This week India celebrated Chhath puja, a festival dedicated to the Sun god, Surya and Chathi Maiya. It's really for people from Bihar State, but as Biharis seem to have spread all over India, and certainly are in Delhi in abundance, it probably takes place all over India. One of my students told me that he and his family got up at 3 am on Wednesday this week and bathed, before walking to the temple, bearing very large and heavy bowls of fruit and vegetables as offerings. Then they headed to water for sunrise, to worship the Sun. As many celebrants as possible went to the River Yamuna, but I guess that the River is too far for my student's family. In fact there had been celebrations on Tuesday, but by 8 am on Wednesday the festival was over. We actually heard music and singing at about 5 am on Wednesday morning as well as, yes, you're right, fireworks. On Thursday, Heather was given a special Chhath biscuit by one of the children in her 'bus' class (it was yummy when dunked 'English style' in a hot cup of chai - I was also given a banana and stick of sugar cane!! My lucky day!!)
Looking back though, last Sunday morning we jumped on the Metro and an auto-rickshaw and went to church at Delhi Bible Fellowship. Afterwards we were invited to a birthday celebration with Shamilla (Jyoti Bannerjee's sister) and Randall, her husband, together with Prasoon and his American wife, Julianne (it was her birthday), as well as their two lovely, young children. We had a really enjoyable afternoon together, eating lots of tandoori chicken and other delicious food plus birthday cake (with forever lighting candles, which amazed the children) and sweets, and more sweets. Thanks Shamilla and Randall.
Heather will tell the story of going to a shop with Shamilla to buy (more) shawls before the birthday party. Wow! what a shop!! 3 floors of the most beautiful shawls I have ever seen. Each floor specializes in a different weight and texture of material. They definitely know how to DO shawls!! We only had a few minutes to buy the shawl Shamilla wanted but it was long enough for me to know that this is a place I need to return to when I have a few hours to spare and Ken has a long book with him!! (Thankfully, I spotted a chair where probably other husbands choose to sit and read and wait as their wives 'shop'!) Now I just have to work out how to get there again!
The rest of the week has been pretty routine, although we did have a trip to Asha's new and very smart office for the operational staff in Bhikaji Cama Place. It was lovely to see them all settled and catch up with them again. The offices are not far from Asha's HQ, but it's a little lonely (and much quieter) at HQ now they've gone!
It's now Friday at 21.29 and there's been a sudden outburst of fireworks. Not sure why. Maybe the last of the stock from the last few weeks? ( I really doubt its the last, next Thursday is Constitution Day so definitely an opportunity for more fireworks.)
I have booked an appointment for a hair cut this weekend - a bit of an adventure going somewhere completely new but going to give it a try - I might be avoiding photos for a while depending on the outcome! There again, perhaps a new shawl will make everything alright?! Hmm. I will need a cut soon and I know where I will be going. Sadab, are you ready?
Our flat seems to be a very attractive place to have babies - well, for pigeons - Heather has found more eggs and some more baby pigeons on two of our balconies. Where will it all end?
And it is definitely getting cooler. I say cooler, because to us it's noticeably cooler, but at 28 degrees during the day it's not cold, but our students feel it's cold. Lots of my young ones are wearing fleeces and woolly jumpers but the little ones we pass in the slum have barely nothing on - I am wondering how they survive the winter and cold evenings?
Today as we finished our teaching, outside our building two women were sitting with their great grand child - a beautiful site of caring, adoring love. They were so pleased I took a photo of them and loved seeing it too.
Walking back after our lessons this afternoon.
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