Afternoon with the girls (and boys)

This afternoon I had the girls over for lunch - lasagna to be precise. Mani was there of course, since the lunch was her idea, and also Veronica and Mandakini.... and at the last minute I found Mohini in the park and made her come too - with her adorable twin boys Muktah and Rahman. We spent the afternoon eating lasagna and Mani's yummy sweet rice, and laxing out on the balcony watching the boys slip and slide in the water. Fabulous way to spend a cool autumn afternoon.

Hati Procession

Hati procession has started WOOOHOO! It happens every Saturday night and runs from now until March and its so much fun! Hati means elephant in Bengali, so I'm sure you can figure out what the hati procession is. But there's more to it than just elephants parading down the street.

Basically there is a little deity form of Krsna who is dressed in beautiful clothes and lots of flower garlands, and he is put on a little seat and is carried on top of the larger of the two elephants that live here in Mayapur. Then, the two elephants (decorated and looking all flaaaash and stuff) walk one circuit around the temple complex amidst loud chanting and dancing - true Hare Krsna style. But wait, there's more. Everyone makes something at home - a batch of muffins, fudge, chapatis, something yummy, and they bring it out to hati procession. And THEN every so often, the elephants stop along the way in front of beautifully drawn rangoli patterns and anyone who has made yummies gets to take them up and offer them to Lord Krsna (which basically means the food gets blessed). After which we all huddle in the corner and gobble the yummies up!

Its a beautiful night, there's drums beating and lots of dancing and chanting, and flame torches and everyone is dressed up and theres yummy food and theres rangoli patterns drawn out of chalk and coloured powder and flower petals.. and... its just a fabulous night all round. Last night was no exception.

Photos by Mandakini

Veronica and me, matching outfits and all!

Another little someone wearing the same colour as me! (not planned!)
Note the stainless container Ishaan is holding - inside were the cupcakes we made.

Veronica, Mandakini, me and Ishaan

Rangoli

More Rangoli. The orange is orange marigold petals and the yellow is yellow marigold petals. Looks pretty near perfect doesn't it!

... Until Ishaan and Manda got into it that is! (Don't worry it was all messed up before they got to it. They had lots of fun messing it up even more though, as you can see!)

Ishaan showering flowers on himself

Back on facebook

Whew so I did it. A month with no facebook. This morning I logged in and was welcomed with 197 notifications, 7 friend requests and 18 messages. Not bad for 4 weeks off! I must admit I feel less inclined to comment and post and add photos on there, just so I don't get so many notifications all the time. At the same time though, I missed hearing about my firends antics, especially those on the other side of the world. New babies born, weddings, 24 hour kirtan photos, all the rest. No matter. I'm back people, and probably won't go on another facebook detox anytime soon.

So... time to change my profile picture perhaps?

9gag

Thanks Mandakini, thanks a lot. You got me hooked onto 9gag. If you haven't checked it out, you should. Its damn funny. I thought I'd make a gag of my own... ...

No Maid

Our maid Santana has been sick for three days and although I'm genuinely concerned that she is okay, THERE ARE DISHES AND WASHING THAT IS PILING UP AND MY BED HASN'T BEEN MADE IN THREE DAYS!

Geez someone's spoilt.

(Just kidding. I made my bed this morning.)