Navaratri

Living with this Gujarati family since Thursday and I am having a total blast with them! The fourth grader is a little tough when he's tired or excited, but other than that everything's great. We get all dressed up in Cholis- traditional Gujurati Navarathri dress- to go to the Gujarati Samaj where we dance from 9 or ten to midnight. It's not very long, but it is SO much fun! I meet all my new friends there and they will show me or remind me of some new steps when the music is slow so I can keep up when the pace quickens. My favorite is when the music gets fast and the movements get crazier, harder and way more fun and it's fantastic when I am actually able to follow(rare)! Of course this is the first time I have danced, outside of a party or the Belly Up, so I have a lot to learn and only three more nights to do it. Fortunately, I have found a willing teacher who also happens to be very cute and my age. ;) He's one of the better dancers there for sure and I can see the pure joy in his face doing what he loves with all of his best friends and family.

Gujaratis are a fairly small population in Coimbatore, so everyone knows everyone and it's like a big family. Everyone is someone's brother, sister, cousin, or a combination of those, whether they are actually related or not. After the dancing is over we go into the concession area and try out some new form of a popsicle. My favorite is this thing called a Kulfi. From what I understand its basically frozen condensed milk on a stick, but wow is it good! They have all varieties including Litchi and pistachio flavors. A trademark sign of the Gujus are a kind of flavored shaved ice like you would get at any fair in the U.S. but they put it on a stick and put this spice called Masala on it. Masala is hard to explain, but tastes salty and spicy. Not particularly the most delicious thing to the American taste buds, but could be if I get some new Indian ones. I feel I have experienced an entirely new way of life during this past week and I am so grateful and happy that I did. I knew festivals like this existed in India, but I had no idea just how great they were until now. I feel like everyone is so welcoming and friendly- people I have never seen in my life come up to me and start a conversation or offer to help me with the dancing.

I guess in Gujarat or in bigger cities they have this celebration until 6 in the morning and then go out for coffee and sleep all day then do it again. That would be fun to experience! Maybe next time around I can do that one.