Three Moods of Light

Returning from India, I just had to stay overnight at a hotel. I did not care this time. I had had long layover and my mind was completely tired.  The flights and and connecting flights were delayed so many times, and so many times I had to alter the bus times that I finally just decided to stay at a hotel.   This was the view from the hotel window.  The hotel was at the airport, where I was to catch the morning bus.  

At wee hours of the morning, this is how it looked. The dark night with shinning stars and electric bulbs---had turned into dreamy blue, snow reflected the baby blue sky.  I was safe inside a warm hotel, while I knew it was 15 below outside.

And as I was ready to leave say late morning, as I looked out, solen skinner --the sun was shinning. Its obvious that there is a massive shadow, possibly from the tall building that I was in--the airport---but the day had come.  It was February, and days are much longer than November.  It is still cold, but nature smiles, and we know light always wins, dark is there only for a short time!! And yet, when we think of scandinavia, we think darkness....

Decided to take a later bus, since I had spent so much time and money on the hotel.  Also, staying at the hotel will allow me to prepare for the upcoming class, since I knew returning home always means much more work of unpacking etc. I had a class in two days. In hindsight, it was a great decision, since when I returned due to drop in temperature outside and accidentally kitchen floor heating being reduced to very low (yes my kitchen and entrance lobby floors are heated.  No luxury, we need them.)---the entire house had started to freeze.  The water in radiators had started to freeze.  So indoors it was about below 12, where as outside it was about below 18.  After one -two nights of extreme freezing--during which I turned the heat up, I knew I needed professional help. Karlstad Energi--folks came and after much tampering and checking left me with 4 industrial level heaters.  I was not very hopeful.  But after three days of constant heating the house started to warm up.  So grateful that neither did the pipes freeze nor did they rust.  Caught it all in time.   

And, the best part that one night in hotel meant so much more.  It was a good bed, and the morning was well spent in class preparation. 

Now, let us have a look back at the pictures---three moods???

Confusion, despondency and hope!!

A Library With Nature's Easel as the Background

Library in Mälmo, a city in the south of Sweden.  Do not want to add much to read here, the picture is to be absorbed. 

And a big hand for Sweden design which always takes nature into account!!

Every Meal is Prasad!

प्रसाद  (Prasad) means, food, after being offered to the Gods/deities has turned into a blessing!!  Here is a shot of a kitchen of a neighbour in Delhi.  Such kitchens are fast disappearing in India.  Today model kitchens where everything is kept behind doors are more prevalent.  Although even this kitchen has that section ---but contemporary kitchens have nothing but counter that is open for all to see.  Technically, not the smartest thing in a warm country.  

But as I took this picture, actually for a research project, I remembered that one story where once an American friend, and once Hungarian roomate had asked me 'how do you say grace in India?' --and I had no answer,  Although a male friend had suggested I say, 'toot pado' --meaning attack (the food)--the actual reason for not really having a grace is that traditionally, women never even tasted the food before it was offered to the Gods.  So, every meal was  prasad, a blessed meal---and in ancient times preparation of cooking was accompanied with prayers and chanting.  No event in life was not sacred. 

So, our Gods were in our kitchens and in our living rooms and in our bedrooms.  Always a support, always a presence who participated in our lives.

Even today, many join their hands before putting their first morsel in their mouth.

This kitchen was just such a reminder--of how in India the sacred and secular cannot be separated.