On our round of historic temples, barefoot we entered the inner sanctum and a Brahmin priest told me there was a big "puja" (worship) there today. "When?" I asked. "Starting now". He showed me further in where two priests and one "customer" were seated on the floor cross-legged around a small statue. The preliminaries had begun and there was chanting, clanging of bells, incense sticks circled overhead, rice made into intricate patterns with powdered dye designs and dippers of oil, flowers , rice and food thrown on the statue. I can see why the Beatles and hippies were so transported with these doings. When I got up to leave, the priest told me to come back in 2 hours when things would "really get going."
In another temple shrine we saw a magnificent Nandi bull sculpture with testicles well polished by worshippers. Outback Annie will be disappointed I could not partake of his magical properties, as it was off limits to non-Hindus!
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When no messages came in for a couple days, I wondered if something was amiss. You tested travelers were smart to take along your meds for the inevitable gastrointestinal troubles. Shiny bull testicles and tiger viewing: Envy is creeping into my soul.
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