Yet another overnight train.
The Golden Temple is the holiest of Sikh temples. As a tourist site it's on par with the
Taj Mahal in my opinion.. maybe even better. Historiclly, this is where
Indihra Ghandi sent in the troops to seek out Sikh
seperatists/terrorists killing hundreds of innocents in the process.
She was then asassinated by two of her own Sikh bodyguards which then
led to persecution of Sikhs in India and the exodus of many to
other countries including Canada. In Canada some Sikh terrorists
bombed an Air India flight which is seen to be celebrated by the Sikh
community in Canada resulting in ongoing issues in Canada. Does it ever
end? From paintings in the halls of the
Golden Temple it would seem the Sikhs put some effort into remembering
all of the persecution they've endured over the centuries. There are
many paintings of Sikh Gurus being tortured to death.. reminded me of
the torture museum in London!
The Golden Temple houses and feeds anyone who shows up...
including many backpackers. We seem to get preferential treatment and
put in our own little hall ( with a newer machine clothes washer..
which I fixed ;) . Many people sleep out in the marble foyer on the
ground and even in the walkways to the temple area itself. The
cafeteria is amazing... feeding 8000 a day open 24 hours. You get
herded past the utensil/plate area into a hall where you sit on the
floor as volunteers practicaly run by you refilling your plate from
buckets. If you don't finish in time you
risk being run down by the 'zamboni' floor washing tractor before the
next horde of people come rushing in; it's quite an experience! It's
all by donation too.
pics: 1&2 are 3D of the Golden Temple pic 3 is at
the end of my 3rd or 4th refill. Mmmmmmm Dal Fry!
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