Sashtiabdhapurthi

Maggie, Matthew, Jonathan, and Mary dressed in Indian attire!

David has many international students working for him.  One of his students, Anu, is from India.  Anu has a daughter a little bit older than Mary, and they always enjoy playing together.  Anu's parents are also living with her while she completes her graduate studies.  

Recently, Anu's mother celebrated her 60th birthday, which is a very special celebration for Hindus.  The Sanskrit name is Sashtiabdhapurthi. The Hindu calendar follows a 60-year cycle.  Therefore, the celestial bodies are said to align in exactly the same way that they were during the honoree's birth. According to Anu, this celebration would have been a day-long celebration in India.  Instead she hosted a group of close friends for dinner.  And what a dinner it was!  She served a full-course Indian meal!  It was absolutely delicious, but I cannot recall the name of anything that I ate!  Anu confessed to me that she actually enjoys cooking more than chemistry!  I think she should open up an Indian restaurant.  I really don't enjoy going out to eat very much, but I would pay good money for her food!

Typically, in India, the husband and wife would renew their marital vows during the celebration.  Anu's parents fed one another black forest cherry cake, my favorite:)  They also had pictures taken with each family in attendance.  Anu also gave me a gift as we were leaving and explained that it is customary for the hostess to give every married woman who came to the celebration a gift. 

Not only was it a wonderful party with delicious food and friendly conversation, but I was blessed to be free from holding babies for the entire evening!  There were so many grandparents around who wanted to hold Matthew and Jonathan!  No arguments here!  Thank you!  Of course, the evening was not without the usual chaos.  We got a flat tire upon arriving.  We forgot Maggie's bib and my nursing wrap and had to return for them.  We got all the way home and realized we also forgot David's jacket. 

This is our family picture with Anu and her parents.