We marched on the banks of Ganga right from Shivala ghat to Prayag Ghat (Das Aswamedha Ghat), which was a wonderful experience by itself. Boatmen were calling us to get into boats and have a great view of the Ganga Maha Aarathi.
from their boats. We were never listening to them, our point was on Sekar Sastrigal, who was trotting fast before us. Myself, wife and the kids only were there. Very honestly, I had great fascination about Ganga Arathi, but never in my life time I thought I will be coming to look in person...! (But Ganga Matha had bigger things for us...!)
We reached the Prayag Ghat and thought of standing and having a good Darshan of Aarthi. This is a tourist attraction and there was huge crowd out there. My wife suddenly remembered what need not be remembered, she asked ' This is the place there was a bomb blast last year right?'. I did not want to answer her, getting into that state of mind will make us miss the action that was currently happening.
There was young stage performer who was singing bhajans mellifluously. There was a sudden tapping from behind by Sekar Sastrigal. He showed us a dais which was empty, right before the middle arathi person. There were seven people waiting to perform Aarathi and we were made to sit comfortably on a decorated dais behind the fourth Aarathi. Again, this disbelief...! What am I doing...! How did this become possible? There were no questions to logical answers, but Ganga Matha had brought us here and has given a seat to look at the Aarathi for her.
Then, suddenly there was this second tapping behind me. Again, it was Sekar Sastrigal. He informed the most exciting thing. "They are calling you to do the initial abisekham to Ganga Matha". We were in total belief. I went into a state of trance. I cannot believe what was happening. Out of the thousands gathered there, we were called for doing the Ganga Abisekham after which the Ganga Maha Aarathi would start.
We got down the steps, helped by the Aarathi team and were made to do all the poojas to Ganga Matha. Me, my wife and kids were asked to do this. Smearing of kumkum, santhanam and all the Holy things. Milk was poured onto Ganga Matha and finally a garland put on her...! We returned to see the Ganga Maha Arathi start and enjoyed the full session...! At the time of sitting on the dais, we had another beautiful experience. There was huge Shri Satya Sai photograph smiling at us. We were moved to get His Darshan there...! This was couple of days He attained Siddhi.
My younger son Prashanth was bit uneasy throughout, but enjoyed the aarathi and other rituals. We walked back to the main road and got an auto back to the Ashram. On reaching the Ashram, Prashanth became sick with stomach upset and vomiting...! But now, I was quite relaxed, since I thought, that we have come as guests to Kasi Viswanathar, so let Him take care of all this.
Sometime later in the night my elder son Pranav complained the same, and in the middle of the night I had the same problem. But throughout all this, I've left it to Him to do whatever He feels fit. This was yet another adventure He gave for us...! It was only my wife, Mom and MIL who were normal. This also proved wrong the next day...!
(To be continued...!)
Pranams
Ram
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