Indian Samurai इंडियन सामुराई

Last Monday was celebrated Janmashtami, Krishna’s birthday – Krishna being an avatar of Vishnu. I had a glimpse of this God in Majuli (see http://www.indiandacoit.com/archive/2011/05/02/majuli-isl...).

 

I was told that in “Maharashtra, people enact the god’s childhood attempts to steal butter and curd from earthen pots beyond his reach. A similar pot is suspended high above the ground and groups of young people [also called Govindas] form human pyramids to try and reach the pot and break it.”*

 

So obviously I had to see that…

My friend was not so comfortable bringing a white girl into Indian crowds and I was told to dress from head to toes. But I got to see it!!

We went to Lalbaug, in Parel, one of the best spots apparently. There, on a big ground, with a stage in the back, were three pots hanging and many pyramids coming up and down. All trying to break the pots and get a prize for it (up to 90,000 Rs – 1,200€)!!

 

It started raining but the enthusiasm was not showered away!!

 

I could not really understand how they break the pot because some teams could sometimes have done it but did not. Maybe they were just training? But I did see a pot getting broken!!

 

Another interesting tradition – which could have proven very dramatic for my camera recently saved from waters – is kids sending water bombs.

 

 

Govinda festival, Mumbai - Août 2011

 

 

*”Krishna made cowherdesses happy by the bliss of his cosmic dances and the soulful music of his flute. He stayed in Gokul, the legendary 'cow-village' in Northern India for 3 years and 4 months. As a child he was reputed to be very mischievous, stealing curd and butter and playing pranks with his girl friends or gopis.”

 

Source: http://hinduism.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/a/janmashthami.htm

I have started a list of the books I have read about India and/or by Indian authors... See on the right!

Wait for it ; wait for it.

(This is video is not about the Delhi traffic!!)

 

At this time of the year (Savan month), millions (about 3) of Shiva devotees will cross Delhi on their way back from Haridwar to their villages. They are carrying, bare-foot, on more than 400 kms sometimes, holy water from the Ganges to bring back to their temple.