While most devotees found it challenging to reach the top of Vindhyagiri Hills, the able-bodied men from Jharkand went up and down the 618 steps carrying dolis four to five times a day.
The doliwallahs are in the age group of 18 to 40. Rajender Puri, who regularly carries dolis in Shikharji in Jharkand, also a pilgrimage site for Jains, said most of the 400 doliwallahs in Shravanabelagola enjoyed the expertise and skill of carrying dolis in Shikharji. “Carrying dolis there is a lot tougher as its higher. We can do only one trip in Shikharji. Here we are doing four to five. We take barely 25 minutes to go up the steps here,” he said.
Their diet too appears frugal. “We eat rice, dal and vegetables. Our food and accommodation has been taken care by the Jain Mutt here,” said Raju Marandi, another doliwallah.
“We have been promised a payment of ₹18,000 to ₹19,000 per month,” said a doliwallah.
