Well, I have been back in Silvassa, India for 10 days now and it is time I start being more faithful about blogging. To be honest, I forget all about it since I live on Facebook!
Week One back in India has been filled with a variety of activities. The non-stop flight on Continental was SO much better than the last one we took which had us lay over in Paris and added untold hours to the trip. I arrived much happier :) We spent the night at the Sahara Star (love that place) in Mumbai. So great to see the hubby again. We went in search of a decent bookstore the next day before we left the city. Was hoping to find resources to begin learning Hindi. Couldn't find a decent one. They are all in South Mumbai and we stayed in North Mumbai since it is closer to the airport. We did find a very Americanized mall. It had several floors and lots of nice shops. They also had American prices! Have no idea how most people in Mumbai can afford to shop there but there seemed to be plenty of folks buying things. Goes to show how diverse the city's population is. Some of the world's poorest and richest living side by side.
Slept most of the 4 hours back to Silvassa. It was so nice to come "home" and see all the hotel employees that are our Indian family. They were all genuinely excited that I was back. Everyone wanted to know about the twins and college. So sweet.
I have had to get used to the Indian food all over again. You forget just how different (spicy, weird) it can be. Slept so much during the day during the past week. My schedule back in the U.S. was so crazy that I guess by body needed the rest.
When I arrived back in India the Navratri Festival was going on. It is a nine day festival in which they worship Durga, the goddess of power. They build elaborate shrines to this goddess and cover the streets with lights. It is very pretty. The women and girls where their best Indian dresses and jewlery and the men where traditional long shirts. They worship the goddess then dance most of the night. There are two different dances. One is called Garba and it has six basic steps that they repeat over and over in a huge circle. The other dance is the Daandia and they use sticks to tap together while dancing. It is all so much fun to watch. Even the little children dance and have a great time. They do this for 9 nights and the last night is an all-nighter. The next day they celebrate Dusshera. It is in honor of the god Rama and his defeat over the demon-king Ravana. They believe it was the battle of good over evil. They make Ravana idols, take them to the river and then blow them up with firecrackers. Hilarious! "Crackers" as they call them, were going off all over town that night. Next is Diwali, the "festival of lights", during the first week of November. It is a five day celebration that is equivalent in importance to our Christmas. The "festival season" is one party after another in India. Bob says that companies have a hard time getting people to come to work because of all the celebrations. During Diwali oil lamps are lit all over the city and in front of homes to "lead lord Rama home from exile." The people say it is quite beautiful. Hope to get some good pics.
I have enjoyed seeing all the beauty of these festivals but it is so hard to see all the rituals that the people go through in order to please their gods. It is all so futile. There is only One God and One Truth and that is Jesus Christ. So thankful for a Savior Who loves me unconditionally and doesn't require rituals or dances to stay in His good graces!! Please pray we can show the love of Jesus to these very sweet people in India.
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