Friday
Bit of a lazy morning, up at 5 am for the Yagev, then caught up on some housekeeping until a bit later in the day....Ajay catching up on his paperwork.
Later went to another Mother Earth temple, this one six stories high, and on each floor a number if the deities and Indian heroes. Somewhat blasphemously, we, especially. Nathalie, was more of a focus for the people. If we were to charge 100 rupees and give it to the University for each photo, it'd be a good earner.
Then another highlight. Bathing in the Ganges. This far up the Ganges, or Ganga, the water is quite fast flowingm many large rapids, and a multitude of large islands cut the river into many steams. The water here is also relatively cold: 23-25 deg. And it is relatively clean. Swim and duck under the water...yes, rinse mout out...maybe not.
So that's what was done, with my two Indian cousins, we bathed. And everyone changing on the banks.
Bathing in the Ganga at Haridwar
Then via Suyra's motorcycle. We were returned to the guesthouse, and after a genuine Lassie (drink not dog) .
A gift from our hosts
Saturday
This is a big day in the university, it is as best we can work out the commencement of the University year, but also the celebration of the founder Kulpita and his wife Kulmata, who have been somewhat deified as very learned, wise, and the founder of this All World Gayatri Pariwar, which is the core of the university.
Usually 3-4 thousand people in total on site during year, now there is 20,000 from all parts of India.
The university has every available space used as free sleeping area classrooms,offices, halls, verandas etc. they also will feed three times a day in Langar style, all of these people.
Never really sure what we are going to be doing.....it is clear that Ajay is respected on the Campus, he says you follow, we do.
I think it is because we are guests for the pro vice chancellor, that a few words and we are pushed to the front of a line, the front row of a hall, and the number of people we have met is amazing.
Pushed through a crowd to a gate, admitted to find us in the front row of a huge open hall full of sitting followers, and flowing out into the adjoining open areas. Maybe 10,000 people. Indian music and singing happening, 10 musicians on stage, and the chancellor Dr Padaya and his wife sitting on the stage. And they happily moved to make room. We had seen people crowding in this area an hour previous. It is a little bit embarrassing. My Hindi is a little bit rusty, but the gist of the 30 minute talk was about being good to each other, don't push your luck, and the launching of the 2015 Calander, and several publications.
After that, and being introduced to professors, managers and other important people, once again we are pushed, through a back door this time, to another line. This line however was the longest one I have ever seen. Probably wound around the campus for a km at least.
Imagine the AFL was giving out all free Grand Final tickets, and it is an Essendon v Collingwood match....BUT...there is only one window open.....then a foreigner gets put into the line four from the front....would not go down well...here- not a murmur....but we are helpless to object.
Then we realise we are back in the audience hall and meeting Dr Pandya again. Once again he has a presence about him.
Meeting Dr Pandya, and the front row at the oration.
After this we were returned to the Guesthouse, where we were given time to have some quiet time. Much appreciated as we had already done a full day by then.
Then into Haridwar proper. As this is a full moon and the guru Poya festival, and the month is dedicated to a local Hindu deity, it was very very busy...the Ganges here, down stream of where we bathed yesterday, is a fuller river, but not at all enticing, but how could the 50,000 Indians bathing here be wrong.....putting our feet in, was enough.
The crowds...Oh the humanity....
There were thousands of people filling bottles with Ganges water, and several hundred Tim Minchen look a likes......but these were the real thing...real Holy Men, who may have walked hundreds of kms to get here. Quite scary really. Like something out of Monty Python, but real.
Some more of the crowd
The whole bank of the river is one big set of bathing steps, and it is a serious no shoe zone, with security aggressively enforcing. Very bezerk, in an Indian way, once again out hosts were marvellous, and ensured we saw whatever we wanted, and some....they remind us very much of us....they are very funny.
Then back to the Ganga, where ABC swam yesterday, and it was hot enough for NJC to embible as well. The water snake worried her a bit, but what are the odds of a white Australian Woman, getting fatally bitten by a water snake in the Ganga?......I'd take your money. It was very refreshing.
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