Ben East Books

Tag: Festivals

  • Navratri: Celebrating Good over Evil

    Navratri: Celebrating Good over Evil

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    by

    Ben East
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    Navratri celebrates the victory of good over evil. The Hindu goddess Durga defeats the demon Mahishasura during nine nights of epic war. Diwali begins 20 days later.

  • Lord Ganesh

    Lord Ganesh

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    by

    Ben East
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    Last week I wrote up the drums. The drums have been overtaken by Lord Ganesha himself. Today, his birthday, idols in his likeness march home through the streets. Ganesh was getting ready for months, built from the inside out by laborers and artisans, men who craft and carve by eye, trained through the bloodlines, directing…

  • The Elephants’ Thunder

    The Elephants’ Thunder

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    by

    Ben East
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    Every night I hear the drums. Out there, on the fairgrounds in the dark, the big drums throb and the high snares crackle. Two weeks from now Ganesh will march the streets, Gunpatti’s thunderous procession to the sea shaking the city’s windows and doors. Hordes will carry idols of the elephant deity in waves across…