Two Days...the weekend

This weekend has been great, we have had sometime to chill out during the day, photograph and dance in the evening.

Day 15 was the last day of Navratri, as per the last few nights, we donned our Indian clothes and jumped on the packed bus to Paldi for a night of laughter, dancing and socialising.

We arrived pretty early - the music had not started. So we grabbed a spot on the floor waiting for it to kick off.  The evening was the busiest we had seen it, so much so that the entire field soon became misty with dust as people danced. I had learnt the Diya Dance the night before, so when it came to it, I could join in. All was well until the final hour. The candles came out, and I was expected to dance with them in my hands. Now, this dance is rather different to usual, and I tend to spend the entire time focusing on what I am doing with my feet, having fire in my hands was an added worry – especially as the steps involve two rather fast spins.

After spilling hot wax on my hand and nearly setting a girl’s lovely long hair on fire, I gave up. I had made it the entire around the field, so did not feel too bad about ducking out. The field looked amazing, hundreds of people dancing in circles, lit only by the candles each person had balanced in their hands. It was quite a sight, but then most of India is.

Day 16 (Sunday).

Today we had the day to reflect upon our trip and experiences before the destroying of evil started. Hannah and I have been staying here on our own since Friday, as the boys have gone to the beach to party (Diu is not a dry area) and relax, Hannah and I have had a relaxing without going to the beach, watching a couple of movies and chatting to the students. We were waiting for the last day of festivities to start, so at 4pm we heard the distant sound of drumming, and knew it had started.

The large shine that had been built was being blessed and moved into the trailer of a tractor, all the participants were having the traditional red powder put on their heads (some people had it all over their face after a friend had caught them with a hand full!).

Hannah and I also got the red mark (I have forgotten what the powder is called!) whilst the first of the firecrackers started to blow. We all piled into the trailer and were off to find a river. The water is the route to the Gods, so they submerge their offerings into the water; all of the objects used in the Puja are immersed, including flowers, clay pots and posters.

It was an amazing sight, sunset in a river bed (which had pretty much dried up) and a pool of water, everyone chanting, drumming, and a mess of colours being thrown. After all of the objects had been left to sink in the water more firecrackers and fireworks started whilst everyone danced and sang.

Just as it became a little too dark to continue, everyone piled back into the trailer for another bumpy and interesting (clinging to the sides of the trailer in an attempt not to fall over the edge I was perched on was interesting to say the least!) ride to the campus.

There was a special dinner on, a Bengali feast. And my, was it a feast! Hannah and I feel so stuffed tonight! It is the most food we have eaten the entire trip! But it was delicious, the best food so far. A few of the girls told us that we were not allowed spoons for this meal, so it was fingers all the way!

It has been a great weekend, looking forward to processing the films we have taken this weekend and doing some more shooting!

Thanks to Hannah Hughes :)

Hannah Hughes again!

also - check out Hannah's blog:
www.hannahrosehughes.com

She took the photos of me and is also blogging about the trip!

C xxx