Lauren

Goodbye Goddess Durga

I was feeling pretty down during Dussehra, I cannot tell you why because I don’t know myself. The following day, I was feeling a little better but annoyed I had missed the Dussehra celebrations. Dussehra marks the end of Navratri, the Goddess Durga idols are immersed in the lakes and huge models of the demon Ravana are burnt. No use in being annoyed at one’s self for feeling depressed, it’s natural I guess. We cannot be happy 100% of the time, right? 

The day after Dussehra, we went out to eat and got stuck in traffic. The traffic was at a standstill because the Goddess Durga from the polystyrene temple (the same one I previously wrote about), was being taken to the lake to be immersed. My husband told me that some of the idols are immersed the following day, to avoid crowds (plus many of the Buddhist pilgrims, who are also celebrating during that day, use the lake for bathing).

Hooray, thank you for waiting for us Goddess Durga. There was a parade, drums, a brass band, dancing, women carrying weird chandeliers on their heads. We had arrived just on time and our car had got stuck in the crowd at the perfect place to see the parade! The atmosphere was electric, so many people wanting to catch a glimpse of the Goddess before she left us.

??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????How amazing to be in the perfect place at the perfect time! The parade helped lift my spirits! The grand polystyrene temple has now been dismantled, everyone is getting ready for Diwali, the festival of lights!

Oh, and I have some news… I am going to England for Christmas!!

26 comments

  2. London by any chance? Mj and I will be travelling to Poland but if there’s a chance – let’s meet!!!! Hope you feeling a little happier too :*

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  3. Glad to hear you’re feeling brighter. Are you going to England on your own for Christmas, or is your husband going with you?

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      • I imagine it will feel slightly strange for you to wear Western clothes again. Like revisiting a previous incarnation of yourself! (I assume it will be much too cold for saris in Bath at Christmas time.)
        Out of curiosity, if you were visiting England in July/August would you wear saris?

        ….Btw, I just want to say that I’m really enjoying following your blog more and more. I love the way that a little community of people, dotted around the globe, who care about you and feel supportive of you has grown around you on this site. ….I do hope that when you receive a comment such as the “cakewalk” accusation(!), it doesn’t have too much of an effect on how you are feeling. I felt a bit wounded for you, reading it at the time, and wondered what it must be like to receive posts like that, essentially accusing you of not being honest and presenting a fantasy version of your life. The tone was so hostile and aggressive. When you said, in a comment to me, that you had received negative feedback from several people, at the same time, saying the same thing (I don’t know if that was via email, because we didn’t see it in the postings, other than the cakewalk one), and then you told us your depression had returned, I couldn’t help wondering if the two were linked.

        Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and insights with us, Lauren. Not only are your posts intrinsically interesting for those of us who have an interest in India, I’m sure they provide solace and support for others in intercultural relationships who can relate to the challenges you face. Although I don’t know you personally, it’s such a pleasure to have come to know you via the Internet, and to follow your journey.

        Hugs,
        Nicola xxxx

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      • Thank you so much, Nicola!!

        I am sure it will! I might wear some salwaar suits too!! BUT I hear it will be so cold, I haven’t been cold in almost a year hahaha!! I cannot imagine what a shock to the system it will be! I would probably not wear sarees just because I couldn’t get them rolled in the U.K. (I don’t think anyway, well not where I live). I don’t fancy ironing all that material! Haha!

        Thank you so much for your kind words!! The two were not related, I felt it coming on way before that incident (and yes, there were other things but it wasn’t on my blog). People I have never met read that I am happy and assume I am lying, how does that work? I knew it was just jealousy so I didn’t take it too much to heart! She didn’t reply to my response so, I don’t know 🙂

        Thank you so much again Nicola!! I really appreciate it 😀
        I am excited to write about England soon too 😀

        Lots of love,
        Lauren xxx

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  4. i wish you all the best for your trip 🙂 xo
    im sure you’re going to squeeze your family so tight because you miss them !
    :’)
    love to you and your family
    btw : i just love alfonso ohmagosh, every time i look at a picture of him i want to scoop him up and cuddle him ^_^

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  5. Happy belated birthday to you 🙂
    I read somewhere that it was your birthday ! ^_^ ?
    May Lord Krishna fill your life with an abundance of love
    xoxo
    Haribol

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  6. So nice that you got to see the parade and festivities Lauren! Things have a way of playing out the way they should to cheer us up and for our good! Thank you for sharing all the colorful pictures too! I am so excited for you to go home to England and see your family. You deserve it and I know you will have a great time. God bless you always!

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