A few days ago our nephews told us about a science fair at the hotel right by the flat. We went with them and looked around at everything for a while. It was really interesting. There were several groups there that had made all natural perfumes from flowers and herbs and spices. There were also exhibits on hydrolics, green house farming, robotics and geology. Jasmine had a good time looking around. The kids were very enthusiastic and we were impressed with the quality of the projects. They also had a little stage show with lazer lights and aliens. I didn't totally understand it but I think it was just to show off the lazer light technology and cool alien costumes for the kids.
My oldest brother in law, Vishu, took a short trip to Kashi (Hindu holy place). He took some of Papa's ashes as a fulfillment of his and Papa's wishes. I think that's such a wonderful thing to do.
A couple of days ago there was a function at my MIL's family house. It's an annual event for the tulsi plant at the house. I know for some of you are not familiar with Hindu or other nature based religions may find that odd, but it was pretty cool. This plant, tulsi, is considered sacred here and it represents a goddess. The tulsi plant is considered so useful that it can fill any need you have. Some of you may have seen tulsi tea in the health/natural food stores, so you know it has medicinal qualities. So, once a year the male family members are expected to go to the family house and do this puja. The plant lives in a permanent concrete pedestal in the front yard. This is decorated with flower garlands and little oil lamps called "diyas." It looks so pretty when it's all lit up. Then, a priest comes to the house and does the actual puja as far as doing the prayers and all, and the family follows. Jasmine had some fireworks left from what we got for Divali, so they lit them at the appropriate time near the end of the puja. It's quite nice. It happens on the night of full moon and is connected with a procession of the gods from a nearby temple. We did the tulsi puja at the house at around 7:00pm and sometime around midnight the procession came to our street. They take the sliver and gold statues of the gods out of the temples and walk through the town with them. The one that came to our house was a huge silver goddess. We had diyas and oil lamps lit in front of the house and a place set up for the priests to sit the platform on, so they stopped there and did a small blessing. Of course we give money for each of the pujas, so there is an exchange. (Kind of like giving your offering in church in the Christian tradition.) At the end of each of the pujas the priest waves a metal plate with an oil wick fire on it around and we pass our hands over it and then touch our heads, that is taking the blessings. They also give paste of sandalwood and another red colored paste that comes from the temple and that's what you put on your forehead. After we took the blessings they took the goddess on the platform and went back down the street. Just a few minutes later the gold statue met up with the silver one down the street and the guys who had been carrying them around for hours on the platforms on their shoulders stopped and ate. We had followed the procession, not knowing they were meeting up to take their break, and ended up standing there when they started to get out all the food, etc. Our cousin who was with us knows some of the local priests so they invited him to sit down with them, which was a very kind gesture, but we didn't because it was they who had worked hard and earned the food. So we walked back to the house and cleaned up the ritual items, leaving the little diyas out for the gods, and went to bed. (Most of us had been asleep before the procession came.) It was just my MIL, two brother in laws (Vishal and Anu), me, Jasmine, our cousin Satish (who had arranged everything), his wife and son. Then we drove back very early the next morning.
The roads here are so bad that it usually takes a long time to get anywhere, especially in the cities. There is so much traffic and the traffic laws aren't as rigidly enforced here so it's always very chaotic. Going to the house took about 45 minutes, I think. Coming home, when nobody was out on the roads yet, I think it took us about 20 or 25 minutes. Really, the driving situation here is so bad, it's a wonder people ever get anywhere when they are driving. But, I've got to tell you, I am so impressed with the skills of the drivers. It's like they all have some mental connection so everybody knows where everybody else is at all times. There is so much weaving in and out, passing, and honking going on. But, everyone stops when they need to, and goes when they need to, and I've only seen one incident since I got here. This poor lady carrying a big basket of fish was hit by a car. I didn't actually see her get hit, but when we passed by her fish were scattered all over the road and she was clutching her back and having what looked like an unpleasant conversation with the driver. But, that's the only time I've seen anything like that happen. There is a pretty big campaign here to widen the main roads which is a good thing, but at the cost of a lot of beautiful trees in some places. I guess there's always a price for progress.
I think that's enough info to digest at once for now. ;-) I'll try to get some pics uploaded soon. I can't access the wifi with my phone here so it's taking a little longer. Soon though.
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