Date:30/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/30/stories/2008013054320600.htm

Karnataka

To the holy place on foot

Staff Correspondent

DAVANGERE: She is 59 years old and a diabetic. She has high blood pressure apart from arthritis problem. Despite all these, the enterprising old woman walked from Davangere to Sabarimalai covering a distance of over 900 km to set a record of sorts.

Annapurna Shivakumar, wife of Col. Shivakumar, joined scores of young men who ventured to walk from Davangere to Sabarimalai to have a darshan of Lord Ayyappa during the 2007-2008 season.

She decided to walk unmindful of her ailments and six major surgeries that she had undergone. She successfully walked up to Sabarimalai except for a 58-km stretch when she fell ill. She took rest for two days and joined her team on an autorickshaw.

It took 28 days for her to complete the journey. Annapurna said that she was under continuous supervision of two doctors from Davangere, B.M. Vishwanath and Eli, who used to provide medical advice through her journey.

She says she undertook the journey out of devotion to Lord Ayyappa and after visiting the holy place, she feels that she is more fit and devoid of many illness.