Welcome home to Visthar: Inauguration

These first few days in India have been packed with back-to-back activities. We’ve done everything from visiting Bangalore gardens and shopping for saris to exploring the jungle of the Visthar campus. And of course, let’s not forget the academic side of life where we’ve had many introductory lectures on the courses to come and what kind of lifestyle we will lead in the next few months. For example, it has been over a decade since I have taken a bucket shower, but I find it really relaxing and kind of fun to take one everyday now. I also have really taken a liking to eating with my bare hands and tossing the idea of utensils out the window. It definitely helps that the food is actually finger-licking good. These are the little things I didn’t expect when I first arrived, but I love every bit of it.

The best introductory, however, was our official welcoming ceremony to our new home for the semester. We waited out on a small field as the Visthar staff prepared the hall for the inauguration ceremony. All sixteen of us in the group were dressed in nice outfits whilst smoldering in the heat of the sun because of it. The wait was worth it though because the ceremony was honestly one of the most breath-taking experiences I’ve ever had.

Each of us was individually welcomed into the aala, a gazebo-like structure big enough to hold 50 people. After watching all my classmates get formally welcomed, I was just beaming when my turn finally came.  First, a woman held a platter of three candles surrounded by roses and made a circular dance around my face as I breathed in the light of life. The next woman marked my forehead with two tilakas, the forehead decoration worn in South Asia. One was the traditional red tilaka followed by a golden turmeric tilaka to symbolize the preservation of life. Finally, the last woman placed a gorgeous garland of luscious white flowers accented with red roses around my neck. From there I was handed a book bag with a personal journal and the schedule for the week to come. I officially was ready to study in India.

After we were all welcomed into the aala, we gathered in a circle around an absolutely beautiful mandala on the floor made completely of brightly colored flowers and powder. The shape of the giant tree of life in the middle was encased with rings of yellow and orange flowers. Surrounding the mandala were candles ready for the new students and the Visthar staff to light. It was almost a spiritual experience as we each lit our own candle and watched the flowers become ever vibrant.

The energy flowing in the air was one of excitement, one of gratitude, and ultimately one of community. We finally were settling into our home for the next 3 months and meeting the people who we will be befriending in our time here. As we stood in a circle among our Visthar, never looking away from the mandala, we took turns describing the feelings we had in the room at the moment as well as our hopes for the semester. Though many thoughts were shared, there was ultimately a general sense that although we may not know what to expect from our time in India, the courses of our lives will be affected indefinitely.

I will never forget looking into that mandala on the floor and feeling a sense of purpose. I am in India for a reason. And despite the fact that I haven’t the slightest clue of what career or careers I want, I know that what I learn on this trip and from the people I am here with will shape my thoughts and future aspirations.