61. Report - Riots in the night

 

I'm tired this evening. A small temple offers to sleep there. A couple of boys are playing cricket in front. Since there is no man in sight, I ask the oldest boy if it is possible to sleep in front of the temple. But the boy, bold and self-confident, refuses my request: No, I can't sleep there! On the one hand, I'm surprised, but I feel that that wasn't the last word. - In the end, they let me sleep there. - Late in the night, however, screams from a woman ring in my ears: sometimes plaintive, sometimes reproachful, sometimes confused. In the early morning the screams get louder. On the way to urinate, I spot the woman. She appears to be very mentally disturbed and has spent the night outdoors. – It's the first time in India that I've experienced such a confused and abandoned person. Normally, I experience wonderful extended families in which everyone has their place.

 

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Another time I had arrived late at a remote temple. At first I can't ask anyone for permission, but later 2 security people come and give their consent. They themselves sleep there in front of the temple. Later, a group of men singing mantras can be heard from afar. They have all vessels for a ritual the next day at a famous pilgrimage site, but now they want to spend the night here as well. They lie down but don't sleep, instead some talk or fool around. The security people warn several times, but this only helps for a short time. Some even toss the vessels back and forth and have fun. – Well, like in my country, the pilgrims in India have different motivations.

 

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From Maharashtra it is no longer a problem to be allowed to sleep in temples. But it comes at a price. Very often after dinner men and women come into the temples and sing and play music and pray. The louder the better. Sometimes I was invited to join in and have accompanied some songs with cymbals. But most of the time I'm tired and want to sleep. – After a few times I got used to the loud music. It's good vibes. One morning I woke up feeling really blissful.