Coexistence - Day 3

Day 3 12/14/2012    6 am

Last night we were officially welcomed by the Franciscan brothers to their with a ceremony that included being anointed on the forehead with some orange and red paste called dilak and being given a garland of jasmine flower buds and a red rose. If only computers had the capability to retain and share scents.  We also received a coconut as a beverage.  Very refreshing.  The friars are great, very welcoming and caring.   

Fr. Damian

              Our garland of jasmine & rose

 Fr. Leo - he organized my trip in reference to who I see, transportation, etc. 

Eban - a priest-in-training; he makes sure our needs are taken care of at the Friary 

 Today's adventures were structured around the different faiths and their practices here in Kerala.  We started at the shrine at Azheekode, where St. Thomas (doubting Thomas) where his right arm bone is a relic.  I did not feel comfortable taking a picture of it as I walked by.  


 
Afterwards we did watch a 30 minute multimedia presentation of his life in India - quite interesting with a bit of bedazzlement added.  

We also went to the 2nd oldest Juma Mosque in the world, Cheraman Juma Masjid and went through its small museum.  The curator led some great discussions as well as Prof. Ali.  This was a special place for him because it was Friday and this mosque holds Friday prayer services. the mosque was originally a Buddhist temple and became a mosque around 620 ad.   










On our way to the elephant sanctuary we passed a Hindi temple.  A 3 months holiday is occurring so we saw lots of boys and men in black skirts, which are called lungi, one of the most popular clothing because of the air circulation.  The elephant sanctuary housed about 50 elephants, chained up.  It wasn't a sanctuary as we define the word.

Following that was a visit to another St. Thomas church - Palayoor. On our way through the streets we did see an elephant carrying tree debris to who knows where.  Our last destination was the Hindu temple Trissur in downtown Cochin. As is their rules, we were not able to go within but some pilgrims did.   

The Hindu Temple in Tissur

 

If I were to summarize the day, it was evident that the different religious groups integrate well because they respect each other and all value the role of education for all.  We spent a lot of time in the car but it was interesting to see how folks coexist.  As the guidebook stated, "tolerance is not the acceptance of differences as equally good, right, or valid.  it is the acknowledgement that differences must be endured for one's group to survive.  In fact, it is not tolerance that is the virtue, but coexistence" (pg. 56).  In hindsight, this experience of coexistence comes into play in the survival and success of Assisi Snehalaya, the HIV/AIDS Care Center we visited on the 15th & 16th.