1889-BRAHMAGIRI, TRIMBAKESHWAR, SOURCE OF THE GODAVARI/GANGA

He was nineteen years old.

He was lying on his back on a hill, looking up at the sky.

His camera stood on a tripod to one side.

Suddenly, mist began to creep towards the field.

A cloud of mist enveloped him and hid him from view.

All he could see was white mist.

White blindness, as is he was buried in a cloudbank of mist.

Then a snake slithered through the mist, crawled over his chest and stood above his face with a fanned hood.

Rubbing itself against his chest, the snake began to slough off the skin covering its eyes.

Understanding, Govind picked up a cloth on which his head was resting and wiped the snake's eyes clean.

Having regained his sight, the snake went quietly away.

When the mist cleared, the surrounding hills had turned into the white, snow covered Himalayan Mountains.

The infinite sun peeped out from behind the infinite mountains.

On all sides the multicoloured tree barks of autumn...

Govind was exhilirated by this vision.

This was the source of the Godavari...

He captured many beautiful visions in his camera, finally understanding why they painted the Sahyadri Mountains white in the backdrops of Nasik

Joyously he began to descend the steps of the fort. Suddenly, a group of monkey materialised from thin air and blocked his way.

Seeing their boldness and aggression, Govind became a little fearful.

The monkeys snatched his camera and disappeared again.