Diwali celebrated or how I became Hindu

Lakshmi - goddes of wealth

Yesterday was Diwali, a by almost all Indians celebrated holiday - also known as the festival of lights. So many houses were lit by christmas-like colored bulbs, and lots of fireworks lit all day & night long.

My neighbour's house entrance, decorated for Diwali

In the evening we went to my employer's home to celebrate if. Before we could eat & drink we had to perform a ritual knows as Lakshmi Puja. According to tradition people would put small oil lamps outside their homes on Diwali and hope Lakshmi will come to bless them. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped by those who wish to acquire or to preserve wealth. It is believed that Lakshmi goes only to those houses which are clean and where the people are hardworking. She does not visit the places which are unclean/dirty or where the people are lazy.

My appartment block, with decorated balconies

Outside the gate of the appartment block I live in

Entrance of a house lit with candles

As I was told when I left my flat, I should have left either the lights on or a window open, for then Lakshmi would also come and bless my home. Unfortunately, I did neither, so chances are this is going to be a bad year for me!

For this ritual we lit many candles and placed them around the house and in front of a small shrine where small statues of the goddess were placed. Then we all got a red dot on our forehead and a sort of lace tight around your right arm. All the time we were supposed to sing or chant a song, but here we had a laptop with the correct song playing during the ritual.

Fireworks!

After this ritual we sat, ate and drank and started lighting fireworks on the streets. No one lost any fingers or got burned. At least, not anyone I was with....

Me, a converted Hindu (with what's left of the red dot)

A little on Indian business... getting settled in & my house lizzard

Interesting day today and last night as well actually. Meeting clients over dinner and today during lunch. Trying to get my finger behind how they conduct business here. Of course, lots is similar to where ever, but in India they seem to be sometimes at a different pace. Everything has to happen "asap", best is yesterday, everybody promises the same, nothing gets done in time. Delays are notorious, we all know it is going to happen, still everything will be "finished" by tomorrow..... not.

Anyway, more about business some other time, when I can evaluate more.

Today was also the day I got myself a cleaning lady. For 1500 rupees (25 EUR), she'll clean the appartment, the bathrooms (separately charges as I told before) and do the dishes. I wanted her to come every other day during the week, but that was so odd for her, she just got confused. Then I tried every day but the weekend, but that also was difficult to explain. So I will just tell her the day before if it is necessary for the next day. Also, I was hoping to pick up some Hindi from her, but she seems to shy to talk to me... Maybe that'll change over time.

Got my shirts ironed for the incredible sum of 18 rupees (6 shirts, 25 cents).... Got a lot done today actually around the house, with the help of my employer of course and their people, who made my home a little more cosy and practical today. Cabinets, shower curtains etc.

Lovely!

Even the house lizzard seems to like it since he or she moved from the kitchen to the light above the television set, where I keep all my little flies & moths :). The lizzard is liking it.

Home is wherever I lay my hat?

Since internet is not installed at home yet, I grab the opportunity to do a little writing at work. Everybody needs a break, right?

So, I stayed a little longer in Holland, but as I wrote earlier, I am official now. My workpermit was given after handing in tons of documents, a translation of my degree, legalized, stamped & signed and for what? But it seems my degree in History of Russia & Eastern Europe is badly needed in India....

Monday evening the driver picked me up from the airport and dropped me at my new appartment. I had seen the flat before, empty and a bit diry. But now the walls were painted, most things cleaned and a complete inventory of furniture, kitchen appliances, towels etc. etc. was moved in. Yesterday the tv was installed, now I am waiting for the internet and the washing machine to be set-up.

Living room

The first morning I was woken by the doorbell at around 7 AM. They rang and rang and rang so I decided to get up and see who was this annoying person. It seems that people are aware a new tenant (and a Westerner for that!) moved in, so there was a guy wanting to clean the car, 2 ladies wanting to clean the house, another lady that wanted to clean the house, but I told them all to leave me for now.

My employers are obviously the ones helping me with all this and with negotiating a rate for the cleaning lady. We have not done that yet, that is why some of these ladies are coming by to get in first I guess and they have done that every morning now. And each time I tell them the same.

The cleaning-rates are divided into 2 parts. One for the appartment excluding the toilets and one for the toilets. For the 3 toilets they ask as much as for everything else. In total 2000 rupees (an approximate 35 EUR) per month for everyday cleaning was asked by one of the ladies.

Master bathroom with the "expensive" toilet

We are still looking though, 2000 rupees is too much I was told.

As for ironing (I do not like that part), there seems to be an Iron Man, no not the superhero, but a guy who irons your shirts. Hmmmmm, nice.

Some more pics of the appartment below, not all rooms are ready yet. The study and guestroom (feel free to visit!) are under "construction".

Kitchen

Master bedroom :)

View from balcony

And we're back...

It's been a while, I agree. It took quite some time for me to get my workpermit back in Holland. But I got it, so all official now. I even moved in to my new appartment. There were lizzards and enormous cockroaches to welcome me, I seem to have got rid of them by now...

No internet yet in my new flat, so just a short message for all you dear readers to see I am still alive. Plus some pictures of the exterior of the building I am living in. More will follow soon on the interior and of course on work & life in India....

1 of 4 towers of the appartment blocks + swimming pool

View from gallery on Gurgaon and fitness/swimming/tennis amenities :)

Guarded entrance