Jai Ganesh, Jai Belfast

This is the third town I have moved into in my life after Pune and Dublin.I am glad that it started off well. I was able to get the accommodating sorted out even before I got to Belfast. Work place was close by. I must say everything in the city is close by because this city by Dublin or Bangalore standards is very Small (please notice the capital 'S'). Met a couple of cool guys at work place who were also friends of my friends and by the way friends of my new Flat mate. The splendid networking capability of lads for Andra Pradesh, India sure beats the crap out of CISCOs' and Junipers'.
That being that,first weekend of my first week at work came across a flyer on my desk. It was about the celebration of Ganesha Chaturthi at the Indian Community Center in Belfast (ICC), but completely sponsored by Telugu association of Belfast.
I aint no Telgugu dude, but am a true Indian and a religious broad minded Hindu; so I was all game for it. With my mates headed to ICC to be promptly at 11, but as I must have expected things were running late. But I am glad that I got the opportunity to pitch in my two cents worth of effort. I was lucky enough to go on a tiny procession with the idol of my favorite of the Hindu lord. The Elephant headed lord who wards of all evil. There was some chating and pooja. I was immensely glad to have the 'Prasad'.
I felt at home during that brief time i spent there. On the way back with a little bit of coercing effort from my friend decided to go and shop and I must thanks all my good stars or Luck that on the same very street I was a year ago to witness the Hare Krishna "Ratha Yarta" (pulling of the chariot) and now i was there to Witness the same auspicious event again and in spite of the rain jumped in to tug the ropes of the massive chariot. I did feel sanctified and the act of getting drenched in the rain doing a holy work.Indeed very gratifying. Post shopping we walked around to see a little bit more of Belfast and decided to walk into the Belfast cathedral. Four of us waltzed into the silent place with "kum kum" on our forehead. it would be clear even to a dodo that we are not Christians. But the priest in the Church did welcome us in and asked us to take a look around. The place was silent and massive. And speaking of massive the worlds largest Celtic cross is here. A world apart from the place where I had just been a while ago where there was loud ringing of the bells, 'Dhools' and chants.
Thats how we have different cultures in this world but all seek the same thing. peace and goodness. No matter how different we look or who we pray to the quintessential need of every soul is Peace and a happy life.
I say I did have a great first weekend in Belfast. Hope this city brings much more happy memories in the time to come.