The Montgomey Academy/Private School

 

Incredible trip to India --Project Summary:
The goal for my Fund For Teachers Grant was to “document how Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim religions impact art and architecture.” After three weeks in India, I realized that religion infuses every element of life there—from the food to the festivals, from the towers of the Taj Mahal to the Ganges.

The Indian diet is restricted by their belief that cows are sacred. The absence of beef in Indian cuisine was not a surprise to me but the abundance of cows meandering down streets and lingering in doorways was an unexpected delight.

While India’s faith permits its cattle to wander freely, it directs its people to walk with purpose. My trip fell in step with the festival of Shiva, when thousands of men and boys make a barefoot pilgrimage to the Ganges River to collect the sacred water and bear it back to their home to anoint a Shiva statue. We saw these pilgrims everywhere and felt their presence as a sign of their piety.

Outside of daily life in Delhi, India’s religion shines through in its architecture. Our GEEO tour took us to major cities in Northern India and Nepal where we explored forts, palaces, tombs and towers, most are monuments of the Islamic Mughal Empire. The Taj Mahal is the most famous example of Mughal architecture. Visiting the Taj in the late afternoon was like seeing a meticulously crafted, elaborately ornamented jewel box.

I look forward to sharing the culture of India with my students and fellow teachers and hope to help them understand a people so intertwined with their faith.

Blog:  Tullos in India 

 

Last modified: Tuesday, November 25, 2014, 11:38 AM