Rishikesh

Last time when I visited Rishikesh, Gangothri and Goumukh was in the year 2000. Mighty Himalaya leaves one breathless with its power. Its beauty is beyond description, so let me not waste words in attempting to describe it. On our way back from Gangothri, we spend a day at Rishikesh. After visiting all spiritual places, we thought some spirit will do some good for our mind and body. And we searched all over for a bar; it took nearly one hour for us to realize that the city is clear of all kinds of alcoholic contamination. The city has banned all substance containing OH element. One of my friends became philosophical and said, “In Rome, be like a Roman. In Rishikesh, be like a Rishikesian.”

After nearly 11 long years, I had my second opportunity to visit Rishikesh, not for spiritual awakening but to take few sessions for the managers of THTC. The lesson learned from my previous visit was still fresh in mind, so along with necessary articles, I packed one bottle of unnecessary item.

After reaching my room at Rishikesh, I unpacked all things, went to bed early, then got up in the morning and went for the class. When I returned to the room tired in the evening, I looked for that prohibited bottle, mysteriously it was missing. Searched for it everywhere, including the bathroom, thinking anything is possible in this world. No money and no other items were missing, except that one stupid item which can’t be purchased at Rishikesh.

It was obvious that the room cleaner had taken it for his personal use. But my predicament was sensitive; even though I know that the person cleaned has by mistake taken it, I can’t complain about it. How to complain, when in the first place it is not supposed to be there?

At that time I remembered the wise words of my friend, “In Rome, be like a Roman. In Rishikesh, be like a Rishikesian”.