At the temple

While I was at the temple the other day, watching the various ceremonies (waiting for the sanctuary to be opened after lunch), I was wondering what would be the reaction of several of my friends, if they were to be with me watching what I was observing. For some it would have been a great source of entertainment. Quite a few would have made some fun of it. There would be a sizeable number who'd watch the whole procedure for it certainly is a rare occasion. I also was observing Sai Ram, a Brahmin himself. He was all reverence and respect for everything. I guess, if Sai Ram were to get his friends to the Church one day, he would also find some similar reactions like those I had in mind.

Kids in the temple

An interesting observation Satyam (our driver) made while we were waiting for some of our group members to arrive and watching the inflow and outflow of people from the temple was the following.

Someone vows and someone else is tonsured! This was in the context of the numerous people who shaved their heads in the temple vicinity. More specifically, Satyam said this in the light of small children being completely tonsured. Certainly they have the least bit of knowledge as to for what they are loosing their hair lock. All that they know is that they went to the temple.

I tried my best to capture the scene but was unable to since we were caught up with the line and I could not go back. The scene here in the photo is that of a couple of families performing the pooja. Right at the end of the line, beside the parents who were busy and engrossed with the ritual, were two children who were the least interested in what was going on beside them. They were busy with their comics book!