Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Nathabhai Raninga is an 67 years old religious man from Mavapar village, Jamnagar district of Gujarat. Nathabhai is devotee of Lord Rama. For last 15 years he has left his family. He utters Lord Ram’s name constantly since then. Every year, he visits Ayodhya for last one and half decade. He stays there for entire Chaitra month. Earlier hee used to travel to Ayodhya in Indian Railways. But since last year he has selected unique way of reaching Ayodhya.

Every morning from 6 to 9 he walks on railway track towards Ayodhya with bowing down in the direction of his destination. He bows down in the forward direction for at least 450 times in a day and doing this walks towards Ayodhya. This bowing down is called ‘Sashtanga Dandavat’ in Indian tradition. After around 9.30 a.m. he takes rest but continues to utter Lord Ram’s name amd next morning again at 6 a.m. he is ready for his journey to Ayodhya through railway track.

People, impress by his devotion and hardship gather around him with bit of curiosity and bow down Nathabhai. Sometime they also garland him. But this happens only when Nathabhai is in city. When he leaves city, rarely someone notice him.

Nathabhai started his unique rail track journey in April 2007 from railway track near Halvad town in Saurashtra. After almost one year he recently reached Ahmedabad in May 2008. He will reach Ayodhya after atleast 12 years.

Nathabhai has two helpers with him round the clock through out the journey. Helpers take care of him and continuously utter Lord Ram’s name and related dhuns for Nathabhai. They also play Dhol and Manjira sometime. Nathabhai has two sons who are in tractor agency business back at home. His sons earn well enough to assure economic support to Nathabhai’s fancy idea of pilgrimage to Ayodhya.

Find more in video. Commentary is in Gujarati language.