The Ravi Lancers
“It was another roofless house (were there any with roofs in France?) in St. Hubert, this one allotted for use as a Hindu temple. A tattered tarpaulin suspended from the ends of beams sticking out of the walls covered most but not all of it. A sowar in C Squadron had carved a lingam out of another beam, that must have been there for five hundred years, and the Brahmin had set it up in the centre of the tiled floor. A few primroses and snowdrops lay scattered at the base of the lingam, a garland ...of small fresh daisies hung round it, and the top was scattered with turmeric.It was March 20, the second and most important day of the great Hindu spring festival of Holi. The Brahmin, squatting in front of the lingam, rocked back and forth in white robes, palms joined, eyes closed, chanting endless Sanskrit verses of prayer to the Fire God. A dozen sowars seemed to fill the room, some chanting holy names, some praying silently with hands joined and heads bowed. They were all wearing their grey army socks, for the tiles were cold and damp, though the boots were left outside.O Fire, you are immortal among mortals,You protect us as a friend does,In front and at the back and at higher levels and lower levels.Destroy the strength and might of the demons!The letter burned like a live coal in the pocket of Krishna’s tunic.MoreLess
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