Pleased to participate in the 5th edition of 'ammaneDege namma naDige', an annual group walk towards celebrated Sri Durgaa Parameshwari Temple, Kateel. The walk began from Maravooru, near Kavoor at about 7am on 4.2.2018 and ended at Kateel temple. Distance is about 16 kms. The reaching time varied depending on one's walking ability. About 40,000 people are reportedly participated this year.
It was humbling experience to see many people, mostly women walking barefoot. Some women were holding their kids too. People with disabilities have also participated in large numbers. A young boy, about 6 years old, started crying as he saw his sister (may be 8 years old), eating a jaggery piece. The sister wasted no time in removing the jaggery from her mouth and keeping it in the mouth of her brother!
पन्थानं सुपथा रक्षेत् मार्गं क्षेमकरी तथा
Above line borrowed from चण्डीकवचम् (shloka no.41) was my inspirational quote. I had started from Maravoor at about 7.10am and reached the destination at around 9.45am. En route, I chanted दुर्गासूक्तम् (over 108 times) and also played श्रीललितासहस्रनामस्तोत्रम् and its फलश्रुतिः on my mobile. I could walk non stop.
तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन देवीं जप निरन्तरम्
