DELHI TWO

Pictures: Presentation of Prayer Book

Grand vestry (get building, Roy!)

Congregation at tea in cathedral garden

Cart of dyes for Holi festival

Tuc-tuc race - well, not really, just normal traffic

Had a really good day today. Early start to English service in the Cathedral - taxi actually found it first time as we now know it is near the Mughal Gardens. At 8.25am the 8.30 service looked thinly attended, but as with all the others the congregation grew in the first 10 minutes of so, and there was actually a congregation of around 300. The service was a mix of old and new, and was choral. The congregation seemed keener on the newer hymns than A & M! The second hymn was 'Great is Thy Faithfulness' and I thought of Joan Pritchard and the little point of a finger as she always said, 'All I have needed...' The sermon was very good indeed, and delivered with humour and reality.

Tea was served in the garden afterwards - again by the men - and we chatted with people, even one lady who, when told we were from Bangor Diocese, said 'Oh, in Wales!' First one, I think, that we've met.

We learned such a lot about CNI andDelhi Diocese. We spent ages there, including a long chat with the Senior Presbyter (Dean) who had marvellous English and was very interested in the way we do things. He was really taken by the idea of a bilingual prayer book and thought he would raise the idea! Must send him one to see. He also presented me with a CNI prayer book, which delighted me. One of things I love in their book is the absolution, which says ..'God who forgives those who forgive each other.....' As we've said before, travel broadens the liturgy! The Bishop was also at the service, but dashed off afterwards as he has just become a new grandfather.

The Cathedral has three languages, English, Hindi and Tamil, all with separate services - at least, for now! There are a lot of Tamils in Delhi, and the diocese supports a leper children's home in Tamil Nadu, having a grand annual fete which raises large amounts for the home. I've brought back details! As with all our other contacts, there was so much more than can go in a blog post.

Monday is a holiday called Holi. This is a Hindu festival - a bit new-moon-fertility-rite thing, slightly frowned on by some but popular everywhere. The main ritual is the chucking of coloured dyes on everyone. These dyes, in powder form, are sold from carts in the streets. It all promises to be very messy! Took tuc-tuc back to hotel- given up being scared in traffic now - and are still trying to contact the Delhi Brotherhood and children's project. Apparently Fr Ian Weatherall is in hospital, which explains contact problems, but we have had other numbers from the Dean. Here's hoping!