Religious explosions

Terrorism scares and bombings all over the world... Hearing about these events in Mumbai I notive that these things have similer impacts here as anywhere else, and the general sentiment is sadness and confusion. I am a bit shook up at the latest incidents in Sharm el Shaich, eighty innocent indiviuals, tourist from around the world and certainly Muslim deaths included in the final toll. How can groups protesting killing in one part of the world respond by violence and killing in another part of the world? I had visited Egypt twice in the last 2 years and grieve with the country today.

On other explosions- the 21st of this month, as I was moving into my new apartment in Mahim, listening to the BBC's report on the suspicious second bombing scare in London, I heard a series of smaller explosions outside my own apartment. These loud pops were accompanied by chanting and singing, and after a moment it was clear that the noise had simply been from firecrackers. I looked out my window to see where it all was coming from and realised that the celebration was actually going on right above my apartment! This explained all the flowers that had lined the entry-way and the beautiful intricate sand painting in the front hall...

speaking of my apartment, it is small and lovely, located only about 15 min from the JCC in Mumbai. My walks around the neighboorhood have proven to be very entertaining and eye-opening. On the way home from work I pass a shop where I could buy coca-cola and knorr soups, as well as idly dough, pringles, rice and pani puri; if I turn in one direction there are rows and rows of shacks lining u p the streets, as well as uniformed school children walking home with their mothers. Women walk barefoot in sarees in the muddy streets, balancing large packages on their head, and barbers work shaving men
on the sides of the roads.

Another thing I have noticed are the small alters located nearly everywhere,locked,with burning candles and incense inside. I've seen families of four all on one motorini scooter, and people jumping in, on, and off the busses in rush hour traffic complete with cows
meandering on the medians... I hope that people today have been saying prayers for comfort and peace in whatever language they speak, be it English, Hindi, Marahti, or Arabic.