Rishikesh is the kind of town experienced differently depending on the mood you're in. Backpackers look towards the Himalayan trails beyond in an intrepid mood. Stragglers with guitars try to channel the Beatles in a singing mood. Tourists heft their giant cameras in a sightseeing mood. Yoga enthusiasts practice their down-dog in a meditative mood. Hindus visit the banks of the Ganges in a prayerful mood. Some overzealous transplants seemed to be in an altered mood ... although the less said about them, the better.
We visited at the bare beginning of one of the largest festivals in the Hindu religion, Kumbh Mela, which takes place only every twelve years. In the middle of the night, I could still hear the chanting from the neighboring ashrams. Pilgrims were flocking to the neighboring town of Haridwar to bathe in the Ganges where it meets the Plain of Bengal around Har-ki-Pairi. The crowds were intense then, so I can't even imagine what it will look like in two months when the festival is in full swing.
The thing about Rishikesh, though, is that the prayerful folk were continually being followed around by the sightseers, the tourists were being photographed by the locals, and the backpackers were being followed by monkeys and holy cows.
The scenery was unbeatable, and the company was grand. I learned more than I expected to, but the best part...
MOOed.
No comments:
Post a Comment