My flight to Dharmshala lands roughly, but safely. Yeah! Before talking about the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan presence, the main reason for my traveling to Dharamsala, I want to describe my initial impression of Westerners and Dharamsala, my two interesting conversations with Westerners, and a reminder that Westerners had made Dharamsala their own home. …

Continue reading 533. Traces of Westerners in Dharamshala

What does one do at night in Haridwar? Of course, go to the Har Ki Pauri Aarti sunset ceremony! So, along with hundreds of others, I move toward the Ganga riverbanks. A word about Haridwar. Haridwar is important for a number of reasons. Approximately 130 miles north of Delhi, Gwami (sp?) drives me from Delhi to Haridwar, …

Continue reading 532. A Night at the Ganga: Haridwar’s Aarti Ceremony

I'm like others. I want to see something new; I want to visit a place of distant, cultural memory. So, I include in this trip Haridwar and Rishikesh. In my reading, the "almost-Himalayan" town of Haridwar continually pops-up as one of India great pilgrimage sites. Sign me up for a visit, but not a pilgrimage. …

Continue reading 531. New Sites: Haridwar and Rishikesh

Delhi has numerous Hindu religious communities. After my 1990 conversation with Professor Raymond Williams, I become familiar with the modern Swaminarayan branch of Vaishnava Hinduism. While the headquarters is in Gujarat (western India), the Delhi Temple complex describes itself as “the largest Mandir in the world.” It might well be! I reach the complex easily …

Continue reading 530. Delhi’s Swaminarayan Mandir and Complex

Nizamudin Shrine Unlike my 1990 flight to Delhi, this flight in 2013 is uneventful. No falling luggage from overhead bins. No developing a chest cold which requires a doctor visiting my hotel room. Instead, a smooth flight. A nice welcome from Pravia my Delhi BnB host! Pravia offers me a welcome fruit juice, offers practical …

Continue reading 529. Glimpses of Delhi’s Religious Diversity

Year of India I'm very fortunate. Beginning around 2010, Reinhardt University begins to sponsor a "Year of ...." program. Each year, the faculty and staff arrange activities focused on a particular part of the world or a particular people of the world. When I volunteer to lead the 2014-2015 "Year of India," I ask to …

Continue reading 528. Preparing for Reinhardt’s University “Year of India”

Gateway to India We reached Bombay (Mumbai). The seminar is ended. Besides last meals and conversations together, we are asked to work on our individual projects. I take time to reflect on my experiences, then, and now years later. An image captures my experiences in and of India. My first impression of India is that …

Continue reading 526. What about India? Remembering My First Visit

When traveling, visitors watch the people of the land being visited; those host people notice those who are visiting. Westerners have had a growing fascination with India. The list is endless. Westerner Playing Sitar along Ganga During my lifetime, the Beatles resided in Rishikesh. George Harrison Poster While I didn't take his course, my DePauw …

Continue reading 525. Westerners Seeing India: Indians Seeing Westerners

I’ve met Hindus. I’ve met Muslims. I’ve met Christians. I haven’t met a Buddhist.  My experience is not unique. Weeks earlier, during our seminar's lectures, Professor Raman reminds us of Buddhism’s connections with India. Born in Lumbini (present day Nepal), Siddhartha Gautama lived his life in northern India during the 6th-5th BCE. Raised Hindu, Siddhartha …

Continue reading 524. Buddhist Traces

Who doesn’t know that there has been war between India and Muslim dominated Pakistan? Who doesn’t know that the Taj Mahal is built by a Muslim ruler? Who hasn’t heard of tensions in Ayodhya because Hindus believe that a Muslim mosque covers an original temple to Lord Ram? Unfortunately, for all that we learned about …

Continue reading 523. Muslims in India: Past and Present