Weeks ending 8 July & 15 July 2018

We have had some fun Indian cultural experiences these past two weeks.  The first was attending a  traditional Indian Wedding on Friday, July 13 as the guests of our new friend Kamal Kumar, pictured below with part of his beautiful family.  Weddings are carefully planned to happen on auspicious days.  Apparently theirs are not the same as ours!

As you can see, the venue was sumptuous and there was plenty of great food--all vegetarian.

The groom arrived in a carriage like this, drawn by white horses and accompanied by a brass band.



All the clothing was beautiful, especially the groom's costume.  It was getting late and we left before the bride arrived. 

Saturday morning we had brothers Vinay and Dinay Singhe over for English class as usual.  They stayed and fixed chapati and dahl for us.  It was delicious.

Sunday evening we attended a fascinating Bharatantyam dance performance by Arupa Lahiry sponsored by the Culturally Active Delhites, an organization the Church has supported in the past.  It was held in the home of a dignified and gracious Hindu matron for a small audience.  

The dancing was beautiful, involving intricate hand gestures, facial expressions, and controlled movements.  My favorite piece depicted the mixture of tender mother-love and profound awe of Krishna’s foster mother Nanda as she considers the young god in her care—perhaps not unlike the emotions experienced by Mary the mother of Jesus. 

If I look a little rough, its because I sat on the floor for an hour and a half.

Wednesday, July 18 we traveled north and east of Old Delhi to visit Anthurani Franklin.  She is a grassroots Christian charity worker.  She moved up from the south several years and now she and her husband are Dalit activists – Dalit being the lowest caste here and traditionally extremely disadvantaged.  Her husband is an attorney who handles their cases before the Indian Supreme Court.

Anthurani uses one of the rooms of their small four-room apartment as a classroom for disadvantaged girls.  About 15 come each afternoon to be taught some basic skills that will provide them the opportunity to get better situations that pay more than menial housework.  These skills include sewing, basic beauty – hair and makeup and using a computer.  

LDS Charities has donated three sewing new machines (these are old ones), several pair of scissors and thread to support and encourage her good work.

Anthurani neither hides nor flouts her Christianity but just wants the girls to know that Christians are good people.  

Walking back from Anthurani's apartment with one of her students.



Sunday Elisa Pulido and two friends from the Jain Institute came to visit us to church and lunch.  We attended the Munirka Ward which meets right next door.  Afterwards we had a tuna salad nicoise which they were pretty excited about.   At the Jain Institute they bathe out of a bucket, eat strictly vegan meals and have limited AC.  We thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Elisa and meeting two new friends.