At the end of May, Ashok celebrated his 60th birthday, which is a milestone in Hinduism, with a traditional ceremony, followed by the renewal of wedding vows with his wife, Gomathi. The ceremonies were large celebrations with lots of family and all the traditional elements -- chanting in Sanskrit, pujas, fire, honoring ancestors, blessings family members and guests. There was plenty of food, too. The event was large and complicated, like most Indian family events, but I was struck by the simplicity of this scene -- Ashok and one of his friends in their veshtis, eating lunch on the deck at the back of the house, with the wilds of New Jersey in the background.
Comments