Our househelper, a follower of Christ, told us of a walk she went on with her church last Sunday - Palm Sunday (Hindi - "Kajura Itvar"). It has been an annual event for many years in Central Delhi with many churches participating; this Sunday there were over 2,000 walking.The participants walked through various neighborhoods of Central Delhi from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, sang bajans, played instruments, prayed and listened to occasional talks by pastors and other leaders. Out of respect, as they walked in prayer, they walked without shoes. There were banners, one of which was the ten commandments, in Urdu, written in gold.
April and May are the peak months of the high summer heat in Delhi, so, as usual, it was a very hot day. Our helper told us the walkers were never without cold drinks, water or juice. Someone from the neighborhoods was always supplying them with drinks.
They were especially welcomed in the Sikh and Muslim neighborhoods, where they were greeted with handshakes, men hugged men, women hugged women, families offered drinks and food like rice, chole, samosas and ladoos. They were also greeted in the Sikh and Muslim neighborhoods with "malahs" or "phulo ka har" (i.e. garlands of flowers - a traditional honorific greeting). In the Muslim neighborhoods, the residents handed out pink roses.
It was a three hour walk but the people experienced refreshment and at the end enjoyed a short service at a church which included dinner for all.
