NARAYANGAON, Nov 29: The Kamarali Durvesh Dargah at Khed-Shivapur, 21 kms away from Pune, is not the only place where a rock is lifted up by the mere finger tip of each of the 11 males that are required to raise it. The Pir Baizama Dargah, located at Bori, about 10 kms from Narayangaon in Junnar taluka of Pune district, also shares this unique claim.Bori is the hot spot of geologists, courtesy the immense concentration of volcanic ash dating back to seven lakh years, which has travelled from Sumatra Islands in Indonesia and rests on the edges of the Kukdi river. This large cluster of ash, two metres thick and spread over 10 kms of the river, was discovered by city geologists, exactly a decade ago.Near this historic spot lies a humble dargah which, the locals say, is about 450 years old. Placed outside this shrine is a round-shaped stone, quite smaller than that at Khed-Shivapur. While Khed-Shivapur has become a tourist spot and the stone can be lifted at any time of the day by visitors, as long as there are 11 men to do the needful, at Bori, there are strict rules and regulations.States Abdul Aziz Sakinbhai, the caretaker of the Pir Baizama's dargah, ``Eleven men can lift this stone, but it is traditionally done only on Jumma day (Friday), after namaaz. A bath is mandatory for every participant.'' How long has this stone been here? ``For years and years, since our forefathers may be''.At the Kamarali Durvesh Dargah at Khed-Shivapur, the stone lifting event is a great experience for a visitor. Eleven men stand around the rock that weighs about 90 kgs. Each one bends down and lends his index finger to apply enough pressure to lift it up. In a chorus, they chant Yaa Kamarali Durvesh and thereafter it takes only a couple of minutes for the stone to be flung in the air.A similar experience can be seen on Fridays at Bori, but it is only the locals who have been indulging in it. Tourists hardly come here since the volcanic ash is of academic interest only. The story behind the dargah is one of valour and love. According to Ramzani Ismail Shaikh, a local, ``This dargah is dedicated to a couple - Miya-Bibi. In one of the battles, more than 400 years back, the husband had gone to the battle field where he was killed. The horse came back without his master to Bori. The wife is said to have climbed up the horseback and rode to the battle field. She found the slain head of her husband which she brought back home. She placed this head on her lap and attained samadhi in about 40 days. The samadhi of both, husband and wife rest here and have become benevolent deities for the villager around, who fulfill the desired wishes''.
