Do kozmopolitného
mesta Hajderabád v štáte Telangana som pricestovala
v týždni príprav na sviatok Diwali (festival svetiel), ktorý v duchovnej
podstate znamená víťazstvo svetla
nad tmou, poznania nad nevedomosťou, dobra
nad zlom, a
nádeje nad zúfalstvom.
Päť-dňové oslavy sú spojené s
piatimi hinduistickými filozofiami a legendami – každý deň je venovaný konkrétnemu Bohu. Mená všetkých bohov
a bohýň si na-rozdiel od lokálnych ľudí nemáte šancu zapamätať –
v Indii je ich fakt priveľa.
I arrived to the cosmopolitan town Hyderabad in the state
of Telangana during the week of preparations for the Diwali – Festival of
lights. According to the spiritual nature it means the victory of light over
darkness; knowledge over ignorance;
good over evil and hope over despair. Five-day celebrations are associated with
five Hindu legends and philosophy – each day is dedicated to a particular God.
As a tourist I was not able to remember all the names of all these gods and
goddesses – there are really too many of them in India.
Soon or later you will learn how to eat spicy vegetarian
dishes, how to drink spicy tea with milk and how to practise yoga. If you want
to take home something interesting (not only a fridge magnet or Indian rupee with
the portrait of Father of Nation: Mahatma Gandhi) – you can try to buy a pearl
necklace or traditional clothing: sari. It is actually only a few meters long
piece of fabric which will nicely cover your body (with a help of ten metal
pins). A woman has to wear sari in a right way. Otherwise she would not be able
to spend entire day in it – working in the field, sitting on a motorcycle, going
for a toilet etc. If you do not know how to wrap yourself in shiny silk sari
you can still use that colorful fabric at home as a curtain or stylish endless
scarf. I bought a pack of 5 saris for my friends; 3 pearl necklaces for my
mother and sisters; and dozens glass and wooden bracelets (traditional Indian
bangles) for myself.
Do Indie som na jeseň odišla za štúdiom komunitného
rozvoja a výskumom rozvoja vidieka. Našťastie mi ale ostal aj nejaký čas na
výjazdy za turistickými atrakciami do okolitých regiónov (konkrétne do 3
z 29 štátov Indie). Ak chcete spoznať náturu lokálnych ľudí napríklad v Odishe,
absolvujte cestu vlakom. Buď dlhú cestu v ležadlových vozňoch (napríklad
z Hajderabádu do Brahmapuru) alebo kratšiu cestu vláčikom cez 52 tunelov
po údolí Araku. Pre mňa to bol nezabudnuteľný zážitok, počas ktorého sa najete
vegetariánskych samos, napijete koreneného čaju, kúpite si suveníry, vypočujete
si tradičnú muziku a pozorujete spolucestujúcich. V Bengálskom zálive
som dala povinnú jazdu na pláže, plus trojhodinovú plavbu loďkou po jazere
Chilka na ostrov, zasvätený bohyni Kálí, kam sa v čase cyklónov vlastne
ani nedá dostať. Musím uznať, že Indiu opis „incredible“ vystihuje dokonale.
I went to India to study community development and conduct
a research related to rural development. Fortunately, I had a chance to travel
around and go for few trips to the surrounding regions (I visited 3 out of 29
states of India). If you want to know the temper of local people (for example
in Odisha state) – take a train journey. Try a night journey in the sleeping
carriage (for example from Hyderabad to Brahmapur) or a shorter day-time
journey through 52 tunnels across the Araku Valley. It’s always an unforgettable experience! You can eat
vegetarian samosa, drink Irani chai, buy traditional souvenirs, listen to
traditional music and observe local co-travellers. In Bay of Bengal I explored
local beaches and also went for a three-hour boat trip on Chilka Lake to the
island – dedicated to the goddess Kali. At the time of bad weather
/ cyclones it is impossible to get there.
I must admit that a description "incredible" suits India
perfectly.
Text / Written by & Foto / Photo: Boba Markovic Baluchova
