The pair of fish at Coronation Bridge !!

We have all seen the eight lucky signs of Buddhism in various Buddhist-related customs. But to see something like "Sernya," also known as the pair of golden fishes, in the middle of the Coronation Bridge near Sevoke was not expected by me, at least. The sculpted picture features a pair of fish forming a circle with a conch shell at its center.

According to Buddhism, " A Pair of Golden Fishes symbolizes the resurrection of eternal life, rebirth, etc. The pair signifies the ability to swim with ease without obstruction in the ocean of this world. They may also be taken to symbolize the eye of perception as fish can see through muddy water. The fish couple suggests mutual aid and indispensability between male and female material life." 

But it still finds me in mystery, well, what was that pair of fish doing there.....could be a way of honouring the marine life that flows below the magnificent man-made marvel, or something else! 

The foundation stone of the bridge was laid by John Anderson, the then Governor of Bengal, in 1937.  It was constructed by Mr John Chambers, who was the last British Executive Engineer of the Darjeeling Division Public Works Department. The bridge was completed in 1941 to commemorate the Coronation of George VI in 1937 and is also known as Coronation Bridge. It is more popular among the locals as Baghpool.