Religion.
Religion.
Religion.
Everpresent in India is the fervent worship of Hindu gods. We arrived on a festival day and saw the entire bustling populations of Delhi going to temple (which was blocked off for a square mile) and celebrating with Christmas lights and music throughout the city. The temples are feats of magnificent architecture and are beautiful. We have visited a Sikh temple, listened to them chant from their holy book after which we went to see volunteers at the Sikh temple preparing a free lunch for the 20,000 people they feed everyday.
At a Jain temple, we saw a bird hospital full of hurt pigeons and an animal ambulance for hurt animals that highlighted the Jain's belief in the sancity of all life.
There are 100 feet tall bright red statues of the monkey-faced king, and bright blue Krishna statues adorn many temple facades.
In a religious conversion center to a branch of Hinduism we were invited to meditate by looking at a white down with a diffraction pattern that was almost hypnotic at its center, and we have seen the birthplace of Buddhism, where Buddha gave his first sermon. Varanasi it the holiest religious city and even besides its crush of people and smells, the devotion of those who go to greet the rising sun with song, insense, lotus flowers for offerings, and bottles to keep the holy Ganges water for their return home to places far away from Varanasi, this city is full of spirit. For a religion that is very individualized, it certainly seems that the Hindu religion serves as a glue for the Indian people and defines its character (perhaps this is supported by the government office of the Festival Secretariat that we passed in Jaipur).
At a Jain temple, we saw a bird hospital full of hurt pigeons and an animal ambulance for hurt animals that highlighted the Jain's belief in the sancity of all life.
There are 100 feet tall bright red statues of the monkey-faced king, and bright blue Krishna statues adorn many temple facades.
In a religious conversion center to a branch of Hinduism we were invited to meditate by looking at a white down with a diffraction pattern that was almost hypnotic at its center, and we have seen the birthplace of Buddhism, where Buddha gave his first sermon. Varanasi it the holiest religious city and even besides its crush of people and smells, the devotion of those who go to greet the rising sun with song, insense, lotus flowers for offerings, and bottles to keep the holy Ganges water for their return home to places far away from Varanasi, this city is full of spirit. For a religion that is very individualized, it certainly seems that the Hindu religion serves as a glue for the Indian people and defines its character (perhaps this is supported by the government office of the Festival Secretariat that we passed in Jaipur).
For all of the outside trappings that bear witness to its burgeoning population, the soul of India is in its religious connection, and the respect that people from its various religious backgrounds have for the other religions that make up India.
(snake charming is an important ritual in Hinduism to be able to thank one specific god)
20,000 people fed each day, and a hospital for hurt animals! Impressive!
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