October is holiday central in India. Today is a holiday here; but not a 100% holiday. What I mean is that some people are working and some aren't. I guess a good equivalent would be Columbus day; about 1/2 the people have the day off. What is the holiday? Something to do with the god Ram killing some other god or something like that. I've studied the Hindu religion but there are lots of gods and it is difficult to keep them straight. There have already been three birthdays of various gods since I've been here, I wonder if people can choose which god is their #1. On one of the birthdays some people took the day off as a religious holiday; another day we just had incense burning in the office next to a statue of a god. When I saw that I definitely had a "wow, my life sure has changed" moment.
At the end of the month we have Diwali; whatever happened with Ram today causes him to be exiled and Diwali is his homecoming, it is the Indian equivalent of Christmas in terms of importance and gift giving. I guess October here is kind of like December back home in terms of holidays. You get a few days off; people are always here and there, taking lots of days off, it is difficult for me to think of October that way; usually it is the really busy productive month before the holidays. Not that I'm not busy, but there is a general air of festivity and relaxation around. So, happy holiday having something to do with Ram.
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