When you are in a war or a potentially conflict zone, your best friend had better be God. That is why one sees a lot of temples at such places where you can die or lose limbs even if no bullets are being fired. Natural or accidental mishaps can strike anyone.
The faith in the shrine of OP Baba is almost fanatical for soldiers posted at the base camp at the Siachen Glacier. Built near the snout of the glacier in 1996, elaborate ceremonies are performed as soon as a soldier finishes his posting of 90 days on the glacier, something allotted by rotation. Living under sub-zero conditions on a mass of ice can be fatal or cause loss of limbs or eye-sight or even sanity amongst the most hardy. Even when all precautions are taken and right training imparted. Coming back from the glacier intact is a cause for celebration.
Who is OP Baba? According to the legend mentioned at the shrine: [continue reading…]
{ 2 comments }
