two festivals

in the past two weeks, there have been two significant festivals here. the first was durga puja ("puja" means festival). durga puja is a hindu festival that celebrates a multi-armed female deity who rides a lion and kills a demon. the celebration of durga puja lasts about a week. along with some other professors, i went to a hindu temple one night during the celebration. there was a priest performing rites before a statue of the goddess, and music and dancing.

last night was a buddhist festival of lanterns. there are large lanterns, each with a flame at the bottom. they are released into the sky, like mini hot air balloons. the festival took place in front of the main buddhist temple in chittagong. there was music and dancing in the streets.

as the festival continues, there are dozens of lanterns floating away into the night sky. as they rise up and are carried by the wind, they form a staggered series of lights, silently floating higher and higher, until they look like distant stars.

i shot video at both of these festivals, and i think the videos are better than the photos. they certainly gives a better sense of the atmosphere - the music and crowds and energy. but the internet here is so slow that i can't upload video. perhaps i can show some of you when i am back in the states.