1 00 Abode ofGod®
for spinning. Men and women often dance together in a big
colourful circle in measured rhythmic stepping. Festivals present
most colourful sight when women can be seen in their best attire
giggling with innocent pleasure. Their men folk carry idols of
gods in resplendant crimson palanquins which are preceded by
the drummers and trumpeteers who tug flowers over their head-
gear. Besides the Yamunotri valley along the Yamuna, there are
smaller side valleys also, the most famous being Saraole which I
had an occasion to investigate and see its villages with their wooden,
houses and temples which presented an interesting phenomenon
of ancient tradition and culture.
Trudging on, we reach the Yamunotri from where emanates
Kalindi which cascades down the mountain slopes. There are
few spots of such infinite beauty so near the civilisation as*
Yamunotri.