India

India

Friday, November 11, 2011

War Room in Pune

Service progress in India 

I know everyone was expecting my Diwali blog but I just had to put this one up first!  Dave's dream since arriving in India (other than having me here!  Oh and eating a great burger! HA!) has been to have one central service center.  That dream has been realized after a lot of very hard work!

It started off as a blank canvas.  A room that no one was using!  Nothing in it but great light from windows!!  Every one knows it is important for a service center to have lots of sun coming in because you are taking calls all day and most of them are customers that are not very happy!  That is where the sunshine comes in handy!!  : )  Can you believe this room was not being used??


War Room before renovations
 

War Room before renovations

















After lots of thought and meetings the carpenters finally start!  Remember now, all this furniture is being built from scratch! I don't mean buy at Ikea and put together, I mean totally from scratch!!!


War Room in progress


War Room in progress


War Room in progress

War Room in progress

War Room in progress

War Room in progress

















The room was completed in record time once every one was on board thanks to Samina!!  Samina, did you have a whip?  : )  Kidding!!!


Tada!!!!  War Room Completed!!!!

Dave in War Room finished

War Room finished


War Room finished


War Room finished

















First comes the ribbon cutting!!!


David cutting ribbon to War Room

Dorina, Tarannum and Tulsi at ribbon cutting



















Tulsi, Rakesh and Jyoti at ribbon cutting
Blessing of War Room
Now, the room needs to be blessed before any one can work in here.  In India, Ganesh, The Elephant God is always asked to bless a new adventure or business.  Ganesh is considered the God to remove obstacles!   The Pooja (Aarti) was beautiful!!  Dave, Haresh, Rakesh and Jyoti did a wonderful job!  Rakesh and Jyoti performed the ceremony for the Pooja and Dave and Haresh smashed the coconut and sprinkled the coconut water.

Tulsi getting Pooja ready




Haresh and Jyoti entering room for Pooja


Rakesh performing Pooja, putting Tilak on Ganesh

Offerings for Ganesh


Garland being placed on Ganesh by Jyoti



Sweets offered to Ganesh


Rakesh lighting oil for Pooja


Haresh asking for blessing on room


Dave breaking coconut


Rakesh sprinkling coconut water


Rakesh kissing floor, part of Pooja


Money offerings collected during Pooja


Stone used to crack coconuts


Staff clapping during Aarti ceremony


Staff clapping during Pooja ceremony


Incense being lit by Rakesh for Pooja





















Guys in office clapping during Pooja

















Every one had an opportunity to be part of the pooja.


Debbie performing Pooja


David being blessed by Rakesh with Tilak


Dorina performing Pooja


Samina blessing Tulsi


Samina blessing Nitin


Samina blessing Rakesh


Samina blessing Digambar



Samina blessing Tarannum


Samina blessing Haresh

 
Samina blessing Jyoti

 
Samina performing Pooja

















The picture of Ganesh that will hang in the office is beautiful!!!



Dave and Debbie at Pooja ceremony in War Room in Pune!


Debbie and David during Pooja in War Room

















Debbie and David in front of Ganesh
 




















Dave, I love you and am very proud of you!!

Quick Indian lesson on the difference between a Pooja and an Aarti.  I used the word Pooja in this blog because the terms are often used synonymously.
Aarti is the offering of ghee lamps, candles etc. to the deities (murtis or "idols"). Basically a rite of light.
Pooja is more general worship.
Often in mandirs (temples) there will be a priest on the alter offering ghee lamps in an Arati while the people chant mantras and sing. Both the priest and the congregation are "performing arati."
Pooja is always an individual performing ritual worship.

3 comments:

David said...

Wow that looks so awesome now! Great Job Abuelo!

Amy Yasneski said...

Congratulations David and team! Love this blog as always! I am so glad to be able to learn through your blogs and see what happens. I am appreciatieve of the clarification between Aarti and Pooja too. Such interesting traditions! Amy

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