My gran found out that we had gone to that Vishnu Yagna (prayer) and she was upset that we did not eat there. Dining at a yagna is supposed to be very good luck. So guess what... we woke up early and went again! I objected and told my dad we really needed to pack our suitcases, and he insisted on having the spiritual excursion. We went with a neighbor. The auspicious ceremony was beautiful. The priests wore yellow robes. The family in the prayer was seated in a square around a fire. Each couple also had their own miniature fire. They sat on elaborate chairs. They were dressed up like royalty. It was the parents, their two kids and their wives from America, and other close family. The attendees, like me, were separated in groups of men and women. For a little while I sat with the women, and then I went to go sit with my dad. Yea, I broke so many rules in India... Oh well. So as the family is participating in the prayer around the fire, next to them is another square prayer area that women are walking around. These women are people who are attending the yagna. They would walk around and then stop to pray and then keep walking. I asked around to try to understand what this yagna was all about.. I could not get any straight answers. I asked the young and the old. I even asked my gran. This is when it hit me, even in India, my religion and its customs have become commercialized. The only thing that everyone knew was that the family had taken a vow to give up something (sort of like Lent). This yagna was to signify the completing of this major sacrifice. However, nobody could tell me what was given up, for how many years, and why they were doing this 3 day yagna, and feeding every attendee for lunch and dinner everyday. Everyone was moved. They knew they were being blessed for being the presence of these priests and this family. After eating the meal, I felt a little more spiritual myself? Maybe it was a placebo effect, but still, I was becoming as inquisitive about Hinduism as I was went I did my History class research projects in middle/high school. Let’s just say Hinduism is vastly different from what you learn and read about in books, and how it is practiced in its motherland. After the yagna we headed to Saroli to spend the night with my cousin and her husband and kids and in-laws. We had a great night. Although I got bit by so many mosquitos. I was itching everywhere. We watched Boodnath ( a hindi movie about a kid's imaginary friend ) with my nephew. I know I have only met my cousin once ten years ago, but her and her family was like we hadn’t skipped a day in our life as a family. We laughed and caught up on many memories. I am joyous over the strength of our relations through the distance and the time frame that has passed.