BLOOMING DEVOTEE

THe river Ganga in Haridwar is always in spate.The gushing waters cascade like a mini Niagara Falls and the force of the flowing waters is enough to propel anything forward in the blink of an eye. The Haridwar authorities have installed heavy metal chains along the river for people to hold when they take their holy dip. Only certain parts of the river are open to the public.
On a trip to Haridwar, one summer, I, along with my family prepared to take the dip in the holy waters of Haridwar. Hindus believe that the dip would cleanse you of all your sins. So this particular ritual is a crowded one. Everyone was intent on just plunging into the chilly waters and plunging out . I held on to my husband’s arm and the children held on to mine and his and each others. The water chilled us to the bone but we held on as the waves tried their best to carry us along .I was glad when my feet were on Terra firma again. As I dried my girls, I suddenly heard people exclaiming and some were even laughing.

Looking at the direction of the noise, I saw a very funny(?) sight. One devotee had ventured a little bit further and realized that the waters were too strong for him. So he was holding on to a strong cement structure somewhat like a mini lighthouse that was there at regular intervals made specifically for the purpose of adventurous devotees. He held on for dear life. He was wearing only his drawers or bloomers common to menfolk in that part of India. As we watched, the strong waves opened out the knot of his drawers and it smoothly glided down. There he stood stark naked, the waves beating against his shriveled penis. The poor guy did not need to freeze. He just hung on for dear life with or without bloomers. If he tried to help himself in anyway the waves would do the rest. This was one man whose sins were indeed washed away. Of course life guards rescued him but it was a sight none of us would forget in a jiffy.