wayfarer: puja: a religious ritual performed by hindus as an offering to various gods

last week we were invited to two pujas. one was at Manisha's (school administrator) house and one in front of the school that the teachers all decorated with a tent / shrine to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. the two were very different. the puja at Manisha's house was at night with two brahmin priests. the men were seated separately from the women, and the ceremony was to help bring positive energy for her husband's health (which isn't too good at the moment). the puja at the school was on the holiday to celebrate the goddess and it was set up on the lawn on a particularly beautiful morning. it had just rained the night before and there were lots of flowers.. i helped string all the marigolds that seemed to have appeared over night. a brahmin priest was also there and Vineet and Pushpendra (music teachers) were playing the keyboard and tabla (a famous northern indian drum). the person(s) leading the ceremony (host), Rajesh and Nisha, throw flowers and rice on everyone and place a dot on everyone's forehead with a red liquid mixture made from herbs. someone also goes around with red yarn and ties a piece on everyone's right wrist.. i am starting quite a collection. anyone who wants to make an offering the god goes up and moves a plate (full of fruit and flowers) in a circular motion a few times in front of the god's image. at the end of the ceremony, everyone sits around a fire, and while chanting along with the priest, throws spices and herbs in the fire together. we had a huge lunch on the grass afterward and just relaxed.. below are some pictures from the puja.

                         decoration at the puja at manisha's house. this is not what
                          it looks like... this is the swastika, but known here and in
                         eastern religions as a sign of peace and well-being.
                                so no dad, i haven't been abducted by nazis.