Gang Bath

Every day early in the morning on my way to practice yoga, I notice a group of labourers bathing together (Gang Bath). What a beautiful scene is that!!! Even though they all fight with each other for their turn of getting soaked with water that is coming out of single tap, the scene looks beautiful. In spite of their worn out underwear or Gochis (a Telugu word which stands for a piece of cloth worn by a male to cover his genitals) and ugly looking ambience (because of drainage which is beside the tap), the scene is still beautiful. All the beauty lies in their smiles. Majority of them don’t use soaps, they all use coir (fiber from Coconut) or squeezed plastic covers to rub their body. No shampoos for their hair, they all use fine sand mixed with water. Still they are clean, healthy and happy. The reason for their cleanliness is every one helps the other in cleaning their body (specifically back and hair). They are happy having bath with their friends and beloved ones. If you see them, then you understand the happiness in having a bath with your near ones. These smiles and happiness are priceless assets which mostly poor have (might be because of lack of bath rooms).

This scene reminds me of my stay at Banglore, while I was in search of a Job. Bachelor life is really memorable. It has many sweet memories, funny events, lessons, etc. We were seven (at times even ten) staying in a small room with open bath room...Yes!!! No wall and no door. You can have free shows every day. You can take help of your friend to rub your back. You might help some one who is taking his bath. If you are a kind of person loving to have freedom bath (with no undergarment) then you should wait till every one leaves the room and have your bath at the last, after closing the main door. Those days were really funny :-). The smiles of labourers bought the same on my face with all those memories flashing in my mind.