This is the time of the year when we start aiming off with planning Christmas gifts for the kids in our care. This may sound premature or a modest activity in the overall scheme of things to be planning for in any great depth. However, given that we will be issuing well in excess of 100 presents and also just how much a modest present means to children who have never had any decent gifts, then it is very necessary to plan thoroughly. We are always helped out by the British Army wives' club in Kathmandu and the British School who make a massive effort to procure and wrap the personalised gifts.
Looking at the lists of recipients the other day, I noted how around half of the circus returnees are Christian. The main religion in Nepal is the Hindu faith with Buddhism being the second largest. Only a few percent of the population is Christian. The reason for this anomaly is that many girls adopt Christianity when they are inside the circus. They will construct little shrines like the one pictured and make special prayers that they will survive the abuse and life-threatening acts. If they survive they become committed followers. I met four of them coming from church last Saturday and took a picture of them as they looked so happy and radiant in their saris, clasping their bibles.
Looking at the lists of recipients the other day, I noted how around half of the circus returnees are Christian. The main religion in Nepal is the Hindu faith with Buddhism being the second largest. Only a few percent of the population is Christian. The reason for this anomaly is that many girls adopt Christianity when they are inside the circus. They will construct little shrines like the one pictured and make special prayers that they will survive the abuse and life-threatening acts. If they survive they become committed followers. I met four of them coming from church last Saturday and took a picture of them as they looked so happy and radiant in their saris, clasping their bibles.
And now a plug. Once again The Esther Benjamins Trust will be selling charity Christmas cards. And as per normal, through very kind sponsorship of engineering firm WhitbyBird in London, 100% of the purchase price comes to the Trust. This year the card shows a mosaic design of mine entitled "The running of the deer" with imagery based upon 18th Century Indian court painting. The original mosaic, which has been made by former circus girl Rina, will be available for purchase by card recipients through an online auction that closes just before Christmas. See here for further details and for the unique design:
Tomorrow is a big day for the children and teenage girls who have been rehearsing for the show that we're laying on for refuge children in Godawari. It must feel odd for them to be performing voluntarily for an appreciative audience rather than posturing before the leering adults who make up a large part of the circus audiences in India.
