Birbal’s Khichadi on the Pangong Tso
You all remember the story of Birbal’s Khichadi, right? I recalled it perfectly well, as I stood alone on the frigid -13 Degrees Celsius night of Lake Pangong Tso. There I was, along the 134-kilometer stretch of a magical lake bathed in moonlight & wondering why is the moonlight, which is just reflected sunlight not warming me up enough. No winds mind you & yet my body sent uncontrolled shivers down my spine, its own way of warming it & telling me to go back to my warm tent. “Yamuna Ke tat Par Khadak Singhaiya Naach Nachaiya” played in my Cranium as I trembled one more time. (Those who remember the Ace Villain, K.N. Singh singing this song in the movie “Badhti Ka Naaam Daadhi,” raise your glass). I tried staring at the proverbial lamp light at the far end of the lake, shining warm & gaining its Kelvins & stopped at the thought of King Akbar’s eminent disapproval.
The moon lights up a nightscape with a magic that no daylight can. The Milky Way & the stars are diffused due to the dazzle of our closest satellite but the land is bathed white like a “Saundarya Saabun” (Beauty Soap) Ad. A glory that has to be witnessed, admired & cherished…..even at the risk of King Akbar denying you the thousand Gold Ashrafis he had promised as a reward for standing alone in the cold wintery night of Yamuna.
Birbal’s Khichadi on the Pangong Tso
You all remember the story of Birbal’s Khichadi, right? I recalled it perfectly well, as I stood alone on the frigid -13 Degrees Celsius night of Lake Pangong Tso. There I was, along the 134-kilometer stretch of a magical lake bathed in moonlight & wondering why is the moonlight, which is just reflected sunlight not warming me up enough. No winds mind you & yet my body sent uncontrolled shivers down my spine, its own way of warming it & telling me to go back to my warm tent. “Yamuna Ke tat Par Khadak Singhaiya Naach Nachaiya” played in my Cranium as I trembled one more time. (Those who remember the Ace Villain, K.N. Singh singing this song in the movie “Badhti Ka Naaam Daadhi,” raise your glass). I tried staring at the proverbial lamp light at the far end of the lake, shining warm & gaining its Kelvins & stopped at the thought of King Akbar’s eminent disapproval.
The moon lights up a nightscape with a magic that no daylight can. The Milky Way & the stars are diffused due to the dazzle of our closest satellite but the land is bathed white like a “Saundarya Saabun” (Beauty Soap) Ad. A glory that has to be witnessed, admired & cherished…..even at the risk of King Akbar denying you the thousand Gold Ashrafis he had promised as a reward for standing alone in the cold wintery night of Yamuna.