It was 15th April and Dakshinayan Roldih's foundation day. It is also called Baba Lokenath's day. I reached early morning from Kolkata by the night bus and reached the project by 6 in the morning. By 7.30 the kids started to come in. After bath we all gathered at the Baba Lokenath temple. The diya(lamp) and the incense sticks were lit. I decorated the statue with white flowers from the garden. We put a tika of abir on Him. The kids also sported a tika on their forehead. The conch shell was blown and temple bell was rung. Then it was time to give boondi and shev to the kids. The kids gave the food to Baba Lokenath first before tasting themselves. They even got double helping and there were smiles everywhere. The boys, Haldhar, Premanand and Promod all helped in the procedure. The new teacher was supposed to come but will join one day later. After everything was over i asked the kids "who wants to play badminton?" And i had all of them gathering around me in their eagerness. I had carried restrung badminton racquets and 20 shuttle corks with me from Kolkata. There was a lot of laughing and playing and then the kids went home and we got down to business. Meaning me and boys had our meeting. Lot of things were threshed about to find solutions. Then it was time to prepare lunch and the new gas cylinder was opened and the boys were happy that they didnt have to light up the chulah(earthen oven) anymore as it is a tedious job. I had arranged with Bhola that from now on cooking will be done in gas. After lunch there were some more discussions to be done and then it was time for me to return to Kolkata by the evening bus. So Bhola came to pick me up and i bade the boys and the project bye and was on my way to Godda bus stand. The night was spent on bus and reached home at 4 in the morning. Last two nights my head didnt touch a pillow as both the nights I was travelling and it was hectic to do everything in one day but i wanted to be there on Dakshinayan's important day and the travel worn body took second place because spirit was high.
