Today we did our own Pooja for the car and the boys bikes. Once again Mike thinks I'm crazy, but the boys were home from school for the public holiday and I thought they would love to see this celebration. They missed out when the new car was blessed, so I thought it would be good for them to experience. The process was much the same but done at home and with a little more care.
I gave Anthony 600 rupees ($10) in the morning and he bought the supplies - white pumpkin, red and yellow powder paint, banana leaves, flowers, bananas, coconut, betel leaves, puffed rice, incense, lemons and Indian sweets.
He was very excited that I asked for this to be done - I've never seem him smile so much!! He took Mike to work and then came back to 'set the scene'. This involved tying banana leaves and flowers to the cars and bikes, cutting a hole in the top of the pumpkin and red dye and a few rupee coins inside. Red and yellow paint is placed on the car windows, tires, doors, bike wheels, lights etc. and they are then parked with a lemon under each wheel.
The process takes quite some time to complete. Firstly the incense is lit and burns throughout the celebration. The coconut has infused wax placed on top and is set alight, Anthony then waved the coconut over the bikes and car, finishing with smashing it on the ground. He kept most of it to eat later.
Then the pumpkin is done much the same way but when it is smashed red dye flies everywhere!! It looks like there has been major bloodshed on our driveway!! The final step is for all vehicles to drive over the lemon to scare away bad spirits.
We then got to eat sweets, which I find disgusting..... (they are made of milk) and some spicy puffed rice (again not that appetising).
The smashed pumpkin is placed on either side of the front door for good luck and the debris is to remain for at least one day. We will do this ritual once a year on the car to ensure we have good luck. It is a bit odd that both Lydia and Anthony are christian so they don't really have to believe in this tradition but strangely they are scared not too. They love that we want to be a part of these special Indian events but sometimes we just think "another crazy day in India!!"
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| getting ready |
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| the bikes are 'adorned' |
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| the car has been washed, polished and decorated |
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| How fancy is Max's old bike ? |
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| Jack's new bike is ready to go |
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| a Rongoli at the front door - thanks to Lydia |
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| Paint on the Car windows |
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| Strategically placed lemons and paint on the tyres |
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| A white pumpkin with dye and rupees inside |
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| Anthony does his 'thing' |
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| Anthony moves around all the vehicles with the coconut |
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| The coconut blessing |
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| The coconut is left to burn out and then..... |
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| Smash !!!!! |
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The pumpkin has the same fate and is then left
at the side of the house for luck |
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Max eagerly waiting for Anthony to drive over
the lemons in the car |
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| The result !! |
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| The other offerings |
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