Thursday January 22nd we had the chance to experience both the old and the new in India. We started off our day visiting two temples and ended our day shopping in the massive Commercial Street district.
The first Hindu temple we went to was home to the largest Nandi bull statue in the world. We got to visit the statue and see an old tradition in a new way. People would drive up to the area around the temple on two-wheelers (motorbikes) or four-wheelers (cars) to get their vehicles blessed by the temple workers. The blessing of new things before use is an old tradition that now, in a globalized India, includes motorized vehicles.
The second temple site was home to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). We were introduced to the initiative by a monk who stressed the importance of realizing that we are all human and therefore no matter oh nationally or religious background we should all treat each other with respect. For me this connected to the purpose of this trip which was to learn about India's culture and the people who live here. I've done a lot of compare and contrast over the last weeks but I've always tried not to judge and to keep an open mind about new experiences because there is not just one right way to do something. I think we have a lot to learn from other cultures if we remember to respect them for what they are.
We ended our day getting to bargain and explore on Commercial Street, an example of the great commercialization that India has seen in recent years. Rows upon rows of shops sell jewelry, clothes, scarves, and trinkets. Getting to experience the art of bargaining is something I know is exciting, yet dreaded for myself and many of my classmates. It creates much more of a connection between shopper and shopkeeper which I very much enjoy. But it also adds a lot of pressure compared to the traditional shopping experience in the U.S.
The first Hindu temple we went to was home to the largest Nandi bull statue in the world. We got to visit the statue and see an old tradition in a new way. People would drive up to the area around the temple on two-wheelers (motorbikes) or four-wheelers (cars) to get their vehicles blessed by the temple workers. The blessing of new things before use is an old tradition that now, in a globalized India, includes motorized vehicles.
The second temple site was home to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). We were introduced to the initiative by a monk who stressed the importance of realizing that we are all human and therefore no matter oh nationally or religious background we should all treat each other with respect. For me this connected to the purpose of this trip which was to learn about India's culture and the people who live here. I've done a lot of compare and contrast over the last weeks but I've always tried not to judge and to keep an open mind about new experiences because there is not just one right way to do something. I think we have a lot to learn from other cultures if we remember to respect them for what they are.
We ended our day getting to bargain and explore on Commercial Street, an example of the great commercialization that India has seen in recent years. Rows upon rows of shops sell jewelry, clothes, scarves, and trinkets. Getting to experience the art of bargaining is something I know is exciting, yet dreaded for myself and many of my classmates. It creates much more of a connection between shopper and shopkeeper which I very much enjoy. But it also adds a lot of pressure compared to the traditional shopping experience in the U.S.
