rtw365

Jaipur 1

I landed in Delhi at 9am. By 5pm, I was in Jaipur, taking a shower and dressing
for the wedding that was to start at 5:30. I joined the groom's family to ready
him and to dance in the procession to the bride. The groom is blessed by a
priest and put into all kinds of crazy garb by his family, then he rides a
horse while a band plays and we dance in front of him. Lots of fireworks, etc.
Then everyone eats and most go home, because it isn't until after midnight that
they start four or five hours of more ritual!

The next night, my second in India, I had the priviledge of joining Hindus in
their celebration of Dussehra, a celebration of Rama's victory over the demon
king Ravana, a triumph of good over evil. It involved sitting through an
hours-long play in Hinidi, and the burning of a huge effigy filled with
fireworks. I guess that's my Burning Man this year. I seemed to be the only
white in the crowd, and I was very welcome. Everyone wanted to talk to me, to
say hi, to shake my hand, to ask if I was comfortable, how I was feeling, or to
point and smile and say "My God!"

Fun. Now I'm off to the next city...

posted by Dale L. Larson @ 11:15 PM