UDAIPUR - Shivaratri celebrations

Shivarati is a Hindu Festival in praise of the cosmic victory dance of Lord Shiva. Nataraja
Devotees fast for the day and spend the whole night dancing and singing. It is also one of the few occasions when women are allowed to drink alcohol

We spent the day walking round the village, watching
 them decorating the temples and streets



We were invited to join this little village for supper - look at
 the Chipattis, they were about 70cm diameter!!

These young boys were busy chopping up onions for the women who were
 preparing the meal for the evening festivities.
Check the sunglasses for cutting onions!!!!

Shivaratri Evening

We spent the evening walking from temple to temple

Sweets given on entering temples

Miriam it was from this little temple they were playing Krishna Das

Shashi - our cooking teachers shrine - she had spent the afternoon
 painting her little place of worship a beautiful sky blue

Sprinkled with rose petals and garlands of marigolds, tuber rose, roses and Jasmine - Heaven

This was an evening of such joyous festivities - everyone was so happy, the kids
 were running around and the partying went long into the early hours

Nandi the cow - Shivas form of transport



Sweat meats given to us, were then offered the real Bhang Lassi -  cannabis, almonds, spices milk and sugar - and its legal!! and very powerful!!

Lord Shiva



Nina was allowed in this tiny temple with her camera - they were so chilled.
It really was teeny -  you could barely stand in it.