On Tuesday and Wednesday, Lynn and I enjoyed wonderful hospitality in Sainji village as the guests of Kunwar and Lori Chauhan--founders, facilitators and teachers of GEMS School. On Wednesday, they drove us by jeep to visit two other villages--Saurav and Kandi--on the opposite side of the Aglar River. Children come from both villages and board in Sainji so they can attend GEMS. Everywhere we went, we were welcomed warmly. It is clear that Kunwar and Lori are much appreciated for their work.
Here's a slideshow that shows just a little of the natural beauty, the amazing colors of Garhwali life, and the gracious hospitality we enjoyed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The impetus for our invitation to Sainji this week was the celebration of Garhwali Diwali. This occurs approximately one month after the Diwali that is celebrated in most other parts of India. Local traditions are uniquely colorful. For example, in villages with sufficient population, a special rope is created and used in a tug of war in which almost the entire village participates. The Diwali celebrations occurred after dark, so we were unable to get pictures.
I'm sharing one brief video clip that gives at least a taste of the Diwali celebration in Sainji. It shows a delightful Garhwali dance. The only musical accompaniment is from a couple of drums and the singing of the dancers. Notice how the men and the women sing in response to each other.
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