Dehradun January 19, 2013 - Haridwar

Today we got up early, 4 team members went to see the patients, and then we all piled in vans to travel to Haridwar.  It was about a 2 hour drive, and we arrived at our nice hotel in time for lunch.

Hari = God (like Hari krishna); dwar = gate.  Doorway to God.

On the way, we stopped to see a band of monkeys on the road.  Very silly creatures, who put on a display for anyone who stops.  Our driver stepped to the side of the road and tossed a plastic bottle - I couldn't bear to leave it.  We were waving arms at each other and I'm sure cursing, and both laughing, while I retrieved it to toss in a receptacle later.  Crazy Americans.

The hotel is quite luxurious; used to be a private residence or haveli  Name of the hotel is Haveli Hari Ganga and is right on the river.
http://www.havelihariganga.com/

 Kush's family arriving at the hotel.

 Monkeys on the road.

 Selling wares from a cart.

 Up to code?

 Colorful street scene in Haridwar.

 The Ganges, considered a holy river.  It runs all the way from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal.

 Roommates and anesthesia partners in crime.

 Stores and stalls all along the streets with endless things to buy.

 Monkey menace - I used to have that at my house with two little boys...

 Deb at the Ganges.

 Kush with his daughter and son.

 Monkey menace about to happen...

 Tree growing out of the side of the building.

 Kush and kids getting pretty close to the water...

 Local color.  So much of marigold and yellow hues here.

 Artisan and his helper.

 Young girl - I'm not sure what she is up to...

 Les and pipe.  Always making us laugh.

 Cows mingle with the crowds.

 Preparing condensed milk.

 Beggars everywhere.

 Man and dog.

 Les getting dapper.

 Another beautiful stand of goods.

 Chopping wood.

 Another cow on vacation.

 Apparently when the cow stops giving milk, she is turned out onto the streets.  They will not kill cows, but neither can they afford to keep feeding them.

 Cooking his goods.

   

Fresh vegetables!

 Crowds accumulating at the Ganges for the celebration.

 Deb and Les with their flower boats.

 The platform in the distance is where the broadcast chanting we hear is originating.

 A dip in the Ganges.

 The man who explained the ceremony and gave us our blessings.

 The man who gave us our red dots, and the man who gave us our blessings.

 Kathleen is ready to get into the Ganges.

 My flower boat, ignited and ready to go.

 The fires are lit and everyone crowds down to the shores to launch their flower boats.

 Of they go!

 We are now all part of the movement!

 Hair cuts for those brave enough to try...  included a head massage and facial for about $4.