Becoming religious

Today a friend asked me a question which led to considerable introspection. I had called her to ask if she wants to accompany me to an iskcon temple in Brooklyn as it is janamashtami and though she said yes, she also asked "what has happened - why the sudden religious streak?". The question sort of took me aback as I haven't really mentioned anything or done anything religious (known to her) recently. I guess the root of her question was why celebrate the little known festival as being away from home you really tend to focus on holi and diwali and durga puja if you are a bong. She was eerily right -

1. I started my monday fasts. I know it is supposed to get you a good husband and I already have one. However, these fasts help me focus - don't ask me how. My morning puja is slightly longer and I light a diya after I come back home and I feel good about it. Also I believe little pain (hunger?) is good for the soul.
2. I did think a bit about janamashtami this year, though past 5 year the festival has come and gone without me even realizing. I actually made besan ke laddoo to offer as prasad as I wanted to do something to mark the day.

Now coming to the key question - why? I thought about it and I think it is because of my job. I have been so frustrated with my work lately and as I have complained before I can't move because of visa issues. So I needed to clear all the negative aspects from my mind and focus on positives - that it has been a lovely summer, I love my husband, my house, have a great group of friends to hang out with. In short, life outside of work has been really great. Praying helps me focus and think clearly. I decided that if nothing gets decided within the next 2 months, I am going to leave my job and chill for a bit - take cake decorating classes, go to India etc. I know the economy sucks etc but I have to take a risk to do what I want to do. There is no second way about it.

The second reason for this sudden enthusiasm towards janamashtami I think is because is was a big deal when we were growing up. My sister and I used to decorate the jhanki (tableau) depicting parts of kishan leela. We had and idol of vasudev carrying baby kishna which used to be placed over a blue painted river, some toy animals which used to be placed on a patch of sand to depict forest and a mirror to show a pond. All our god idols were also placed there completed with a baby kishna on a jhoola. Everyone used to gather around to pray in the evening. Ma and Pa used to fast for the day and go to the temple at 12am to get prasad. Before that around 4pm teatime we used to be served fruit chat and lemonade - don't remember why but this used to happen every janamashtami. Now for most years living abroad, I wasn't really sure how to mark this festival. However, when recently a friend mentioned this iskcon temple, a light bulb went in my head - this was the perfect way! Apparently the temple is not far, easily accessible by subway and is really beautiful. I am looking forward to it!