Then there was time for a quick interpreted chat about what I was doing in India and where I lived, before a sweet was pressed into my hands and holy ash dispensed to me.
The sun came out, briefly and the chat amongst the crowd was that British athletes were doing an "amazing" job at the Games, but it was a disappointment to see Mark Cavendish beaten in the road race, Paula pull out of the marathon, Yamauchi pull up here.