We leave the busy, hazy city of Delhi and head north to Shimla, Our destination tonight is Haridwar. We are going ‘off road’ according to Tarun, which I think equates to, we will be using a back road, basically not the main highway! We meet the Ganges for the first time of this trip. It is green and in this area only about 15 metres across, it is banked by vegetation and quite slow moving, definitely peaceful.
We come across some young boys carrying sticks, with some oxen (I think, I don’t think they would be prodding sacred cows).
They were playing in the water and keeping the animals in check, some were dressed some were naked. Their skin was really tanned and they were very friendly when they caught us stopping for a pic. Beautiful white teeth and big smiles! Old style trays pulled by the oxen are constantly on the road, some carrying the crops, some carrying the family. As we pass them, we each stare at one another. We must almost look like we are from another planet, so white and touristy, I feel far from home and so different to these people. I don’t want to be so different, I like it here. Life in the rural areas is much simpler and much slower. There is heaps of mounds of cow paddies drying out on the side of the road waiting to be used for fuel, great example of recycling and thumbs up for a greener environment! Although is there methane in cow poo??
Late afternoon we arrive in Haridwar and go straight to Taruns family village. The village is just out of Haridwar, it is called Dandi, it consists of maybe 8 houses with a laneway in the middle. Around the homes is some farm land lined with Poplar trees, the families grow veges, the soil looks quite good and they had a watering system in place. The hay was nearly ready to cut and Tarun told me the neighbours would all help and be paid in grain. In India they still use the old method to cut the hay with a scythe, then they gather it into bundles. We are given some Chai when we arrive and conversations gathers momentum the longer we are there. Tarun has an obvious fondness for this family and teases his cousin Jyoti and plays with his smaller cousin Manny. Jyoti is inquisitive, she asks lots of questions, I love her, she is quite a spirited young lady! She works hard, cooking and helping to care for the family and she still studies full time. It is quite hot here and I wonder how they sleep in the evening? There are day beds outside and out of the sun and a fan to help cool things down. Jyoti wants us to stay but we had already made arrangements to stay at a hotel in Haridwar. We decide to go back the next morning and visit again. The hotel we stay in is in Haridwar, a holy city Lehku says. The Ganges is across the road and I could see the foothills of the Himalayiasn the distance….wow we are definitely in India!
Next morning we head back to the village to visit the family again. Jyoti is excited to see us and little Manny, who was unwell last evening, was much better and being a normal little boy. I played a little cricket with him, they certainly love their cricket here, it has been such an icebreaker , as the World Cup had just been played. Jyoti painted some beautiful henna decorations on our arms and hands. I liked having henna, it made me feel more like a local. We had some great girl time discussions with Jyoti, it was another special family time that I really enjoyed.
Later on that day we went for a walk around Haridwar down by the Ganges. We went passed beggars and priests all looking for donations! Across the bridge by the Ganges was the Ghats , where people were bathing and worshipping. It was similar to Southbank in Melbourne, Australia. Except(!) add on thousands more people, sacred cows and other animals everywhere, all splashed with the most amazing colours. It was beautiful!
We browsed the market place and we were stared at constantly..this was definitely not a tourist area. I tried Mango lasse at Taruns suggestion. It was delicious, we sat in the tiniest of cafes and the bazaars were just out the front, full of trinkets and vegetables, bustling with people and flies! Yes, we were still in India!
indiahighsandlows 