The second half of my trip continued with an attempt to attend Mass. Accompanied by two other women, we were driven through the neighboring bazaar, down a thin side alley, and through the blue gates of a boys’ boarding school and chapel. We were disappointed to learn we were given the wrong time for Mass and the priest we were scheduled to meet was on call in the city. The young boys and one of their care takers opened the hand painted chapel to let us sit inside in front of the Tabernacle for several minutes. Outside was a beautiful tiled garden of blue and gold leaf accents. At the end was a pristine statue of Our Lady holding the Child Jesus, both crowned in gold. We exited by driving through the dirt soccer field the boys were playing on; both parties seemed grateful for the unplanned encounter.
During the car ride from the chapel, one of the other women asked the driver to stop to tour a nearby temple under construction for Durga Puja, a major Hindu Festival. This ten-day celebration will be dedicated to the victory of the goddess Durga, portrayed as a woman with 10 arms, over the shape-shifting water buffalo demon Mahishasura. Durga is a devotional symbol of the triumph of good over evil. We passed beneath two ornate yellow and gold archways, and in the innermost platform sat a partially constructed clay idol of Durga and Mahishasura. Soon the idol will be painted, processed through the streets, and immersed into the local river. We ended our tour by walking behind the idol to the entrance of two concrete basement rooms. One was for preparing food inside of a large cauldron for the anticipated thousands of pilgrims, and the other was for dining.
From the temple, we returned to the bazaar we had initially driven through for shopping. It was a sudden thrust from spiritual contemplation into the hazardous traffic and deafening buzz of the markets. I brought gifts for the kids to bring home at a small clothing store. Outside of the complex we walked around as the sun began to set and quickly became engulfed in the sea of pedestrians, auto-rickshaws, and cars. Our only refuge from the attention we began to draw to ourselves was entering inside of a store with doors and following closely behind the faithful driver who walked us from store front to storefront. I was relieved to find shelter in the car returning us to the resort. We drove back through windy roads and returned in the darkness, eager to eat dinner.
My trip concluded with a final buffet breakfast and an early departure to the airport. We drove several long hours back the way we came and arrived to find the airport swarmed by local protesters. We made our way through security, sat for several more hours, and finally walked onto the tarmac to load onto another small plane. Behind me sat two young children who kicked the back of my seat and played a constant loop of wheels on the bus. Needless to say, I was excited to arrive home. I heard the happy pitter-patter of my daughter running to the door yelling, “It’s Mommy!” Early the next morning, I jumped back into the busy life of school drop-offs, nursing Max, and PTA meetings.
We celebrated Nani’s Feast Day on October 15, as we call my mom’s death anniversary, by taking time with each of our children to talk about my mom and to look at pictures and videos of her. Our daughter was happy to receive her new book. The next morning she led us in writing a book of her own for Nani.
This week we get to enjoy extra time at home during our preschooler’s Fall Break. I have stuffed the week with play groups, swimming, and dining out. Soon, Miles leaves for his solo trip to mountain climb. You get to look forward to his entry coming next!
