Due to extreme time zone deprevation, my body is in a constant state of confusion. Since our arrival here, I have fallen asleep at 5 pm only to awake at 2:30 to 3:30 a.m. ready to take on the day.... unfortunately, no one else is. So, I write.
Each day we spend with friends and relatives of our Indian hosts, we form closer ties with this expansive community. We have learned about Indian customs, where to shop and how to navigate this dynamic city and its environs. By far, the most intriguing experience has been the wedding itself, but more on that later.
On Thursday, we visited Mahatma Gandhi's ("Great Soul") final resting place - Raj Ghat - and further away, his museum. The museum followed his final steps before he was assassinated in 1948. All these sacred places are visited daily by streams of residents, students and foreigners. Americans do tend to stand out as was appreciated by our daughter when a student group of about 100 teenage boys whopped and hollared as she passed them by.
Gandhi is considered the "Father of the Indian nation" whose profound philosophy of non-violence and respect for all faiths and cultures had a powerful impact on India and their eventual wresting of independence from Great Britain in 1945. One cannot help but be in awe of the vision and courage of such a frail and unguarded man who changed the course of history that still reverberates today.
We also visited the Bahai' Temple, another of the many religions that has found a home in India. This Temple is in contrast India's historic Temples with its futuristic design. Its surrounding garden and marbeled structure is a place for anyone to enter and pray.
Wanting appropriate attire for the wedding, we entered a few stores suggested by our new Indian friends that had beautiful designs and styles which heightened our anticipation for the wedding event.
That evening, we attended the pre-wedding candle lighting ceremony at the Guruvayur Temple, the home of the three major Hindu deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Here Bravish and Madhavi lit candles and offered prayers along with family and friends for a strong and loving marriage as they begin their journey together.--Linda and Stan
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