Of divine dips and near-disaster in Haridwar

Sometimes, mischief turns into a near-disaster. My father and his close friend often organised family tours. On one such trip, four families travelled from Yamuna Nagar to Haridwar to witness the divine Ganga aarti at Har ki Pauri.

The next morning, we all went for a holy dip in the Ganges. Suddenly, a panicked cry rose from a women’s group nearby — someone had been swept away by the current. To our horror, it was my mother.

Before anyone could react, we saw our uncle in the water, struggling to come out of the river. He seemed weak and off balance. But as he raised his arm for help, we saw something astonishing — my mother was clinging tightly to his leg, mistaking it for a safety rail underwater!

With great effort, both were pulled to safety. What began as a terrifying moment ended with laughter, relief, and gratitude? That day, the Ganga not only cleansed our souls — it gave us a miracle.

GP Singh Sandhu, Mohali