Early Wednesday morning we picked up my BFF Darcy from the airport. The car ride back was full of laughter and bliss, even though she had a pretty horrific experience getting here as she was rerouted and spent 5 hours waiting in Denver due to Lufthansa airlines being on strike snd then almost missed her connection in London. As the old axiom goes, it's the journey, not the destination. Talk about an opportunity to practice yoga, right?
Shortly after that we went to the beginning of our festivities where a puja for Ganesha was underway. It began with another incredible meal on a banana leaf. Each meal includes all the tastes. Apparently you are to begin with sweet to evoke digestion. I also discovered the sweet helps calm the spicy, that can be helpful after accidentally eating a chili. I can't help but realize the brilliance of the way food has been served to us. First, a totally biodegradable banana leaf is your plate, and you eat with your hands, so no washing of utensils are involved at all. The totally acceptable way to clean your hand is by licking your fingers, and then there is a huge communal sink with a dozen faucets where you wash your hands. It's all so efficient, social and Eco friendly. Oh and the food has been served to us by a group of Brahman priests. They have each dish in a big bucket, and walk down each table giving you a spoonful and then the next priest plops down another spoonful, etc. until your leaf has a complete meal on it. It all happens within a couple of minutes, so everyone is served pretty much together at the same time. Again, I marvel at the efficiency.
The Ganesha Puja is the first celebration as he removes the obstacles for the festivities about to take place. There's an arati ceremony of sorts in the temple which is followed by many hours of chanting, and offerings to Ganesha. Some of the items offered to him are flowers, ghee, and of course, prasad (which has been hand made by the priests). One of these rituals I have fallen in love with is when a whole coconut is placed on top of the fire. This coconut respresents the ego, the fire is the sadhana (the practice) and it is the fire (the practice) that destroys the ego but busting it open.
Another incredible lunch is served, and we eventually take a walk to shop. Although exhausted, we end up at a Saree store. We have a lot of fun trying on Sarees and taking pictures of each other. We all end up with not one, but two Sarees. They are an incredible deal, will be tailored to fit and we are all looking foward to picking them up in a couple of days.
Shortly after that we went to the beginning of our festivities where a puja for Ganesha was underway. It began with another incredible meal on a banana leaf. Each meal includes all the tastes. Apparently you are to begin with sweet to evoke digestion. I also discovered the sweet helps calm the spicy, that can be helpful after accidentally eating a chili. I can't help but realize the brilliance of the way food has been served to us. First, a totally biodegradable banana leaf is your plate, and you eat with your hands, so no washing of utensils are involved at all. The totally acceptable way to clean your hand is by licking your fingers, and then there is a huge communal sink with a dozen faucets where you wash your hands. It's all so efficient, social and Eco friendly. Oh and the food has been served to us by a group of Brahman priests. They have each dish in a big bucket, and walk down each table giving you a spoonful and then the next priest plops down another spoonful, etc. until your leaf has a complete meal on it. It all happens within a couple of minutes, so everyone is served pretty much together at the same time. Again, I marvel at the efficiency.
The Ganesha Puja is the first celebration as he removes the obstacles for the festivities about to take place. There's an arati ceremony of sorts in the temple which is followed by many hours of chanting, and offerings to Ganesha. Some of the items offered to him are flowers, ghee, and of course, prasad (which has been hand made by the priests). One of these rituals I have fallen in love with is when a whole coconut is placed on top of the fire. This coconut respresents the ego, the fire is the sadhana (the practice) and it is the fire (the practice) that destroys the ego but busting it open.
Another incredible lunch is served, and we eventually take a walk to shop. Although exhausted, we end up at a Saree store. We have a lot of fun trying on Sarees and taking pictures of each other. We all end up with not one, but two Sarees. They are an incredible deal, will be tailored to fit and we are all looking foward to picking them up in a couple of days.
You're not sorry you bought two Sarees? Do you recall every seeing yourself sorry in a Saree?
ReplyDeletehaha Jim. Very funny!
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