NITISH NAHARAS

Aarti has already begun. There are far too many people blocking my view. Maybe, I could go to the nearest shallow water, and observe the ceremony from there. Taking my shoes off, I tie them together with laces and sling them across my shoulder. After folding my trouser legs much above the knee, I am ready to step in the water.

Stationing myself in the water right opposite where aarti is being performed, I am in the front row seat of this real life performance. There are dignitaries and saints sitting and chanting shlokas. Baal-sant (child saints) dressed in yellow and saffron hold saffron and yellow flags, as they join in the bhajans. There are huge silver lamps, each containing a number of slots for ghee (oil) and wick. With the sounds of small bells, chimtas, everyone around seems to be totally immersed in the prayers as they sing along.