Even now, the water channel like markings on the surface of Mars, revealed by photos beamed by a space probe, have set scientists and lay persons thinking about the possibility of the planet having supported life forms.

In India, we have revered our great rivers for centuries. The prayer recited by Hindus before taking bath in any of the water bodies or even with a bucket of water goes thus:

"Ganga Cha Yamune Chaiva

Godavari Saraswati

Narmade Sindhu Kaveri

Jale Asmin Sannidhim Kuru"

This is an invocation to the seven holy rivers of India -- the Ganga (anglicised by the British as Ganges), Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri -- to sanctify the water.

Such being the case, it was quite nice to read about columnist Renuka Nararyan’s experience at Jordan river. She says standing on the banks of the river, it suddenly struck her that she should do what devout Hindus back home always does -- wash her feet and face in the water. While she performed the act, she found some elderly European tourists watching her, a trifle curious. Then she sprinkled some water on them, much like the priests do at our temples, as an act of benediction, received with equal reverence by the tourists.

I love this act of reaching out. It seems like a mingling of civilisations, cutting across the boundaries.