HARIDWAR
The Gate Way Of Heaven

Like small groups of people singing with frenzied devotees in front, dancing to the accompaniment of percussion instruments; congregations of the devout pilgrims sitting before pandas guided in performing innumerable types of religious rites; clusters of energetic youngsters battling against turbulent waves in the middle of the river; knots of tiny tots cajoling the parents to buy colourful toys; scores of newly-weds sanding in knee-deep waters offering prayers to the Ganges; assemblages of sadhus, busy decorating their foreheads with intricate designs of caste marks; groups of orthodox grey-haired sitting in front of the images of household deities mumbling; countless peddlers moving about swiftly, selling their wares; teen-aged girls assist to their mothers, making ready puja articles, and the like, keep you agape, though gradually lifting your soul, and preparing for a ceremonial bath under the guidance omnipresent pandas, awaiting to meet your eyes with theirs, of course, for fattening their purses under the pretext of releasing you from the cycle of births and deaths with a holy dip, made at their will, and to the muttering of incoherent hymns. Elated by such innumerable sights you join the bathers, with a view to sharing the heavenly bliss and obey the commands of jackal pandas. After the envigorating and sin-washing ceremonial bath, you emerge fit to direct your steps to the shrines, and normally you go to Har-Ki-Pairi first, of course, the first in importance and spiritual merit.

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