The Weavers
On my fourth visit, a young man named Mahesh took me around the village and showed me the process of making silk thread and weaving. He took me to his home and introduced me to his family who were busy spinning thread or weaving. Then he showed me his own loom and told me that he, too, was a weaver. Because I still can’t communicate in Hindi, I wasn’t sure if Mahesh thought I was a new tourist or if he had seen me there before!
Holiday
Back at the cooperative building, Rashmin-ji and Narandar-ji shortly arrived. Rashmin told me chutti (holiday) and Narandar explained that today was the Mahashivatri festival day. This is a day to pray to Lord Shiva, who was married to Parvati.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratri On this day the women fasted and the men danced in the evening. Narindar offered me some curd, fresh from his cow and with a little sugar added to it. As I ate it, he also explained that Renu-ji just had a new grandson born into her family. After spending some time chatting with them, I accompanied Narindar to Silao for some kadjha and chai before we rode the bus to Nalanda.
~~~~~~~~~~
Sari, Sujuni, and Democracy
I took a bicycle rickshaw to the Nalanda Gate. The NNM guard told me 10 (dus rupiya) when I got in the rickshaw but then the driver told me 20 (bis rupiya) when we got to the Gate. I just gave him the Rs. 10 that was in my hand and then got on the bus.
Sitting next to a woman on the bus, she tried to talk to me. I didn’t understand her, so I kept saying “Nepura.” As it turned out she also got off the bus at Nepura and so we walked together all the way into the village. I pointed to the cooperative building and tried to say "here" in Hindi!
I was greeted by Narander-ji who told me that a Nepura woman passed away 5 days ago. He explained the funerary custom to me.
Inside the building I gave him an extra computer bag I had and he was very grateful. Then I showed the women my sari that I had purchased in Nalanda several days ago. Rashmin asked if I was married, because married women wear the sari. But, Narinder said I could wear it for "special occasions." So I guess I will be the only "unmarried" woman wearing a sari in Nalanda on special occasions! Rashmin said she'd make the blouse and buy fabric for a petticoat. Manju said she'd hem the sari. Rashmin also said I paid too much for it!! I could have got it cheaper in Silao. Even so, they all thought the fabric was pretty and a "very Indian" color.
Narinder-ji was busy getting everyone to sign the letter for Maha Kassapa Park, starting with the women. I saw this letter the next day and it was full of signatures from men and women living in area in support of the park. The day after that the petition was taken to the District Magistrate and a new park is in the making. This was great to see this bit of democracy in action!
After that, I asked the women for some small piece of cotton and some thread because I wanted to try my hand at “Sujuni,” stitch work. They gave me two small pieces of “waste” fabric and I bought several different colors of embroidery floss from them. Then with Rashmin and Manju’s help, I transferred two pictures onto the waste fabric. They told me to be finished with the pieces by Sunday when I returned. I laughed and told them in my broken Hindi that I’d try one piece first and that I wouldn’t be finished by Sunday since I’m just a beginner!
Because I had my class to get to, Narindar gave me a ride to the bus stop on the back of his motorcycle. He waited with me until the bus arrived and made sure that once again I got the “Indian” fare back to Nalanda.
Everyone always makes me feel so welcome at Nepura!!!
On my fourth visit, a young man named Mahesh took me around the village and showed me the process of making silk thread and weaving. He took me to his home and introduced me to his family who were busy spinning thread or weaving. Then he showed me his own loom and told me that he, too, was a weaver. Because I still can’t communicate in Hindi, I wasn’t sure if Mahesh thought I was a new tourist or if he had seen me there before!
Holiday
Back at the cooperative building, Rashmin-ji and Narandar-ji shortly arrived. Rashmin told me chutti (holiday) and Narandar explained that today was the Mahashivatri festival day. This is a day to pray to Lord Shiva, who was married to Parvati.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratri On this day the women fasted and the men danced in the evening. Narindar offered me some curd, fresh from his cow and with a little sugar added to it. As I ate it, he also explained that Renu-ji just had a new grandson born into her family. After spending some time chatting with them, I accompanied Narindar to Silao for some kadjha and chai before we rode the bus to Nalanda.
~~~~~~~~~~
Sari, Sujuni, and Democracy
I took a bicycle rickshaw to the Nalanda Gate. The NNM guard told me 10 (dus rupiya) when I got in the rickshaw but then the driver told me 20 (bis rupiya) when we got to the Gate. I just gave him the Rs. 10 that was in my hand and then got on the bus.
Sitting next to a woman on the bus, she tried to talk to me. I didn’t understand her, so I kept saying “Nepura.” As it turned out she also got off the bus at Nepura and so we walked together all the way into the village. I pointed to the cooperative building and tried to say "here" in Hindi!
I was greeted by Narander-ji who told me that a Nepura woman passed away 5 days ago. He explained the funerary custom to me.
Inside the building I gave him an extra computer bag I had and he was very grateful. Then I showed the women my sari that I had purchased in Nalanda several days ago. Rashmin asked if I was married, because married women wear the sari. But, Narinder said I could wear it for "special occasions." So I guess I will be the only "unmarried" woman wearing a sari in Nalanda on special occasions! Rashmin said she'd make the blouse and buy fabric for a petticoat. Manju said she'd hem the sari. Rashmin also said I paid too much for it!! I could have got it cheaper in Silao. Even so, they all thought the fabric was pretty and a "very Indian" color.
Narinder-ji was busy getting everyone to sign the letter for Maha Kassapa Park, starting with the women. I saw this letter the next day and it was full of signatures from men and women living in area in support of the park. The day after that the petition was taken to the District Magistrate and a new park is in the making. This was great to see this bit of democracy in action!
After that, I asked the women for some small piece of cotton and some thread because I wanted to try my hand at “Sujuni,” stitch work. They gave me two small pieces of “waste” fabric and I bought several different colors of embroidery floss from them. Then with Rashmin and Manju’s help, I transferred two pictures onto the waste fabric. They told me to be finished with the pieces by Sunday when I returned. I laughed and told them in my broken Hindi that I’d try one piece first and that I wouldn’t be finished by Sunday since I’m just a beginner!
Because I had my class to get to, Narindar gave me a ride to the bus stop on the back of his motorcycle. He waited with me until the bus arrived and made sure that once again I got the “Indian” fare back to Nalanda.
Everyone always makes me feel so welcome at Nepura!!!
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