Festivals, Feasts and Friends - Tuesday 13th July

Today was a bit of a slow starter and we decided to keep that pace by have a pamper session. Mine involved a full body massage and a head massage to finish. I can conclude that head massages here are not very relaxing, as such, and really should have started with that. It was very nice though and a great way to start the day.

We then went on an adventure to see the Rathyatra, which was to celebrate the birthday of Lord Jagannath, one of many Gods here in India. On his birthday he is taken from his temple to that of his Aunt, where he stays for nine days and then the procession is repeated back to his temple.


It was an amazing site, so many people, as we drove into the town by car, we had to cross the path of the procession to park, and I was so happy that we were in a car, otherwise we would surely have been crushed by the amount of people. They had many ceremonious events going on at the same time, people were dancing, the priests were singing/reciting scriptures, playing musical instruments, hanging out flower blessings, V and I both got one. Babies and children were also being passed up into the float (where the statue was) and blessed by the priests. It was so bright and colourful and everyone was in high spirits.

That evening V decided I had not eaten enough meat this trip and was having withdrawal symptoms so she forced her friend C to cook chicken for me. It was my first experience of an Indian supermarket and I loved it. I hope that I can go back to one, there is so much different food to look at. The chicken was exquisite, it was in a garlic and basil sauce and great. C wants to go to culinary school and I think if he cooks like that he will succeed as a chef ☺We spent the rest of the evening just chilling out - the first kind of relaxing time since I got here - still not much sleep in sight though!