Hi there,
Really August ends today and we are in the romantic ‘Come September’ feel!
Surprising many Marathi visitors are around and they are so excited about the place! These include average middle class ladies of course very bulky finding it rather not a pleasant thing that is the walk?
But then that is what the heat does to our system in the plains as we tend to rest all during the day and go for a walk either in the morning or the evening.
I shared that Ladakh is a good place to walk and lose weight naturally as there is more dehydration due to altitude but this would take few days of practice and patient!
Now the farmers in the Indus valley are on the last leg of their agriculture work that is threshing of the wheat and barley harvest through machine harvester also of various vegetables and fruits.
Lots of watermelon, apples and apricots this is also the time when ‘Skangsol’(harvest ritual) is consecrated to thank the Buddha and Bodhisattvas for the bountiful harvest at the end of which ‘Tsogs’ (sweetened Tsampa or roasted barley flour dough along with fruits, juices and candies) are offered and shared with the neighborhood families.
This is consecrated by few invited monks from one’s (family’s) patron monastery and the ceremony take place for a day. Several rounds of food preparation is offered to the Venerable monks the families too enjoy the day.
In the old times special sausages would be prepared and offered to the ritual performing venerable monks. Now over the last two decades this practice has come to an end due to public turning to vegetarianism also getting more awareness of the Buddha percepts.
Especially among the younger generation who are very qualified also adapting new social norms, interesting times.
It is also very curious that there is less cases of Covid infected individuals the figures are really low. But the administration is fully alert lest something ‘scary may come out that is the third wave?
However, good news is that all necessary Covid protocols are followed with the media ad stating ‘Don’t lower your guards’ and follow the three basic rules ‘wear the mask, wash your hand and maintain the social distance’.
Lastly, the schools for the senior children too got opened for the last few weeks which was a respite for both the children and the schools. Only the younger children are still under lockdown norms which is rather sad? hope soon they would be seen going to their schools too! Bye for now.