I have been encouraged to write this blog by the interest my online "blogit" friends have shown in India....I hope all of you enjoy the posts, through which I will try to give you a glimpse of incredible and colorful India!
Nothing illustrates the diversity and richness of Indian culture more than the countless festivals, celebrated by everyone, regardless of one’s religion or beliefs…they are simply times of gaiety and color! So I'm taking advantage of the festival season to start!
The festival season began in India with Id on the 21st, and Dussehra will be celebrated on the 28th. Today is the ninth day of the Navaratri festival in many parts of India, specially the north. This culminates on the tenth day, or Dussehra.
In the southern state of Karnataka, it is "Ayudha Puja" today, when people worship the implements used to earn a livelihood: books, computers, equipment, etc. Vehicles have to be decorated with flowers and plantain leaves and branches.
The photographs will give you an idea of the festive mood in Bangalore (recently renamed Bengaluru) today..........
Flower sellers do brisk business on the pavements, selling flowers, fruit and plantain branches. (You can also marvel at travel, “economy mode”, Indian style!)
All vehicles, specially buses and cars are adorned, though decorations have been hit by prices of flowers doubling in the last few days, partly due to heavy rains.
Meanwhile, Bengalis (from the eastern state of West Bengal)celebrate Durga Puja in traditional style. The idol of the Goddess is flanked by her sons and daughters, and worshipped for four days, before being immersed in a river/pond on Dussehra day.
The festive spirit is tangible and infectious, and everyone is caught up in it today!
I hope you will enjoy this journey with me, and see how varied colors make up the beautiful whole that is India!
