Post #21: Derek and Meagan's sojourn to India

DEREK AND MEAGHAN MADE IT TO INDIA -- SOMETHING WE DIDN'T THINK WOULD BE POSSIBLE. WHOOPEE!  

Before catching their breath in Delhi, they were off for a day trip to Agra

The Taj in all its splendor

HAPPY HOLI

Derek and Meaghan's arrival coincided with Holi, the very popular India festival of colors. Festivities start the night before with bonfires representing Shiva's incineration of the she-devil Holika.

Holika is about to go up in flames. Lots of neighbors contributed something to this display-- fuel, food offerings, flowers, colored string, candles, prayers, etc. 

The participants in this fun, joy filled festival shower each other with bright colors using dry or wet paints and water balloons. Holi is accompanied by significant libations laced with bhang (cannabis) and can be rowdy. We certainly got tagged a few times. A little unsettling.

The Holi holiday is a celebration of the arrival of spring as well as freedom from Holika. Holi is also known as  the festival of love, commemorating Lord Krishna's dalliance with multitudes of cowgirls. Colors and laughter everywhere.

Pretty wild.

Holi cow, too!

...and the Gods are often covered with colors on Holi. 

UDAIPUR

Wanting to squeeze as much as we could into D & M's short sojourn to India, we went for an overnight to Udaipur

4 flights up at a rooftop lunch stop

 Meaghan with her great eye outdid herself capturing everything and its details - 420 pictures in 2 days and Derek learned patience.

Palace detail

Our hotel on the lake.

The hotel looks out over the city and the palace

Dinner at our rooftop restaurant

DELHI

We did have some down time back in Delhi to visit a couple of the key sites, do some shopping, and eat Indian [of course!].

Jantar Mantar built in 1725, the site of huge astronomical instruments charting
the heavenly bodies (with Derek playing King of the castle)

Kotla, our local market place, the night before Holi

A portrayal of Gandhi and his wife in the museum at the site where he was killed

We had some discussion about the newspaper's matrimonial classified section (see below).  In India, arranged marriages remain very common and are coordinated primarily by the son's parents with perhaps more input from the potential brides and grooms than in the past. Can you imagine your Mom and Dad running a personals ad to try to introduce you to your potential future spouse? Thankfully, Derek and Meaghan found each other on their own, and we are so thrilled they did. They are really perfect for each other.

A whirlwind trip. We are thrilled. Both of our boys have now made it to India. We didn't think Derek and Meaghan would make it so soon after their time off for the wedding and honeymoon, but they pulled it off!   It means a lot to us to have them all here, and to share a bit of our India experience.