Thaindian News

By Asit Srivastava
Barhalganj (Uttar Pradesh), April 1 (IANS) Situated on the banks of the Saryu river and spread over 3.5 acres, with lush green lawns, gushing fountains and artificial caves, it makes for a perfect picnic spot or wedding venue. However, it is advisable to keep your volume low, as it is actually a cremation ground in an Uttar Pradesh town.

The Muktipath - literally meaning path to salvation - cremation ground in Barhalganj town in Gorakhpur, some 300 km from Lucknow, also boasts of a 62-foot-tall Lord Shiva statue.

“Yes, with its scenic beauty the cremation ground is daily attracting hundreds of visitors. In Gorakhpur, the site has become one of the most sought after destinations for people interested in picnicking,” Lakshmi Narayan Gupta, secretary, Muktipath Society, told IANS on phone from Gorakhpur.

The society, consisting of over 60 members, looks after the work related to maintenance and upkeep of the cremation ground.

“On an average, nearly 500-700 people daily come to Muktipath just to visit. If you also include the people who come to the cremation ground for performing the last rites, then the total strength of people coming daily to the place goes up to around 1,000,” added Gupta, who owns a sari shop in the Soti Chowk area of Gorakhpur.

Muktipath, which today attracts people with its scenic beauty, used to scare them off earlier.

People used to visit the place only under the compulsion of performing last rites. For the last 40-45 years, Hindus have been using the cremation ground.

Things started changing at the cremation ground just nine years ago when a group of locals, primarily traders and shopkeepers, took the initiative to change the face of the cremation ground.

“Our initiative was just to provide a facelift to the cremation ground. In fact, at that time we did know that our efforts would transform the cremation ground as a picnic or a tourist spot,” Mukesh Umar, treasurer of the Muktipath, told IANS on phone.

“Locals, particularly shopkeepers and traders, raised funds for improving the cremation ground. In 2001, we managed to collect nearly Rs.8 lakh for the facelift of the cremation ground. A chunk of the funds was spent on constructing cemented elevated platforms for burning bodies, setting up tin sheds and constructing a hall as a resting place for the bereaved family members,” he added.

Gupta said: “Though the majority of the Society members are shopkeepers, traders or businessmen, teachers, doctors and people from all walks of life are also enrolled with the Muktipath Society.”

“We don’t get any kind of financial assistance from the government. All maintenance and beautification work is done with the help of funds and contributions made by the locals. On an average, at present we are spending nearly Rs.1 lakh per month for the upkeep of the cremation ground,” he added.

According to society members, a meditation hall, a guesthouse and a restaurant will soon come up at the cremation ground, which in turn will attract more people.

There’s no entry fee at Muktipath. The society does not even charge anything from those who organise social functions on the Muktipath’s premises.

“People, particularly from poor families, organise wedding, head shaving (mundan) and other auspicious ceremonies at Muktipath,” said Vishnu Agrahari, 35, a teacher at a private school in Gorakhpur.

Not only among the residents of Gorakhpur, but Muktipath has become equally popular for people in adjoining districts, including Mau, Kushinagar, Balia, Maharajganj, Deoria.

“I come to Muktipath twice a month with my family. My eight-year-old son just loves the place and asks me every Sunday to picnic at Muktipath,” said Balwant Maurya, who is a native of Deoria district, but works with an NGO in Gorakhpur.

(Asit Srivastava can be contacted at asit.s@ians.in)