Across the Godavari River

The wooden boat lounged on the riverbank in the shadow of the bridge. More asleep than awake, the old man leaned against the oar impaled in the mud. For generations, his family had ferried pilgrims across the river to the temple. The perilous journey of an hour or more to cross the flooded river was now completed in minutes by car.

A visitor in an embroidered Sherwani approached and hired the boat. For generations, his family had journeyed across the river to the temple. It was now his turn to continue the tradition.

Sometimes the old ways are the best.

(Photo credit: “This image is a beautiful shot of Godavari bridge on the left and Godavari Arch Bridge on the right. The bridge is a decommissioned bridge that spans the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh, India.” Selected as the Picture of the Day, Wikimedia Commons on August 11, 2012)