Blessed By The Ganges

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The morning sun rays when fall on the flowing water, shone brightly reflecting it back, thus, mesmerizing the eyes. I preferred to sit on its bank to capture this panorama. It was so beautiful, never I saw anything as such, before. 

It had the calmness that I looked for everywhere. Not just human, even the few birds stood near me, unmoved and I assumed it too was spellbound by the majestic aura of this mighty Ganga. 

An old man would come and took bath as well as filled his small three pots with Ganga water to be taken for worshipping the Gods in the nearby small temple. Few young people came to fill  many big plastic bottles, those of some branded soft drinks, with Ganga water; assumed by myself, to be sold to those to whom Ganga was unavailable all the time.

An old couple, about 70, unable to walk much confidently, sauntered down the steps holding each other's hand and the other hand of the wife carried an earthenware of medium size,  filled with three number of fruits, a small earthen oil lamp and incense sticks. They lit the lamp with the match box and kept the earthenware with all the substances on the flowing water to be carried to wherever it wanted. Their hands joined in namaste, eyes closed and prayed intensely for some wish to be fulfilled by this pious river. The earthenware as soon as was released on the water, abandoned its content. It,  carrying the earthen lamp, dowsed in the river, whereas the fruits floated as they moved ahead with Ganga surrending themselves to be taken somewhere. 

Two ladies witnessed this as they too stood near them preparing themselves to take the morning bath. One of them massaging the hair with a sachet of shampoo while talking incessantly,  throwing the empty packet on the bank itself, which was taken by the Ganga in course of its movement and the other woman tying her saree securely enough not to be betrayed by it once she goes inside the water. They delayed their esteemed purpose of arrival by immersing themselves in the old couple's religious endeavor. They kept on directing the couple as experienced visitors of Ganga. And once the couple was done, they took plunge inside the river. It took them hardly 5 mintutes to finish their job inside the water and then to come out and leave instantaneously in their wet attire. 

Few little birdlings would touch the water and flew above, playing some sort of game among themselves. All left, one would still be enjoying this pastime when suddenly a crow from nowhere was just behind her to gulp this little birdie. Ah! What a fight was it for the survival. I almost jumped up from my seated position to save this small creature then realising this was happening beyond my reach at the middle of the river and at some height I would never reach manually. This birdling would fly and fly as much as it could to save herself whereas the crow too tried its level hard to catch the meal. But this small little brown thing was smart and somehow rescued herself by flying with few rapid zigzag movements and then suddenly dropping herself inside a bush on the bank. The crow unable to catch hold of her, flew away aiming the sky. I was so relieved and happy at this win of the birdie and the inner me realising life is a struggle for every life and those who fight, will win. 

I too joined my hands in namaste, in gratitude, prayed to Ganga to bless me while the sun shone bright above me, to bless me strength, calmness and the virtues of a good human.

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