For the last month i have been doing my yoga teacher training in Mysore and have observed some really interesting aspects of Indian life which wanted to share with you all.
Loud 4 am happenings
My mornings generally began at 4:15am wake up - you can normally hear chanting coming from some random window throughout the neighbourhood - both Local and foreigners. I would leave my house by 5 to get to the shala by 5:15am on the way to the shala I would pass by groups of shadows on their way to the temples to pay their respect with a morning chant and prayer. Some mornings a procession would be roaming the streets of Gouklum with horns and drums chanting to some Deity of that particular day. Passer-byers would see cows on the street and stop to worship the cow, patting its head, and walking around it.
Cleaning ritual
Every morning the servants of Goklum are busy outside washing down the drive way and sweeping up leaves to make way for the days beautiful chalk drawing on the ground - each house has an amazing design in front of their drive way to ward off evil spirits. On the Indian New Years they went one notch higher by adding amazing bright colours with well wishes written in both Hindi and English, we didnt even realise it was the new year until 5am procession rolled through the neighbourhood playing loud music, every household was decorated beautifully with leaves, flowers, and chalkdrawings - people rushed around the neighbourhood exchanging gifts and giving out a mixture of indian sweets to bring in a sweet new year - it was like Halloween Indian style.
Rubbish collection - people power
Families from the local slums put on their green shirts and come to the richer suburbs like goklum to collect and sort through rubbish. Each household leaves their rubbish by the gate to be collected, the green shirt people then come and sort the piles into recyclable and non-recyclable - taking the recyclable to a collecting agent in exchange for some rupies - i hear the average wage is 45rps in one day - which is nothing - 1USD. People power is common in countries like India - where as in the west we would use machines to do manual labour task, here they use people - mixing cement, collecting rubbish, taking milk and curd from the local farms to the houses by bike, man standing on the road ironing clothing using an old fashion coal iron, washing machines - i dont think so...local ladies from the slums come and knock on your door "laundry mamm", there is no tuckshop truck but there is a lady who cooks curries and chapatis by the pot full and carries them on her head to the local construction site to feed the hungry workers.
Interesting noises of India
Often you will hear a saxophone like noise outside your window - be careful not to stick your head out and be caught looking or else you are obliged to give money to the man with the holly cow. These guys are so funny - two guys busted me taking photos and wouldnt leave my house for 10mins as they blasted their horns and laughed. These guys walk around the neighbourhood playing the tamil version of the saxophone with their beautifully decorated cows standing at peoples driveways until someone comes out and gives them money.
The holly men are the same, minus the horns, they stand at the driveways tapping their little chimes waiting for someone to give them some money.
The vegetable/fruit men with their trays on wheels full of vegetables singing a song - papayyyyyyyaaaaaaaa....
The dude who has 108 different household items jam packed on his bicycle singing a song about buckets....
Yogic behaviour
Some "yogis" (i say this coz thats how they like to refer to themselves - but very rearely do you actually meet a really yogi in the true sense) studying at the Pattabhi Jois Shala are a little strange - strange diets, cultish like behaviours - they wont say hi to you unless u have been studying at the Jois shala for years and are up to second series +, some walk around with a pole up there ass of course with perfect posture, they pay 600 Euros for one month of training where they are in a room jam packed with people, no adjustments and no personal attention - most love the prestige that comes with the label of "The main Shala".
Chanting, meditation, charity work, healthy eating, diet discussions, discussions on the sutras, discussions on the world, discussions discussions, everyone is discussing something or being silent within themselves, Mysore has created a great atmosphere to take a time out and do things you love to do. Apart from the two ass grabbing incidents I have really enjoyed my time here and have met some really beautiful people. Good bye Mysore.
