Friday, March 29th, 2024
North Beach, Durban
The outdoor cooking had been already going on for a few hours before I papped to check out the scene with the unsung heroes. The moon was directly above and clouds appear to kiss that heavenly body. The smoke from those pots of seasoned biryani was rising, perhaps to kiss the moon so well. In preparation for serving the masses at the Ratha Yatra on its first day of the long weekend tireless volunteers, men and women, rough-it-up in the wee hours of the morning. It is before the 4.30 arati and the very common kadada birds haven't yet awaken.
There is call for rain but that doesn't stop those volunteer's conviction. The mood is "the show must go on." I greeted these people who are so much on the go and when you talk to them you find out this service is annual and it happens every day of the Easter weekend.
It termed out that the threatening rains held back. The biggest threat however, was that the 1.5 million, nands needed to make the show occur hasn't yet come in. Budgets have been cut. Money's tight. I was surprised the water in South Africa is rationed. The overall attitude toward governance of the nation is down.
In any event the Ratha Yatra (Chariot Fest) goes on and it makes people happy. Our drama crew performed this first for the weekend. They did splendid, by God's grace.
MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU!
3 Km