US Dairy (02-Oct-2023 -continued)

 

The rising sun was peeping through the window under the veil of the curtain blinds when I rose up from the bed. I walked to the window and stood there for some time gazing at the beautiful sight. At a distance, among the high-rise buildings, stood towering the Washington monument and the Capitol building majestically. A plane was flying over them, climbing height as if it was in a hurry to reach the sun. Within a few minutes, another one followed. After some time, I left for the washroom, took bath, and dressed up. Sree and Preetha also got ready. Following breakfast, we waited for Saju and family who had promised to reach us around10.30 AM and fetch us to attend the festival. We checked out and waited for them in the hotel lobby at the ground level. When they came, we decided to take some photos and were getting ready. A gentleman came forward to help us. He offered to click the photos for us. A stout one, more than six feet, wearing a hat, dressed up in half trousers and tee shirt. He started talking with appreciation to Sree that he is so happy to see them caring and helping me walk around, clutching my hand all the time. He said he has seven grandchildren living in different parts of America. They visit him frequently. Patting his elbow, he said that goosebumps were erupting while he was thinking of them. On knowing Sree's and Saju's relationship and as both of them live in the US, he went to the extent of predicting to Sree that Saju is the retirement asset for Sree. Someone from the back warned us that he likes to talk and won't stop talking. We were in a hurry to leave for attending the function. After taking a selfie with him, we thanked him and left bidding goodbye to the helpful gentleman.  When we reached the World Cultural Festival location, we found that the roads leading to the venue were blocked to control the traffic around. On our onward journey to Washington DC, we had read warning boards on roadsides about the rush to the festival and to take the metro. Anyway, we had to step down from the cars and had to walk in the terrific heat of the sun for at least 20 minutes to reach the venue. There was heavy security all around. Many staff were there to guide and control the crowd. It is a huge ground (Washington Mall) which can hold several lakhs of people at a time. The sun shone and glowed very hot by the time we reached the venue. Though Saju had reserved chairs for us, we did not sit in those chairs as it was very hot by then. We found almost all chairs vacant and lots of people sitting on the lawns around the stadium and watching the shows. Saju brought two chairs to the lawn, and we sat there, and children sat on the lawn. We could watch the event from there on big screens. Dances, music and bhajans from more than 173 countries performed by more than 40,000 artists were there to see in the last three days. I understand that there was an audience of about seven lakhs' people. Dignitaries including India's honorable Ex. president Sri. Ram Nath Kovind, India's honorable present minister for external affairs (previous foreign secretary) Dr. S. Jaisankar, previous UN secretary general, honorable Mr. Ban Ki-Moon and many others gave speeches. Frequently, Gurudev appeared on the screen and reminded everyone that we all belong to one global family (vasudhyva kudumbakam). He spoke in a calm and soft voice, with an enchanting smile, and radiant eyes as usual. He was on the stage throughout. It was the last day of festival, and the floating crowd of people were moving around and many leaving before the valedictory session. The festival lasted till 1.30 PM. We left the stadium a bit early. To reach, the car we need to walk quite a distance which was hectic for me. Preetha made me wear a cap to give protection from the hot sun. We bid goodbye to Saju, Aathira and her parents from there and went back to the hotel where Sree had parked his car. We then drove to a friend's house who had invited us for lunch and reached there by 2.40 PM.  I meet the couple for the first time. It was a pleasant surprise to me as well as for them to find out that many of their relatives and friends were known to me. As senior citizens, they run the house efficiently. The house was very clean, and they had a vegetable garden that gave them enough produce for their use. We had a grand feast with many dishes. All the vegetables used were organically grown from their garden. They gave a bag of vegetables to Preetha. We took farewell at 3.50 PM and drove to my niece (from husband's side) who is an officer of World Bank and who lives in US for more than thirty years. After tea and snacks, we started for NJ at 6.15 PM. Reached home exactly at 10.20 PM, took dinner and went to bed all exhausted, but happily.