I kicked my shoes off and joined my new mates in their bathing ritual in the sacred Ganges River. To be honest, I just removed my sneakers and soaked my feet. The westerner in me didn’t want to jump in let alone bathe in a river where thousands of people bathe, urinate and lord knows what else everyday.
Haridwar is a holy Hindu city, where pilgrims flock year round. Crowds form every night and bathe in this holy river. The Har ki pairi ghat or the Footstep of God is where Vishnu is said to have dropped some heavenly nectar and left a footprint behind. Hindus believe this is the ultimate place to wash away your sins. (I probably could stay in the river for a full day and my sins would not be washed away. I settled for an hour of splashing around with my new buddies.)
