The question is to Puja, or not to Puja?

The morning started with an evil wake up hour, another crazy/windy/cold tuk tuk ride to the train station and the inevitable late train. Thankfully some chai helped to perk us up, unfortunately it didn't last long with one of the most uncomfortable and cold train rides yet. The small mercy was that it only last about 5-6 hours and then we arrived at the smelliest train station in the world - I swear to god it reaked of pee.

A short bus ride later and we were in Pushkar - a blissfully small town of 15,000 people which is situated on a lake and surronded by mountains (well, big hills really). Our hostel was just outside of the main town which is based on the sacred Pushkar Lake which is said to have been created by a lotus flower dropped by Brahma. Pushkar is also one of the only places in the world with a Brahma temple, hence it's main draw as a pilgramege site.

I think we were almost the only ones staying at the hostel, and the first thing we did was go to the rooftop and order some food - we were starving! They had these awesome sitting areas which had cushions and small tables and a lovely view of the hills in the distance. As Pushkar is a sacred town, there's definitely no alcohol, meat, eggs and not a lot of dairy either. That night the guys put on a Bollywood movie while we curled up under some heavy blankets and in our cusions to watch Lagaan which was based on a true story of the old British taxes which were payable back in the day and of course a cricket game insued to determine whether or not they pay the tax - did you get that leap?

The next day we went to wonder around the sacred town, and our main aim was to visit the temple and walk around the ghats on the lake, but we got a tad side-tracked with shopping! They had some great silver jewellery in Pushkar and we met a lovely fellow who exports to Melbourne! We wondered around the alleyways checking out all the colourful clothing which Rajasthan is famous for, and finally got to the temple in the afternoon. Gabrielle and I went in and this guy started talking to us to give us some info the temple and said he was a student and it was his job to do it. Afterwards he took us down to the lake where you could have the 'puja' ritual performed with a local 'priest'.

The guy who came down with us offered to do this, but Rach and I got the distinct feeling we were being taken for a ride. Plus, the ritual is meant to be spiritual and you basically communicate with God/gods and offer up thanks, love, praise and supplication which normally involves throwing some flowers in the lake and a water offering. Rach and I didn't feel comfortable doing this, so we stood a few steps back and kept on eye on Gabrielle and the 'student' as they performed the ritual while his mates stood up the top and watched us. It turned out they didn't want any money or anything at the end, but we just couldn't be sure and couldn't help but feel a tad cynical and uncomfortable being watched. I guess we should have been used to that by then - we are in India after all!!

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