A HINDU FESTIVAL

Walking on the beach in the evening, I saw a small temple that had a festival atmosphere.

Around the temple there were vendors of flowers, bananas, sweets, and toys. There was also music and drum rolls.

Made curious, I walked to the small temple. There was a statue of a god inside.

“What is the name of this god?” I asked an old man who looked like a local.

“His name is Someshwar.” He answered.

“What does Someshwar mean?”

“It means ‘protector of the borders.’ All fishermen, whatever religion they have, worship him, because they go far away in the ocean. They believe that Someshwar protects them from the perils of the sea.”

“Behind the temple there is a tree. I saw somebody put offerings on it. Is it a sacred tree?” I asked.

“Not sacred.”

“So, why people put garlands of flowers, coconuts, and bananas on its trunk and light candles in front of it?”

“Nobody can see the real God. Anything can become God. If somebody worships a tree and puts offerings on it, other people will follow him and the tree will become holy. All religions are made by followers.” The old man said.

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
– Travels of the Mind
http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo