The visit to Jaipur was our main excursion out of Delhi and the rest of the time was spent visiting some of Delhi’s bazaars and shops. Painstakingly handcrafted carpets, jewellery, silk fabrics and other decorative accessories are available at very affordable prices.

Apart from having some great bargains, the bazaars, each with their own distinct character, give you another insight into the multi-faceted city of Delhi. Haus Khas Village, Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk are some of the main markets in which you can wander around and experience a diversity of people, arts and crafts.

Most of what's for sale is based on the multitude of religions, gods, deities and legends that comprise India. Understanding India in terms of its religious traditions is a mammoth, almost infinite, task. The Hindu religion, for example, is often labelled as a religion of 330 million gods. However, although the number of gods is expansive, I discovered that the figure comes from ancient times when it was believed there were 330 million living beings in the world.

Since Hindus believed each living being is a manifestation of God, all 330 million creatures were deities in their own right. The core religions of India are Hinduism (80 percent), Buddhism (0.8 percent) and Jainism (0.4 percent). India also has the fourth-largest Muslim population in the world, with 12 percent of the population following Islam.

I’m back in London now and although I’ve only been gone seven days I am sure I’m suffering from a bit of culture shock. The experience of being bombarded by two worlds, so tragically juxtaposed, and the abyss of culture, religion and tradition has left me exhausted. The East has always mystified and often confused me. I was hoping this journey to India would open my eyes slightly and it certainly has.

I have been given a brief glimpse of another world that assaults your senses and challenges the way you think and feel about your position in this world. I guess, in a way, despite — or perhaps because of — my unique circumstance, I came away with the packaged ‘spiritual experience’ that comes with a visit to India. It’s good to be back in the West, were I feel more in control of the world around me, but I will go back and learn more about this fascinating, unfathomable country.


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