At the time when many people are opting for helicopters or horse rides to cover the trek to Kedarnath, the story of two elderly devotees who walked all the way from Karnataka to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva has touched hearts online.
The duo began their padyatra from Gulbarga in Karnataka on March 3. They reached Kedarnath on May 1 after completing their journey in just 60 days, well ahead of the 75 days they had originally estimated.
Their unwavering devotion have moved thousands, with their story now going viral on social media.
The video, shared by Instagrammer Shiva Rajasthani, captures the two elderly men standing in front of the beautifully adorned Kedarnath temple. Both were dressed in raincoats to cope up with the weather conditions.
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One of them, dressed in a silver raincoat and holding a wooden stick, spoke to the content creator with folded hands, saying that he is 70 years old.
The vlogger is heard saying, “Toh doston, Kedarnath Dham mein ek baba aaye hain...” (So friends, a baba has arrived at Kedarnath Dham...). Before letting the man speak about their incredible journey, the 70-year-old's companion, wearing a bright red rainy wear and turban, explains, “We have come from Karnataka on foot. Today is our 60th day. We thought it would take 75 days, but we made it sooner. This is a very happy moment for us (translated from Hindi).”
According to reports, the distance between Gulbarga and Kedarnath is roughly 2,000 kilometers by road. Covering such a long distance on foot is nothing short of extraordinary, especially given the men’s age.
Video goes viral
The clip has since garnered over three lakh likes on Instagram and continues to gain traction.
Netizens were overwhelmed with emotion, many saying the video brought tears to their eyes.
The comments section echoed with chants of "Har Har Mahadev!", while others praised the duo's spiritual commitment. “I saw Nandi in him,” wrote one user, referring to Lord Shiva’s sacred bull. Another commented, “This is called Bhakti — without any fancy photos.”
