Hello again, Blogonauts!

Sunday was the day to investigate some of the spiritual buffet that is on offer in Mumbai.

We began at the Haji Ali Dargah, a mosque and tomb whose claim to fame is that it is almost six centuries old, and that the only access by land is via a long, narrow pedestrian causeway.

Today, the swarms of crowds and vendors suggested this is a top destination for devout Muslims...and those who want to scour the rocks exposed during low tide. From the mosque, views of the Mumbai skyline would probably be equally inspirational, if only the smog didnt add a thick layer of haze.

Next we walked about a kilometer to reach the Mahalakshmi Temple, another revered site, this time by teeming crowds come to offer gifts (purchased on-site) to the local deity. As foreigners and non-Hindus, we were ushered around the lines of believers so we could watch the priests processing the bouquets. I'm sure this is meaningful to those who participate, but it had a feel of assembly-line spirituality to the uninitiated.

After an Uber ride up Malabar Hill, we spent a few minutes in the Hanging Gardens atop the hill before winding our way down to meet Zoe's friend Pooja at the Jain Temple. Jainism, like Buddhism, is an offshoot from Hinduism, and now has quite a following in parts of India. Pooja's family actually built this temple, and she was able to offer us special access and explanations.

We were lucky enough to arrive as a wedding celebration was underway. The temple, which is already lovely, was festooned with plant-based decorations. (Check some of them out in the photos posted along with this blog.) I felt a bit like a "buttinsky" as we watched their ceremonies and listened to their upbeat Jain hymns. However, the participants barely gave us any notice.

India is a very religious country, but the variety of faiths is surprising. Navigating those sectarian waters must present a number of challenges. But the different strains of belief seemed today to play quite well today, all the while existing in one another's shadows.

Tomorrow, the Mumbai's monumental architecture. Blog to you later!