In a remarkable reunion, a 61-year-old sadhu returned to his native village in Pithoragarh after 46 years and sought alms from his mother, revealing his true identity as the son who had vanished from home at the age of 15. The man, now known as Buddh Nath, follows the Nath tradition of Sanatan Dharma.
The Reunion
On June 4, Nandi Devi was at her home in Dauligad village in Pausha Postala gram panchayat near Berinag when a sadhu with a long beard arrived at her door seeking bhiksha (alms). Initially unaware of his identity, the family later discovered that the man at the doorstep was Budhi Ballabh Upadhyaya, the boy who had left the remote village near the Pithoragarh-Bageshwar border as a teenager and was never found despite years of search by the family.
Background
Budhi Ballabh Upadhyaya disappeared from his home at the age of 15, prompting an extensive search by his family that yielded no results. Over the decades, he adopted the name Buddh Nath and embraced the Nath tradition of Sanatan Dharma, living as a wandering ascetic. His return after nearly half a century has brought closure to his family, who had long given up hope of ever seeing him again.
The sadhu's mother, Nandi Devi, was overwhelmed with emotion upon learning that the man seeking alms was her long-lost son. The incident has drawn attention to the remote village, highlighting the enduring bonds of family and the unexpected ways in which they can be rekindled.
