Friday, a road trip had been planned. It would be an early, early morning, but I knew it would be a great experience, so I consented. At 4:30am, we were ready to go. At 5:45am, the car finally arrived to pick us up. We were on Indian Standard time, for sure.
After picking up the rest of Vikki's family, the cars were filled, and we were on the road. In the three cars were Vikki, her husband, and 8 month old son, along with the baby's paternal grandparents, great-grandmother, uncles, great-aunts, nanny, Cathy, and I. It was quite a crowd. The destination? R-kesh, one of the towns along the sacred Ganga River. The purpose? The baby's Mundan ceremony.
Mundan is an important ceremony in Hindu communities. It is the tradition of shaving the hair of the baby boy, on an auspicious day in the 1st or 3rd year of the child's life, followed by offering the hair as a sacrifice to the sacred Ganga River. It is believed that this ritual will purify the child, that the shaving of the hair will rid the child of his past life's negativity, bestow long life, a better future, and protect the child from the evil eye.
After an almost 6 hour ride, we arrived in R-kesh. We rested and had tea at a resthouse and then made our trek to the Ganga for the ceremony to take place.
The grandfather took a dip in the Ganga and then held the baby and spoke blessings over him. After this, most everyone took a holy dip in the Ganga. They continually told us that they felt peace from doing so. Once the barber arrived, the baby's hair was shaved. The hair was collected and placed, along with money, between pieces of bread and then offered by the father to the Ganga. The family elders held large sums of mony over the baby and spoke blessings, to ensure him a properous life. The baby was wiped with water from the Ganga and was redressed in a fresh set of clothing.
After enjoying a traditional lunch with these sweet family members, we prepared for the long journey home. It was such a long day.
What an experience it was, to see first hand the darkness that is honored. My heart was saddened by the beliefs in the power of holy water and of religious ceremony.
The water was beautiful. The time was cherished. Relationships were deepened. The Father was there.
*Thank the Father for the opportunity to be part this family's special day.
*Ask that the Father would allow Vikki's family to find truth in him.
*Ask that the Father would continue to strengthen local relationships and use Cathy & I as his light, in such a dark place.
~Heather
A few points to consider about Indian road trips:
- There will be car trouble.
- There will be at least one flat tire.
- At least one person will get car sick.
- There will be more passengers in the vehicle than there are seats.
- There will be absolutely no potty stops, even if you ask, so, limit liquid intake.
- There will be countless speed bumps and pot holes, some of which the driver will slow down to pass over, others he will just pass over, so hold on tight.
- The return trip will take longer than it took to reach the destination.
*Pictures are in the following post.*
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