The crowd gathered on the banks of the holy river was a living, feeling organism in itself. It ebbed and flowed mimicking the dirty brown water and it glowed with spectacle not unlike the river.
Some cried, some laughed, some were relieved, some took selfies, and some just stood there taking in the scenes.
Most of them had come to say goodbyes to their loved ones, the lamps cast in the waters apparently guiding the departed souls to heaven.
One by one, the lamps flickered and vanished. The crowd too.
Tomorrow, new lamps, new crowd, new waters.
Different, but same.
Word Count: 100
Written in response to the picture prompt provided by Carla Bicomong for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff – Fields. Please find other entries here.
L.E.R.T 
Loved the opening.
#sindhureads #myfriendalexa
LikeLike
Writing a story in 100 eords is a skill. My 100 word stories also got published couple of times. But I find it difficult to keep them below 100. But you have mastered the skill… Keep it up bro…
LikeLike
All beautiful, but I especially liked your opening and closing lines–that the crowd was like a living, feeling organism, and that all were different, but the same. Nice!
LikeLike
Like a stream of consciousness the water carried them off. Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the kind comment 🙂
LikeLike
A very tender and beautiful story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everyone has their moment, and then it passes for another. like you say, the same but different. Like it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the story never changes. Just the actors do. Thanks for the comment.
LikeLike
An interesting and symbolic read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful picture of the circle of life. Nicely done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Brenda 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A sense of remembrance and respect in this, and the world trundles on into the next day. Does the past shape the future or do we know better?
LikeLiked by 1 person
A good question to ponder. Thanks for the comment, James.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Goodbye is the hardest thing to say to someone who means the world to you”. Love the imagery. Well written!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Priya. Glad you liked it.
LikeLike
I, too, loved the comparison of the people to the water. A most lovely piece… and so it goes, day after day…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the very kind words, Dale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful! I think we saw the same river but I loved your take on it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Subroto. Will check your take as well.
LikeLike
Lovely piece Varad! The comparison of the crowds and the water is simply beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jennifer. You are very kind.
LikeLike
The circle of life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The actors might be different, the stories that get played out are the same. Thanks for the comment, Anurag.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its filled with sadness.. our loved ones leaving us and departing into another world is really something so difficult to live with. A part of the heart remains empty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the comment, Akshata.
LikeLike
Sad, but the community of everyone saying their farewells together is a powerful energy of emotion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True. Same goes with mass prayers and violence as well. Thanks for the comment, Stu.
LikeLike
Interesting how you compare the crowds to the river, stressing the crowd’s unified presence rather than the invidual parts. There is something about ritual that makes people behave more as a single entity, and you portrayed that beautifully without diminishing the individuality of each participant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for a great comment, as usual, Andrea. I enjoy reading your interpretations and musings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A nice and peaceful way to say goodbye.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It indeed is. Thank you, Abhiray
LikeLike
It’s like the circle of life, yesterday fades and tomorrow is the future. Beautifully told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The circle has no beginning and no end. Perfect metaphor for life. Thank you, Gabi.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Varad, I think you get better every week. The palpable sadness in this piece is so well described.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was mighty kind of you, Linda. Any writer would be delighted to get such comments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great description of the scene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly, J Hardy.
LikeLike
Dear Varad,
This is simply a lovely, well constructed piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rochelle. You are very kind.
LikeLike
Nicely written, Varad. Your descriptive writing is excellent, and you’ve expressed your message very clearly. Kudos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the kind comment, Penny. I’m glad you liked the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And on it goes. More people, more lamps. A tender story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The only certainty of life. Thanks for the comment, Jilly
LikeLike
That, as they say, is life. Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The never-ending circle. Thanks for the comment, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poignant …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Meha
LikeLike
Excellent the way you brought out the soul of the time honoured tradition of aarthi!
http://www.kparthas.blogspot.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much for the comment. I’m glad you liked the story.
LikeLike