Page 24 - Seniors Today - March Issue
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rivers unite at Devaprayag to form the
Ganga. Here, at Rishikesh, the river leaves
the Shivalik Hills and flows in all her pristine
glory, rushing over boulders on the last legs
of her journey from the Himalayas before
descending to the plains of northern India.
Rituals happen along on the banks, at all
hours of the day. As I walked along the
shores, I saw symbols of faith and worship
scattered everywhere - Shiva Lingas, altars,
Vashishtha Gufa places where people have created spaces to
it. One of the most intriguing places is the feel a greater connection to the divine; rocks
Vashishtha Gufa, a deep, almost mystical which are painted with the sacred symbol
cave, situated in the middle of a grove of ‘Om’ or just a slip of vermillion; flower petals
Ficus trees. To reach this cave, one has to that float in little pools of water between
climb down around 200 steps. It is believed rocks, evidence of little personal pujas.
sage Vashishtha and his wife, Arundhati, The impossibly blue water, sometimes
meditated here, for the salvation of mankind. turning emerald green, flows, surrounded
There is a small shivlinga and people come by forested hills. Small temples dot the
here to meditate and experience something banks where kirtan can be heard at all hours.
otherworldly. Evenings are charged with a sacred mystic
energy, as temple bells ring, conches blow and
sounds of kirtan fill that magical dusk hour
and sadhus, pilgrims and tourists prepare for
the nightly Ganga aarti on the Triveni Ghat
and Parmartha Niketan.
View of the Ganga Devaprayaga where Alaknanda and
Bhagirathi join to flow as Ganga
“Ganga has been a symbol of India’s age-
long culture and civilisation, ever changing,
ever flowing, and yet ever the same Ganga.” Ganga Aarti
So said Jawaharlal Nehru. If you seek peace, be still. If you seek
Every Indian has some emotional connect wisdom, be silent. If you seek love, be
with the river. After all, she descended yourself.
from the heavens to wash away the sins Rishikesh boasts one of the world’s largest
of mankind. Trickling from Gomukh to clusters of ashrams which are a melting
Gangotri, the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi pot of seekers from all over the world who
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