International Women's Day

Last Tuesday, as well as being Pancake Tuesday, was International Women's Day, the 100th of its kind in fact. Women's Day is not something I was aware of before, I'm not sure if that's because it's not widely celebrated at home, or maybe it's just that I wasn't working in development before. Anyway, it's a nice idea to celebrate us girls, especially in India where females definitely get the rubbish end of the stick.

To mark the day we had a little celebration at Amo Vidyalaya (my organisation's school for disabled children). A local telecom company Bharti Infratel had generously offered to donate some resources to the school. As the school is not Government-funded, the donations are well-needed and well-appreciated. We invited some of the female staff along to visit the school and have a joint celebration of Women's Day. 13 women came, along with myself and my workmate Jyoshna. They gave the kids and teachers their new supplies - maps, a globe, sports equipment and things, and the students did a little singing and dancing for us which was sweet.

the women giving the gifts to the students

the students - two deaf girls

I also got a chance to see the older vocational students at work. They have various disabilities, some are deaf, some blind and have all received vocational training to create products which are sold locally - carrier bags made from recycled newspaper, embroidered bedspreads, handbags, envelopes, cushion covers. I was quite inspired by this project and will do my best to promote it while I'm here.

busy at work

me and the group outside the school

And, not forgetting Pancake Tuesday, that evening I made myself some tasty pancakes with banana and maple syrup...all in all a fulfilling day.

The Night of Shiva

Yesterday was a holiday - Maha Shivaratri - an important date in the Hindu calendar for worshipping Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva

It was a lovely sunny day so a bunch of us went on a girly road trip to Puri, had lunch (pizza with real cheese, oh la la), went for a dip in the Bay of Bengal and a stroll around Puri. We came back in the early evening and swung by Lingaraj Temple, which is near my house, to witness the festivities. Lingaraj is a Shiva temple so the streets were packed with people on their way to worship. There was a huge queue outside the temple, but as non-Hindu's aren't allowed in, we just went to the viewing platform for a look. It was a really nice sight - the temple grounds were packed with people sitting and chatting by lighted candles. As part of the tradition, people fast for the full day then go the temple to offer their worship and prayer. There is a nightlong vigil, which goes on until the sun comes up! I didn't stick around that long, but just long enough to get a glimpse of the action, and to drink a green coconut.

Worshippers at Lingaraj Temple

Nice day, thanks Shiva.