Greeting the Sun

Yesterday my colleague told me as she was running out the door to an evening meeting that something interesting was happening at the river. I had no idea what it was, but have learned that if someone remembers to tell me to see something happening here, it is always really worth seeing.

So I headed down to the bridge. There were thousands of people gathered in something that felt a mixture of ritual and circus atmosphere. In an outer circle marked by makeshift rope and colored flags swarmed masses of people, vendors selling balloons and sweets, an occasional firecracker that I assume was left over from the last festival, Tihar. Hindu chanting music was piped in over a loud speaker.

Closer in towards the river women were gathered surrounding huge circles of their puja objects: fruits, flowers, incense, candles, and sweets. Praying. Many had their best saris on and large gold jewelry: one-piece ornate strings that linked their nose, ear, and forehead. Their children and husbands stood near by, others walking by and occasionally throwing in rice, sweets towards the center of the circle/altar.

The more well off families were placed side-by-side, one after the other, under a brightly-colored, festive-looking material covering. But there were even more people who were doing their puja (ritual) at the river bank, some in the river.

After everyone started to pack up after dark, I was told to return in the morning. These families would also be returning, would re-set up their circles, and pray and wait until the sun rose. Some stayed all night, I believe.

I was told that the ceremony is in honor of the sun...to welcome and honor the sun at the time when the weather is decidedly getting cooler and it is getting dark earlier and earlier.

So I woke up a 5:30 am this morning and headed back to the river, took off my shoes and socks and got into the water, and also waited to greet the sun.



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