take out time every year to visit temples rich in architecture. From the cave temples of pattadakal and Badami in North Karnataka to the rock-cut Mahabalipuram, they talk about it all with much awe and enthusiasm. Bhavana, who is an interior-design student, says, “I observe the spaces inside our temples – the corridors, mandapams and parakarams – the lighting and ventilation in them.” She also mentions the Madurai Meenakshi Temple apart from Konark and Dilwara in the list of places she has visited. For Chandan, visiting historical shrines reconnects him to his roots. “The places I visit are both grand and humble, but they help me evolve constantly,” he says. “Also the concept of God and religion always has a mysticism attached which I am attracted to.”
