The wonderful sense of humor among the residents of India is constantly being expressed. Much of the humor is dry and subdued, but it is always there. This is only one of the many surprises in this incredibly diverse and fascinating country.
A recent 16 day trip to India displayed many of the daily themes – and contradictions – of everyday life. Visions of India are a kaleidoscope of impressions. Imagine a tangled ball of fishing line. Now imagine that ball to really be 1.2 billion people, roughly one fourth of all the people on this planet.
Impressions begin with the knowledge that approximately 80% of all Indians are Hindu. That leaves enough left over to include 300 million Muslims, making India the second largest Muslim nation in the world (after Indonesia). Throw in every other known religion in the world, except Shintoism, and just the religious contradictions are staggering.
In order to keep this story reasonably concise, I will just summarize my itinerary and hint at the sights and sounds that I encountered. Suffice it to say that I could go on for hours in describing just what I learned on this trip. I cannot imagine a traveler of the world not experiencing this magnificent country – and everyone speaks English.
Khajaharo – a miniscule village by Indian standards (15,000 people). A true glimpse into small village life and a cultural shock. Animals of all varieties strolling the streets, dung as fuel, water from the local well. Also, this is the home of the Kama Sutra, with erotic carvings decorating 11th and 12th century temples of incredible beauty and design.
Varanasi – the most sacred of Indian cities. All Hindus must visit Varanasi at least once in their lives. Being cremated along the Ganges and having your ashes scattered in the river is a dream fervently prayed for among the Hindus. Weddings, consisting of 1000 or more individuals, lasting for a week at a time are frequent sights along the streets. Life and death are frequent motifs throughout the city – always tempered by the undercurrent of religious faith.
The other cities, Udaipur, Jaipur, Agra and Delhi, are sumptuous displays of daily travel experiences. The hotels are former palaces and, by themselves, are practically a justification for the trip. Temples, palaces, monuments and shrines are memories of distant eras. Even though all of the sites have been repeatedly pillaged, the remaining art work and craftsmanship are among the finest in the world. The wealth of maharajas can only be imagined.
Some of the finest experiences, however, come from breaking away from the group and exploring the streets and alleys of the towns and cities. Shopping for gems, silks and just wandering the streets is an experience to be treasured.
Yes, there is poverty. Yes, a difficult life is mostly accepted by individuals, and this acceptance of life is encouraged by Hinduism. I urge the individual traveler, however, not to focus on poverty but see life as a significant percentage of this planet see it. I can promise that you will return with memories that will stay with you for a long, long time – and this is what much of traveling is about.
