I was woken by the sound of explosions. It was still dark outside, the night had not yet given way to dawn. My first thought was that I was in a war zone. After a few moments, though, I remembered that I was in Kerala, in the south of India, so war seemed unlikely. Next my mind decided it must be some heavy construction work, perhaps blasting rock to make way for foundations. After a few more minutes, the mind started to question that – why would people be doing such work in the dark? Finally, the truth came, that the explosions were the sound of super-loud, ear-splitting firecrackers, heard from a distance of half a kilometre or more.
Later, walking along the road, I saw the cause. There was a ceremony happening at the local temple. And it seemed that part of the ritual involved deafening each celebrant with the sound of a violent explosion. Incredible India!, as the tourism slogan says.
What really amazes me about India is that this country, which is by far the noisiest on the planet, has also, more than anywhere else, been home to people who have explored the great silent spaces of deep consciousness. How existence likes to maintain a balance!
The lesson for me, though, is simple: Stay away from the temple!
