Sikh Temple

As I promised, a feature on the Sikh Temple:

We walked into the temple and we were surrounded in chaos (what else is new). A man with a bright turquoise turban and the infamous bushy moustache picked us out of the crowd and said “shoes off, shoes off! Go to the visitors’ center (of course accompanied with funny intervening head nods)!” We shuffled along, embarrassed, thinking to ourselves:  are dressed modestly? Are we allowed inside the temple? Is there a separate section for women?

The visitors’ center provided a head bandana which is compulsory for the temple. It was in bright tangerine- there is always a way to fashionably conscious! ;)

We strolled around, admiring the large gold gilded domes and white marble columns and floors. Out of the blue (the white) another blue turban was walking towards us, by this point I was thinking to myself “ Ohhh shit, what did I do now? Did I contaminate the Holy Sweat, I mean Holy Water??” (Please refer to previous post).

No, everything was fine, we were fine, life was fine… the sun was shining, birds tweeting… (pheeeww that was a close one!), the nice man just came to us to take us on a spontaneous tour!

the temple pool

wade in the water

The principles and ethics of Sikhism and the temple were explained to us, the man’s (I’m terrible for 

forgetting his name!) explanation was very elaborate, embellished with poetic proverbs and detailed quotes. My criminally short memory will only allow me to share the simplified version of his explanation.

The main ethos of Sikhism is that man is as one, all humans are equal. This complies to all of humanity, disregarding your race, colour, social/economic status, background, religion.. Etc. This particular ethic of equality has been manifested throughout history, politics and philosophy- not only in Sikhism. However, I am amazed how well the Sikhs have translated this principle into a practical, most importantly- realistic form.

Chapatti machine

the "standard" size

Each Sikh Temple (and there are many!) has a public kitchen that caters fresh food (hot food!) to everyone! You could be a tourist, businessman, the president, a hobo and homeless and still enjoy a meal and drinking water 24/7. The kitchen is absolutely amazing! Hundreds of volunteers every day, come to peel potatoes, chop onions, make Chapatti (flat bread), stir curry, steam rice, serve food and most importantly clean up! People sit on the floor having there meal thin straight lines in a giant dining hall, everyone happily gobbling away. It’s quite a sight! What’s even more amazing is that the whole process from making to feeding to cleaning is very organic; there are no patrol people barking orders or manager dictating your every move, everything is very liberal and is purely administrated by the willpower of the people.

Some more interesting facts about Sikhism:

1. A child that is born into a Sikh family has the choice to adopt Sikhism, it is the parents and His/hers responsibility to expose himself/herself to other cultures and religions.

2. Sikh are allowed to marry non-Sikhs.

3. Men and Women are equal, in the temples there are no barriers of separation.

*note: these facts are facts that the guide told us, I have not acquired enough research or knowledge to determine if they’re only theoretical or also put into practice.

To sum up this amazing experience I’d like to note that I am not trying to impose Sikhism onto anybody (I am myself not Sikh), I am only reflecting what I saw and heard at the temple. Please be indifferent when reading the information that is given and if you are truly in doubt about the material presented I’d recommend going into deeper research (Google it, go to the library, resources are endless!)

Quotes from our wonderful guide:

“Minds have their boundaries, like closed pools. Closed pools are nearly always dirty, so let your mind be an open river.”

“I regard Sikhism less like a religion but more like a way of life.”

Enjoy your summer holiday,

Little Frames xxxxx

Holy Cow! Its Delhi!

Today is day 1 in India, technically its day 3 but in Blogger-time it’s day 1.

India is intense, intense with a capital I. I had just exited New Delhi international airport and was welcomed by a thick cloud of perspiration. Through the opening of the motor rickshaw (and through my fogged up glasses!), Delhi presented itself to me. Delhi was exactly the way I imagined it but 10x more intense! Seeing the reality of the city, seemed to amplify every aspect of what I expected. The city wasn’t just “populated” it was crowded, chaotic and in some parts nearing on bedlam! The streets were dotted with long draped saris in variegated colors, mango covered street stalls and rushing school children; all accompanied to a boisterous symphony of “honks” and “beeeeeeeeeps!

We first visited Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, a small Sikh temple near the centre of town. This temple of worship was built in 1783 ( yes I “wikipediaed” the temple) and is known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan. It is said that this guru blessed the sick during the smallpox and cholera epidemic with holy water (more like “holy sweat”, no pun intended :P ). – There will be a post up soon about this amazing temple!

After a few refreshing drinks (“few meaning five”, it was and still is so bloody hot!), we made our way to the nearby Connaught Place - the “Oxford St. of India”. The place and the pavement was covered in bookstores (score!), not only were they in English, they were cheap too! I was stocked up on sooo many books ( Lolita, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, God of Small Things , White Tiger , Freakonomics … etc.)! Any more suggestions? As for clothes… the place is desolate, unless you like to sport t-shirts with an Adidas logo (spelt A-D-A-I-D-A-s, with 5 striped instead of 3) or fake neon yellow crocs. :/

This pretty much sums up day one of Delhi, tomorrow I might post up day two (day four- real time), I hope all you readers are enjoying your summer vacation!

Little Frames xxxxxxxx

INDIA!

Yup I’m going to India. Technically it’s not my first visit for I recall a distant memory of a two year old me bursting into tears because of the big scary elephant that I involuntarily rode. This visit will be different; I’m not scared of elephants anymore (I think ..) and the purposes of the visit will not only be pleasure but also volunteer work.

When I told my friends that I was going to India I received varied reactions:

A)     “Uhuhh…. Well isn’t it like really dirty? Like, people eat there with their hands and you might get Aids and shit..”

B)      “ Can I come with you?! We could get totally high on Bhang Lassi and I could be your spiritual guide! (jk..)  “

C)    “ Wow that sounds amazing, India must really interesting! “

Taxi = Rickshaw

Bhang Lassi or for the unfamiliar: Yoghurt drink infused with Cannabis
DON'T MAKE THIS AT HOME!

I have to admit all three comments are fairly true, India is dirty and crowded,  the odd cow might cause a traffic jam Aaaaand yes- people do eat with their hands ( right for food- left for the toilet ), there are infectious diseases ( I have had 5 vaccinations and a travelling pharmacy to prove so! I’m so medical-term savvy that I could get into med school! Encephalitis, meningitis, MMR- mumps, measles and rubella…the list goes on). India is still abundant with your aging-hippies, neo-hippies, searchers and artisans but hey, diversity can be good for you!

The best advice I’ve heard about traveling India is to “work at India’s pace”, meaning travel and observe with an open mind and accept the culture the way it is. Arriving with a “Western” state of mind will only attract difficulties and nuisances. I think this piece of advice goes a long way; it can be applied to any situation where you are encountering something new, a new culture, new people. Be a proactive wallflower (ohh the irony.. )! Observe and interact without percolating what you encounter through your superficial and judgmental filters (trust me, everyone has a pair!).

Enjoy your summer!

Little Frames