The beginning of Durga Puga

Last night Patrick and I walked in the park during Iftar, and it was almost unrecognizable. The park was so empty that it actually looked bigger. Patrick and I managed to walk the entire length of the park and back, about a 20 minute walk, without having anyone try to talk to us or say weird things. Of course, Iftar is at sunset, so we could watch the sun setting on the river. Then Patrick and I went to a tea shop to meet some friends who were enjoying an Iftar meal. We had tea and the five of us rickshawed to Athero Bari, which has the biggest display of Hindu decoration in the city. On the way there we saw many strings of lights draped on buildings. When we arrived at Athero Bari, fabric banners reached into the sky for at least fifty feet. Of course, strings of lights were everywhere. A tall wooden structure had been built over the Hindu temple. The final touches were being done as Durga Puga started immediately after midnight on Monday morning. After we had looked around, we went to a nearby shop and bought some snacks and drinks for a visit to a friends house. We went to visit a girl who is a teacher at the Taize schools and lives in Athero Bari. This girl uses her very small teachers salary to support herself and her parents. They all live together in a room that is barely big enough for the double bed that it contained. The walls were covered with old newspapers and the floor was mud. The five of us sat on the bed, and were served cookies, muffins, snacks, soda, and tea. The room had some clothes, a tv, and cupboards with dishes. The girl is Hindu and probably won’t get married because they can’t afford the dowry of 40,000 to 50,000 taka required for marriage. After our visit we walked around in the surrounding area and looked at more lights and temples. We ended up in a section of the market that I have never been in before. Now I know where to buy dishes and mirrors and plastic.