REAL-LIFE MYSTERIES • RAJASTHAN LORE

“Khandar bata rahe hain ki imarat kitni azeem thi… lekin ye khandar raat hote hi ek zinda daastan ban jaate hain.”

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) poore Hindustan me hazaron historical monuments ki dekhbhaal karti hai. Lekin Alwar, Rajasthan me sthit Bhangarh Fort ek aisi akeli jagah hai jahan sarkar ne ek pilla board laga rakha hai: “Suraj dhalne ke baad aur suraj nikalne se pehle Bhangarh ki hadd me daakhil hona kanoonan jurm hai.”

Sawaal ye uthta hai: 21st century me ek aisi government authority jo science aur archaeology par chalti hai, aakhir raat ke andhere se itna kyun darti hai? Kya ye sirf bhediyon aur wild animals ka darr hai… ya fir wo purana shraap jo aaj bhi in khandar diwaron me saans leta hai?

Lok kathaon ke mutabiq, Bhangarh ki Rajkumari Ratnavati be-hisaab khoobsurat thin. Unke roop par mohit hokar Singhia Tantrik ne ek itra (perfume) par kala jaadu kiya taaki rajkumari uski taraf kheenchi chali aayein. Lekin rajkumari ko chal ka pata chal gaya aur unhone wo itra ek vishaal patthar par phenk diya. Tantrik usi patthar ke neeche dab kar marne laga, lekin aakhiri saans lene se pehle usne shraap diya ki “Ye qila ek hi raat me ujad jayega aur yahan kisi ki rooh ko mukti nahi milegi.”