Part 5 Section 19 Summary

The date is May 2nd. The village women have decided that Ritu should go on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas, accompanied by her mother-in-law—and, best of all, Chid. Maji explains that, after weeks and months of traveling, the pilgrims will reach the base of the mountains. Then they will climb past the tree line to bathe in icy runoff water. Some will faint with joy.

Part 5 Section 19 Analysis

If time heals all wounds, then the time taken to reach the Himalayas would be therapeutic. If "beauty is its own excuse for being," then the sight of the mountain would also be therapeutic. People though can faint from both joy and oxygen deprivation.