Catching up! The rest of New Delhi

 I have fallen so far behind. It will be difficult catch up. Once the group really kicks in it seems like there is very little time to sit down and just get this done. I am finally finding the time.

Since I last wrote I had three more days in New Delhi . The first stop we madeI have a Skikh Temple. God only was it a temple but it was also the food pantry. Hundreds of people came each day God only to pray for to get a hot meal. It was very interesting place. Every temple you go to you need to take your shoes off so that was the first thing we did. I’m always frayed that I’m going to come back and find my only pair of shoes gone. Then I look at the condition of them And realize that nobody would want them.
We enter the temple and there were at least 100 people worshipping.  There was a priest reading scripture into a microphone and people were leaving offerings for the gods. Some live food and somewhere flowers, marigolds. After this we went outside and there was a large  pool. They were separate parts for men and women and people were bathing in the pool. Many people bless them selves and wash their face and hands in the water in the pool.
From here we toured the kitchen where volunteers made bread and other types of food for people to eat  from here we toured the kitchen where volunteers made bread and other types of food for people to eat. It was quite an experience.

From here we toured some of the markets. We walked through the streets and I also took the opportunity to ride Pedi- cabs through the markets. This was a very in-your-face experience. As your photo on you became most part of the action is in the market. You were bumping into people and coming face-to-face with people in their stalls. Most people were friendly and smiling and of course trying to sell you something.  We stopped at the home of the family they had been pre-arranged. They invited us into their home and had tea for us. It was a Muslim household and they talked about life in India from a Muslim   perspective. There’s a great deal of prejudice against the Muslims as they eat beef and the Hindus tonight. What was especially interesting what is this man’s daughter had married a Hindu.  Both of these young people were highly educated and it’s very likely that the young women her self will run for political office in New Delhi. Although this can still create some big social problems it will not with both of their families. Although the groom’s family has not met the bride yet. It was a very interesting discussion and an excellent opportunity to learn. 

The next morning we stopped at a place where Gandhi have been cremated. Gandhi really was the founder of independent India and modern India. He was assassinated shortly after India gained its independence from the United Kingdom. The site where he was cremated has an eternal flame and it’s very peaceful. 

Our last stop in Delhi was the Massid Jaman, which means Jaman Mosque. It is this considered to be the largest mosque in India but our guide suggested it may not be.. It was a very busy place and there were many of the local people hanging around trying to beat the heat. It was very hot on this day in  New Delhi and I was glad to be moving on.