From Brahma to Buddha, Fall 2009

The girls with their group at Ajit Foundation. The Ajit Foundation is an education and youth empowerment NGO started by a retired economist who is also an advisor to the prime minister.

A local denizen of the Karni Mata Temple (aka the Rat Temple) in Bikaner. The rat is the vehicle of Karni Mata, and so is worshiped in this temple. Seeing a white rat is considered very auspicious.

Hannah in her sari outside of the beautifully carved Karni Mata Temple.

Sugar cane juice available outside of the temple

The students with a local Swami (Hindu holy man) at Ajit Foundation after a lecture on Hinduism and its role in Indian culture.

The guys...

And Hannah and Annie with their Halloween masks on the way to Delhi. That night the students walked around the Tibetan quarter of Delhi with their masks on, distributing free candy to the residents.

Raul looks out onto the Harmandir Sahib, or the Golden Temple, in Amritsar. The Harmandir Shaib is the holiest temple in the Sikh religion, and Amritsar, Punjab is the home of the Sikhs.

A young Sikh lights candles on the edge of the Sarovar (the large pool surrounding the Golden Temple--literally the pool of nectar) to celebrate the birthday of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, in 1469.

Nate and Raul with two new Sikh friends, discussing the outline and structure of Sikhism.

Emily, Annie, and Andrew wash dishes in the Langar (food hall) in exchange for free food. Service is a central component of Sikhism.

A young Sikh bathes in the Sarovar, in front of the Golden Temple. It is said that the waters of the Sarovar will heal any ailments.

The communal mess hall in the Langar. Thousands of people are fed here, 24 hours a day.

The group near the boder of India and Pakistan, after a side trip to the Waga border ceremony.

The Golden Temple at night