Sound of Silence

This the season for monsoons. Here in India this lasts from about the middle of June to the end of September. The rains come from out of nowhere and stay for hours. One can hear the trumpeting of the thunder in the distance signaling that the clouds have come to take the heat and humidity away. It’s beautiful really; the hazy reds, oranges and pinks against the deep blue/black of the clouds. Birds of all shapes and colors rise and ride the winds like a surfer rides a wave.

The down side to this beautiful ambiance is flooding caused by the heavy downpour of rain. In a matter of minutes the sides of the streets have giant pools big enough for children to wade in. People flee into their homes, and under random spots of shelter. Suddenly all becomes quiet, and then you hear it… something has changed. At first, you don’t know what it is, but then it all becomes clear like the sky in the distance. The piling has stopped.

The droning sounds of the machines have been gracing Mayapur since February 18. But as soon as the rains come, everything ceases. The construction site becomes mud and water, and the piling cannot continue in such conditions. Site workers huddle together with their yellow helmets underneath blue tarps and bamboo sheds. The sky growls at them to wait while it does its business. All is quiet; all is peaceful… or is it?

Underneath the sounds of silence is a sense of urgency; when will the piling begin again? Although the rains bring a moment of reflection, one eventually comes back to reality and remembers that a temple needs to be built! The entire Mayapur community centers around the construction of the Temple of The Vedic Planetarium. We live by the rhythm of the piling machines and the sense of security it brings us. Life is moving forward and ISKCON is helping to make sure that future will be a transcendental one. The 20 minutes of rest that comes with rain is sweet, but the sound of progress is sweeter.

Check out some more pictures below.