
How he may have looked
WOW London trawled the British press this morning for UK-centric stories to surprise, amaze, or disgust our American readers. But to be frank, there wasnt a lot to report. The UK is officially boring today.
But strange things are afoot in India.
Ananova is reporting that Hindus Riot After Saint Fails to Die . I figured it was a play on words or something. But no thats exactly what happened. “Followers of a Hindu saint rioted in eastern India after he failed to die at the anointed time,” the story begins. Apparently, more than 15,000 people turned up at the Sriguru Ashram at Kharagaon in Orissa to see the priest ascend to heaven between 6AM and noon, following his declaration a few days earlier that he would attain ichha mrityu, or death by his own will. When no ascending occurred, the crowd hurled abuse and turned violent.
The saint told local reporters: “Perhaps the will of God was somewhat different. I am very shocked to have given you so much pain. I wanted to leave my mortal body, but I could not. Please forgive me.”
It has to be said, it does sound like something youd go to see. WOW London is trying to imagine the moment when he opened his eyes and had to convey his excuses to the crowd.
— Barry Shaverin