Yell Fire!
I am living in a city with one of the best preserved old town centers in Europe. A city rife with spectacular vistas, beautiful traditions, historic churches, castles, palaces and museums. Every weekend there is a ton of stuff to do that would enrich my understanding of Austrian culture. So what did I do yesterday?
I went to a Hindu fire ceremony.
I suppose it was an Austrian experience and, in a way, it did enrich my understanding of contemporary Austrian culture, because Austria is diverse. It isn’t the Sound of Music, Mozart, or Germany’s little brother. I have barely skimmed the surface and I am astounded at the richness here.
And some of that richness is on Riesstrasse at the Zentrum Des Dienens, the Babaji Center of Graz. The cerememony was held in honor of a marriage (OK, it was ours) and was attended by about 40 people. It was cool; ritual chanting, offering of food, incense, offering gifts to the fire, sharing of prassad. Sweetly moving.
Afterwords, the party included medieval music, an Austrian yodeling song, a drum circle, Irish dancing, an Indian Buffet (with a Thai curry), Lebkuchen hearts, a Kardinalschnitte. Good Austrians attended from all over Graz and from as far as Stubing.
And everyone left the party with red, orange and yellow tikkas on their forehead. Now that’s Austrian.
Sounds wonderful, congratulations on such an eccentric (typically modern Austrian?) party!