Two New Yorkers spend six months 18 months!?! in Bangalore and other places in India.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Dasara

Today is Ayudh Puja, the 9th day of the major Hindu festival of Dasara. Here in the south, it's a day to honor Lord Vishvakarman, the god of artisans and others who make things. It's a day to get blessing for tools and other things that help you do your job. So, a few minutes ago, I saw a row of four cars in the courtyard next to the apartment building being blessed, with garlands on the hoods, ringing of bells and an oil lamp.

At Don's work, computers and other office equipment are all being blessed. Here in the apartment building, there will be a puja (blessing) at 11:00 at the entrance, and I'm trying to figure out if it's OK to bring my laptop down, or if it's just meant for the building as a whole.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Talking about Ayudha Puja...years ago when I bought my first car in Menlo Park, CA...I performed a watered-down version of Ayudha Puja. I placed 4 lemons under the four tyre of my Honda and was about to drive over them...when I heard a knock on my car window. "Ma'am you have lemons under your tires," pointed this elegantly clad lady. Without blinking an eyelid I politely explained, "Ma'am I am performing a little Hindu cermemony before I drive my new car around."

To this day I remember the lady's expression on her face :-)

kamla bhatt

Tripp Hall said...

Kamla -- Great story. I love the concerned lady -- I guess she thought you were the potential victim of some lemon prank?

Anonymous said...

Sorry for the delay in reverting back to you as they say in Bengalooru.

The aforementioned lady must have thought it was some kind of lemon prank I suspect.

BTW, great wine reviews there.

Cheers!

kamla