"As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears." Rumi
These stone footprints pointed towards an open walled building filled with a cacophony of sights and sounds. Mary and I followed its direction and came upon a small local temple. Candles were lit, women received the red tikka on their foreheads from Hindu priests, babies cried, dogs looked for food and young boys helped the old men stand after chanting their prayers. Although this was happening in Kathmandu, Nepal, it could have been any sacred place where people gather to worship.
The locals were celebrating the festival of Durga, the Mother Goddess who is the victor of good over evil. Many devotees brought gifts of flowers and sweets to show their devotion and gratitude for all the victories in life, however great or small. One man placed a bowl of flowers on a car's engine thankful that it still worked. He was a taxi driver and took great pride in his sole source of income for his family.
At first the footsteps were nothing more than an outer guidepost marking the way towards a holy place . It was the direction to move for cultivation of our souls. We were indeed nourished by the music, the rituals and the community. On our return, a second glance at the footsteps revealed the remnants of gifts brought to the temple.
This image invites us to pause for a moment, know our initial direction and bring an offering into the day. I decided to offer more kindness into my photography.