A trip to "Chilla Gahh"...

After working on the short movie last year - The Job Opening, this time we decided to work on a documentary. There were multiple destinations in mind but then decided to opt for something which I've not heard off even living in Islamabad for over 18 years. The place is "chilla gahh" at 1 hour distance from imam Bari's (r.a) shirine, it was the place there he worshiped called chilla of 12 years continuously in a deep cave. it is a great place for his devotes

A Brief Introduction
Bari Imam (1617 to 1705), whose real name is Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi, was born in 1026 Hijra (1617 AD).His father, Syed Mehmood Shah, shifted his family from Jhelum District to Baghan village, presently called Aabpara. At that time, it was a barren land. Soon after the arrival of Bari Imam’s family, his father started farming and also kept some animals. Shah Latif helped his father in grazing the animals, but left his father at 12 and came to Nurpur Shahan. From Nurpur Shahan, Bari Imam went to Ghaur Ghashti (now known as Attock) where he stayed for two years for learning fiqh, hadith, logic, mathematics, medicine and other disciplines, because at that time Ghaur Ghashti was great seat of learning.
He was the first spiritual guide of Gohail Shahi as well. As Gohar Shahi states in his book about Bari Imam that at the age of 34 Bari Imam appeared before me (Gohar Shahi) and said: "My son your time has come, your must go to the shrine of Sakhi "Sultan Bahoo" Sahib to receive the Sacred Inner Dimensions of Spiritual Knowledge."

It is said that Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who was devoted to spreading his empire, originally built the silver-mirrored shrine of Hazrat Bari Imam [RA]. It has been renovated and is now is maintained by the government.

Now the Trip
The Sunday, as usual is a busy day for me... Start off early (at least, tried), went out with greatest living mother - my mother. Came back, rushed to office to get some print outs about Bari Imam then received the call that curtain tailor is here, so rushed back to home and after long discussion and confusion, decided for the design which isn't so far used in any home window.

As soon as he left, Tahir came out, not to mention that Billie chicken-out of this plan (reason - I should rather not mention here). We rushed to market to pick second film for our other cam-recorder, just as backup plan. Picked Sohail, who after sitting in Bubbly, opened up the sandwich box and start eating ;).

We reached to Bari Imam Shrine, paid a visit there, filmed a bit and then moved on to our destination - chilla gahh.

First we thought it wouldn't be a difficult trip and we will reach at top in no time... but when we started, we were unable to anticipate the distance that we might have to cover and it was never ending hiking :). The fun started, when we reached almost to half-way, not to chilla gahh but "langer khana" and tell this to Sohail, you must have seen his face at that moment. :)

At one point, I literally thought of going back but for love of documentary, decided otherwise. I was walking after a long time, so stamina was out of question. I like taking physical pain, so started enjoying walk and view after sometime. Took some interviews on my way to langer khana, this is an interesting spot, where you will see people sitting and queued up for "mannats", had another detailed interview with munzim of this langer khana. Then me and Tahir without waiting, move ahead to Chilla Gahh.

Before, I tell anything about the Chilla Gahh (which is a cave) where Bari Imam prayed for over 12 years. I would just say, this is unbelievable that someone could stand there for entire day, not to mention Bari imam did it for almost 12 years. One can only go into this cave side-ways, you can't turn back 180 degree, it is astonishing that someone could go through such intense physical endeavor to achieve his ultimate goal - his God's blessing. The baba (or fakir) who stand there is someone you can talk and pass good time, if you're some scientific guy then better not talk with him because sometimes he go beyond logic and sense :)

There is some interesting story of tiger and elephant (I believe snake too), we interviewed him and got some of his insight on how he came here and stayed here for over 26 years now. You would see many of these people in different parts of the world, where their ultimate goal is to serve the people who come to pay visit to sufi saints like bari imam. They've always some interesting stories to share, do talk with them if you get time and courage. They would try to look mysterious and divine, maybe some of them are but not this fella we talked at chilla gahh (this is my opinion, you reserve the right to reject it).

I'm becoming strong believer of this rhetoric (at least for time being), that why struggle to live our life here, when we can live forever hereafter.