A Puja for Everything

This week's Pujas (or Pooja, however you prefer) are brought to you by the letter "F".  (Filth)

Siddharth once told me there is a Hindi saying, "for every 30 days in India, there are 31 Pujas (Prayer days/festivals)" And now that I am staying here for an extended time, I'm seeing this nuttiness for myself.  

But don't worry about forgetting one or not being prepared-- I see that on the internet you can buy a yearly Pooja Package!  Each month you will get a delivery of all you need.  So hit the button "Add to your Pooja Cart." I guess I shouldnt laugh but thats funny.

My Pooja Cart is Full

This weekend it was a Puja to Vishwakarman, the god of architects, machines, and all things that workmen use, tools, vehicles, etc. 

Vishwakarman, the divine architect of the Universe

So they decorate their cars or buses, bikes, they even put a bindi or red dot on a factory machine like a metal punch or drill, if that's what they operate, on this day.   Then you prayyyyy the day away that your mechanical item will work well for you and keep your job going without difficulty through the year.

Decorating anything mechanical for Vishwakarman Puja

Yesterday's Puja (I couldnt catch the goddess' name) it was all the women praying for their sons in the family.  For long life, health, safety, etc. and there were just hoardes of the most beautiful sparkly women making their way to temples-- but to be really holy, you have to have bare feet, so here are these ladies in their "best outfits" gorgeous, clean, beautiful bright saris on seemingly sensible women, and they have to walk through these garbage pig-filled streets with no shoes.

Shoeless beauties praying for their sons

I ask Abhiminyu my driver, "So when is the puja for the daughters?"  Response- snort and dismissive hand flip and amused chuckle.  There isn't one of course.