The ride from Puri to Howrah

The ride from Puri to Howrah


Supposed to vacate the room by 10 in the morning i had over 12 hours to spend before the return journey to Howrah could commence. Stay beginning from the last Tuesday of December, it had been comfortable to the point that miles could be clocked on foot and hours could be sent on writing. Just before quarter past 10 the room was vacated with the luggage stored in an adjoining room for the next 10 hours. This gave me the opportunity to go past Bali Sahi Road and take the stretch from Hotel Trimurti to right up to Jay Maa Kaali Mistaana Bhandaar.

It was the desire for Khaja that led me to the Lord Jagannath's temple before noon and the best way to reach was through rear gate. Against this the January One rush was huge and still one could afford to be out of temple premises within one-and-a-half hour given the structured movement of the crowd. Long was the moustache of the man perched on a platform giving instructions on how one should move in and get out engaging in no sessions of bout. ON Jan one he could be spotted in the morning and late in the evening. AS for Jan two, the rush was palpably less and in and out movements involving no brush. Post Khaja - inside the temple right opposite Lord Jagannath's idol Khaja is 5 rs a piece and if one steps out few metes away it comes for rs 10 - the concern shifted to the time that had to be spent before taking the return train. It was walk past Dolamandap Sahi and roundabout that helped in getting the requisite circulation in the legs and later engage in writing fest. As the evening approached the ride to the station via Grand Road showcased its grandeur and how over the years it has been able to maintain the momentum. Once inside the station the monumental rush was evident given the spate of trains that were supposed to leave in the late evening. Proportion of the crowd comprised of those hailing from North India and heading towards their destination via Howrah.

Came across one gentleman manning a shop between platform 4 and 5 and he could hardly be spotted given his low height and surfeit of articles his shop showcased. Limited interaction revealed that he had been manning the shop for the past 42 years and i wished him well.
It was already half past 10 and still the entire coaches hadn't pulled inside the platform. Probably the hosepipe between the two coaches had developed some snag and it took some efforts from personnel underneath the coach to repair the same. When i entered the 3AC coach after a while commotion broke out as two gentlemen from the State of West Bengal were having issues on luggage and how it had to be accommodated. One gentleman came to my side and narrated his tale in Bangla. Could make out much of his narration but had to limit my conversation given my Bangla limitations. Having Taken the seat in B1 or B2 i shifted to another coach (seat number 16) as some had their long list of RACs and wanted to be through. THe side upper was ok and attempted sleep amidst majority who hailed from Bangla Fief.

Morning was spent amidst some hailing from Hati Bagan(Kolkata). Discussions revealed that they had been visiting Puri for the past 16 years and making a point to stay in Hotel Puri, the one i had sighted quite often when i went for beach ride to a greater degree. This Hati Bagan Group comprised close to 30 members and probably they had taken five rooms in Puri. The tariff was a meagre 100-150 rs in the earlier period and now it stood at 900 rs (100 rs discount as they had been keeping their date on an annual basis). They even managed to get a Oriya cook who prepared the food in lumpsum and get them the required pump. Stay starting from Dec 28 and winding to Jan 2. THen and there i realised how freely i could interact with them. Exchange of ideas were on Jagannath Temple and the place where the meals are prepared before being offered to the Lord and how one can hope to get a view of the same. UNanimous were our views that Jan One saw a big rush and thanks to the arrangements the movement was without any hassles and brush. This reminded me of the College Street Pandal in Kolkata when in the month of October, not less than a million visit the pandal during the entire duration and yet there is no shoving and pushing. Structured is the movement and splendid is the mind of those who visit them.
The Hati Bagan residents seem to be the most cherished group and best wishes to the old lady who conversed with me in Bangla and i wished her she would be visiting Lord Jagannath's Abode for the next 10 years.

AS we inched towards Howrah Station, we were told that the train is more an hour late and by the time we reached most of us had the taxi parked at the gate. THe taxi i took to reach Esplanade and from there i reached Chandni International on foot. Akram was the manager whom i handed keys when i finally left and the oranges was from Mushtaq who seem to be in no zest.

Best wishes to Surya Sen lodgewallah for letting me stay for 10 days; best wishes to orangewallah on Surya Sen Street who was kind enough to hand me the best oranges; best wishes to favourite cabin (S S Street) for giving me the desired tea; best wishes to newspaper vendor on S S Street; best wishes to a tea vendor on Dolamandap Sahi, Puri (next to the ramashree lodge); and best wishes to the vendor between platform 4 and five on Puri Station functioning for the past 42 years.

During the stay in Odisha and Kolkata, elaborate and appropriate was the conduct of people i came across and rooted to the ground was their round the clock toss.