"Adventures do occur, but not punctually."

As the great E.M. Forster wrote in his book A Passage to India (O HAI): "Adventures do occur, but not punctually." Adventures have continued to happen, but I haven't been very punctual in posting about them. I've had a great deal of school stuff going on as classes kick into gear (this week I had two papers on one day and a test and a presentation on another. The presentation got pushed back, but now I have another paper due on the same day).

This post is going to be all about the Ganpati festival, a ten-day-long celebration of Ganesh, who has been a fascination of mine for many, many years. You may recall that on our way to the village, we drove by a massive Ganesh statue wrapped in plastic being driven down the road. That statue was almost certainly being driven somewhere in order to celebrate this particular festival.

All around the city (and Maharastra in general) temples are hastily constructed during the season. Most are strictly temporary and are brought down after the festival ends. They are, however, absolutely beautiful.

This is one that was built right across from the program center at Fergusson College. A few of my classmates and I stayed to participate in prayers there.

From left to right that's Preston (one of our alumni advisors), Uttaraa (the program director) and Jeannie.

A swastika, for those of you who aren't aware, is actually a symbol that predates Nazi Germany by centuries. It's often seen in Hindu temples and holy places, as it is a holy symbol. (Notice that it's also positioned at a different angle than the swastika used by the Nazis.)

Me, obvs.
Now pictures from the Ganpati festival itself:

A carriage on Laxmi Road. Don't ask why, there just was.

Some oxen in the procession.

I apologize; I never did get close enough to get a good picture of the dancers. It's a shame, because they were really cool. You see those big orange flags in the center of the picture? The dancers were pumping them up and down in a dance that looked exactly like a Mummer's Strut. (I think everyone who reads this blog is from the Philly area, but for all of you philistines out there who do not know what a Mummer's strut is prepare to be educated. You can even learn how do it yourself!)

Drummers from the procession.

I'm kind of disappointed that we won't be here for Holi (a festival where everyone runs around through dyed powder at each other), but Ganpati had some of that going on too. I didn't get hit with any of it, though. (I had I had, but it turns out it was my BFF the sunburn. Whoops.)

Unfortunately, my camera ran out of batteries around this point, so I only got one picture of what was the awesomest moment of the festival: when my friends and I ended up on national TV. We ended up getting pulled into the procession among a huge group of dancers. We were behind this truck that had a dozen speakers on its back (no lie) blasting its way down Laxmi Road. The dancers pulled us deeper and deeper into the mob and started dancing with us. It was so much fun. I have no idea how long we were dancing, but yes, we were in fact, on Indian TV, which was showing the parade live. It was me, Kelli, Priyanka, Kate, Ruby, Chelsea, and (in one hilarious moment) my friend Chris, who was drawn by the Chris-equivalent-of-the-Bat-Symbol: the dj on the truck started playing Wakka Wakka, Chris's favorite song. (It's friggin' EVERYWHERE in India, you have no clue.)

So here's one very bad picture of Kate dancing. (Good dancing, bad picture.) I think that's Chelsea's arm, too.

And to top off this post, here's a picture of the end of the festival, down by the river: where the Ganesh statues are sent off into the water.

Next will be the long-awaited Goa post!