Fall ...

Postings to this blog seem to ebb and flow with my
moods. Recently, as fall approaches, my thoughts
turn to my old home in New England where I adored
October through January. Here, in Mumbai, the leaves
are starting to turn dusty brown, but this is due to
the absense of rain and the steady accumulation of
dust and grime from an overpopulated city.

However, in India this time of year is one of
festivals and celebrations just as it is back home.
Ganesh's visit to earth starts the trend and follows
on with Mount Mary's festival (Christian), then
Gandhi's birthday, then Parvati (Ganesh's mom) gets
her day, then Diwali to honor Laxmi, the goddess of

wealth. Sprinkled in between are muslim holidays
and in December is Christmas.

Our nights are punctuated by fireworks and firecrackers
exploding in the streets. Our drive home usually
entails slowing down to pass by a procession beating
drums, dancing, and holding a cart with some god or
goddess sitting beneath a cloud of marigolds. My driver
seems to always be fasting since these festivals
usually include a certain number of days during which
you are not allowed to eat meat or drink alcohol.

So as my family at home prepare for all that I love
about autumn, I'll watch the celebrations here and
think of how my own traditions may change when I return
as a result of our brief life here.

In the meantime, I hope my siblings cut some pumpkins,
dress as ghosts and witches, race through piles
of leaves, and wrap their coats a litle tighter around
themselves as they watch their words turn to steam
on crisp mornings.