Pilgrimages, Pollution, Protoges and Perfection.

We went on a Pilgrimage to the Dongergard Temple. I think it was the first time I had ever been truly excited to go to a Hindu Temple (I had to include "Hindu" in that sentence because you all know how I feel about Wats!) Yes, I was very excited. In fact, when I was told I couldn't go because I was on my period, I got all emo and actually cried. You read that right, I cried. I cried because I couldn't go to the Dongergard Temple. There's one for the history books, eh? (I used to cry when mama bhatia would force me to go to the Temple on Sunday as a kid...isni't it ironic.) Anyway, the Temple was really pretty. Sitting on a hill, covered with lights and filled with thousands of Indian worshippers, this Temple has over 1000 steps (or an Indian cable car which was suprisingly sturdy, safe and efficient). Twice a year during Navratri, Hindu pilgrims come from all over Chhattisgargh and other nearby states by foot, walking sometimes over 100 km, barefoot and chanting hymns. Tents were set-up along the way by different community leaders and political parties (talk about buying votes, eh?). Hundreds of children, teens and adults were making their way to the Temple during Navratri and climbing to the top to give their praises to Durga. Quite a site. But even more impressive than the Temple, was probably the "vehicle" by which we went. My mentor's brother just purchased a new truck for his transportation business so obviously it had to blessed right away...so we all LITERALLY climbed into the front of the truck with the driver (who after insisting we stop for dinner and instead had a beer or two) at midnight and embarked on the 2-3 hour journey to the Temple. Sitting in the front of an Indian truck driving on an Indian highway (the highway connecting Mumbai and Kolkata) with a driver who has had a few drinks was probably one of the scariest experiences ever. We arrived at the Temple at 3:30 am, prayed to Durga and returned home at 9 am just in time for a day of work...but I went to sleep instead. My first all-nighter in Bhilai. What what!

The Bhilai Steel Plant (or BSP for those in the know) is the second biggest steel plant in all of India. It was built in the 60's (I think) with Russian Aid and is the single biggest employer of Bhilai. The entire industrial belt is full of subsidiaries dependent on the plant and of course families dependent on jobs. BSP is literally located about 1-2 km behind my Mentor's house...the house must be cleaned 2-3 times a day because of the dirt and the winters are never too cold because of the heat from the plant. If I don't die from the massive amounts of ghee in Indian food, then it'll surely be the pollution from BSP.

Moni and Babu- my two protoges. Ok, so maybe they are not the biggest brats EVER, but they are still pretty bratty and incredibly adorable. Moni, who often is called "Moti" because of her tummy, is obsessed with my iPod and speakers while Babu, who is given this nickname because he is the youngest in the family, won't stop turning on the headlamp, flashlight and digital camera. Ah, technology...bringing families together one battery at a time.

A pic of me on my scooty- perfection! With one minor collision already under my chunni, I still am not ready for the big kid highways...but the backroads, even though they take twice as long, are the perfect way to get from my new flat (as of 2 hours ago, woot woot!!!) to the office. And the second pic is of Kumari, the servant who cleans my Mentor's house. A typical Chhattisgarghian, with two noise rings, a tummy that hangs out of her printed sari and of course, a big heart.