As a fifteen year old me, going to Haridwar was like going to a fast flowing river and having a lifetime of fun in it. But at the heart, for me, it was about seeing a place where people want to go every holiday.
Well, when we reached there, my first glance at the Ganges told me that 'enjoyable' won't be the word I give to this trip. As we were going towards the temple of Harkipodi I saw a few women washing their clothes in the sacred Ganges.
On being asked why they were doing so and that people were bathing in the same river, their only answer was that they get no water at home and their stubborn faces clearly speak that we are not being moved from here as we are not washing our clothes exactly in the bathing area.
At that time a small thought came into my mind-water was there to be used against the reservation protesters but not for these people. Anyways, when we reached the temple, a pundit came to us for the Ganga poojan and my mother agreed.
He asked for money and my mother gave him fifty-one rupees. But during the poojan he kept on asking how much more money we were giving him. My temper rose and I told my mother to just let the coconut into water.
First of all we are polluting the river and then we are giving money to this person for persuading us to do so. Not fair. He then started lecturing me that I should have faith in god.
Well, I do respect every religion but I would not blindly follow it so that I hurt nature or some person. That would not be religious but it would be brutal. I rose up and went away and he came after me for money and when I refused very firmly he told me that nothing was possible for me.
I was frustrated enough to snap back that I had become like him. I know I was rude at that time but a series of 'not so good' events have triggered a few thoughts in my mind. One of them being that maybe atheists are correct in their beliefs.
Well, I do respect every religion but I would not blindly follow it so that I hurt nature or some person. That would not be religious but it would be brutal. I rose up and went away and he came after me for money and when I refused very firmly he told me that nothing was possible for me.
I was frustrated enough to snap back that I had become like him. I know I was rude at that time but a series of 'not so good' events have triggered a few thoughts in my mind. One of them being that maybe atheists are correct in their beliefs.
Adharshikha
Holy Child School, Delhi
adharshikha@hotmail.com