Ganesha's Birthday Celebration

This weekend was the culmination of about ten days of celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesha, son of Shiva and Parvati, whose head was cut off as a child, and an elephant was walking by at the time, and, as the story goes, that's why he has the head of an elephant.

Although I had the opportunity to spend several hot hours visiting an Indian colleague's temple and traditional celebration at her mother's house, I passed it up and listened instead to the still small voice inside me. It was saying, "Spa."

I made my appointments at The Park Hotel, which I had on good authority was the place to go. This is the kind of place the Mumbai terrorists would target, opulent and filled with expatriates. The thought even crossed by mind riding over there how cool it would be if our driver's name was James rather than John. I could say things like, "The Park, James," and "Home, James."

The spa was nice, but the pedicure room was rather ordinary. They served me strong coffee and biscuits and scrubbed off a good pound of skin from my feet, trimmed, massaged, and painted. Just $10, ladies, the top of the line in all Chennai. The facial was quite a disappointment, however, even though the setting was perfect, soothing music, fragrances, running water, and dimmed lights. It was light on massage, no hand or neck massage at all, no steam or extraction, just a mask. So for $30, it was not up to par. Should have tried a massage instead. Still, I left feeling relaxed, pampered and thoroughly exfoliated.

On Saturday evening, we took a long walk on the beach searching for the cute little Italian restaurant both Widi and I had heard was nearby and right on the beach. We walked in both directions, asked several clueless passersby, and later gave up, went home and made macaroni and cheese.

There were fireworks that sounded like small bombs all Sunday afternoon, and in the evening Widi and I walked to our neighborhood temple to take in the Ganesha birthday celebrations. John could not be persuaded to join us. A group of women were chanting and drumming on a stage and loudspeakers were turned up to the top. People had made an elaborate Ganesha float and were lighting candles and praying around it. People came in and out of the temple, some with offerings. Along the road we saw people just praying at random spots. There were balloons and toys for kids and a general festive air. We took some photos and walked back home. The fireworks went on into the night. And I said a little prayer of my own to Lord Ganesha, the god of wisdom, prosperity, and good fortune. Truly he has smiled on us.