Sunday, January 16, 2011
Happy Pongal to You!
Yay! Yet another festival day in India! Pongal (harvest festival) happens every mid-January as winter is deemed officially over and the sun starts making its way north. Pongal lasts 4 days, and today was the day to celebrate and worship cattle. Animals and humans coexist side by side here...it's not uncommon to be walking along a path and see chickens or goats meander by. No one blinks an eye. You can see below that cows are especially honored by decorating them with flower wreaths and putting a bindi on their heads. We have 3 cows at the retreat who are well taken care of. Today their little barn was decorated as well as themselves! They looked a little embarrassed to me. India is big on decorating...cows, busses, cars, trucks...they are all named and covered in decals.Pongol is also a rice dish as well. Here's a link if you want to learn more about pongal... http://www.pongalfestival.org/pongal-festival-celebrating.html
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Hi Carol-
ReplyDeleteLove reading all of what is happening there and the pictures are great! I hope you are feeling better. You are a very strong person and I am sure you will survive the intensity.
Got about 16" of snow last Wed...sure could use a HWB...need get me one!! :) Take care- Sheri and the gang
Hi Carol,
ReplyDeleteThought you would like to know, no school today at SHS. We got pounded again with 14 inches of snow and now freezing rain. Thinking about the HWB.
Finals keep getting postponed. Four of your SHS students received NH Scholastic Art Awards. Can't wait to see your name next to Spaulding High in the program. Working with Tristan on the board and everyone is missing you, they were surprised that you taught at Spauldo.
Sounds like you're having the experience of a life time. Can't wait to hear about it in person. Surprise us at lunch, still 10:30, when you get back. Karen