Habana, Cuba
Tradition
It has become quite
the tradition (within the nine years I’ve been coming to Cuba) to take that
stroll along the seawall known as Malecón and to the Morro Lighthouse, which, according to
local devotees, had
been a look-out for pirates in the days of yore.
Four of us walked next
to the wall with care. The ocean’s waves
tend to crash against that wall and create a major splash onto pedestrians, and in spots, to land four lanes
over onto the major thoroughfare of Habana.
We passed by the U.S. Embassy with the
stars and stripes flapping. There is
also the grand Hotel National, the place frequented by Mafia, decades ago.
“Such as Al Capone?” I
asked Janardan, one of the native Cubans, but now running our temple in Madrid.
“Oh yes!” he said.
History!
Well, I spent quite the
time speaking with devotees of Krishna over the topic of a recent history, of some controversy, regarding the attire
of western dress versus what some called Hindu dress. Extreme positions had been taken, and I simply took the
stance that you can privately, and
now even publicly, dress whatever way you like. I
walk all over Cuba in an uncompromised apparel of swami clothes. The public is curious, even respectful.
Our group also visited
the Indian Embassy and met Vijayalakshmy Sunderrajan, who was clothed in traditional saree.
Evening time gave us
the second opportunity for kirtan, and we sang in traditional Sanskrit.
May the Source be with
you!
7 km
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