1/26 Republic Day

Besides being another reason to open my hair and get dressed up, today was Republic Day - a very important national holiday.  I had actually been looking forward to this day since I started watching (ok and obsessing over) Bollywood movies just a year ago.  Bhola had made all the arrangements (i.e. for the flag raising and prasad) and Siddarth was doing a pretty good job of letting him being the "mother hen" that he is;).  The students lined up, villagers sat on benches and the tribal men and women gathered around.  A young girl, with a little help, unfurled the flag and marigolds fell around her feet.  Siddarth gave a relatively short speech in Hindi that focused on how we are all family - how all of India is a family.  Then an elder from the village spoke about Independence and a tribal man spoke in Santali telling the children to study hard - he got a few good laughs.  We still aren't exactly sure what he said.  Siddarth had Dani, Tak and me hand out the awards to the three top students of every class.  Siddarth explained that these lamps were meant to help them with their homework (and that it would be their own responsibility to get new batteries;)).  Afterward, Radha and the carpenters served prasad.  This time it was a sweet and savory mix - almost as addictive as Saraswati Puja. Dani, Tak and I wandered around the crowd taking pictures and videos.  Kartik's Mother and Grandmother had come to meet Siddarth for the first time.  We absolutely fell in love with his Grandmother.  Tiny with very large thick black rimmed glasses and a beautiful sari, she was very patient with us as we took photos and Dani talked with her in Hindi.  It was actually quite warm in the afternoon and with all the mornings excitement I was pretty exhausted by dinner.