Updates from Aghor Foundation   Bal Ashram Oct.-Nov. 2012

   

OCTOBER - As the weather cooled off and Ganga-ji receded throughout the month of October, everyone

remained happy and healthy at the Ashram, but exciting changes and festivities were around each

corner. Daily routines of meditation and study were maintained, but new projects reminded everyone of the importance of Seva, and of working and playing

together.

 

   

NOVEMBER – November was a month of great progress, momentum, and celebration at the Ashram. Diwali (Nov. 13) and Dev Deepawali (Nov. 28) both beautifully illuminated the

Ashram with either twinkle lights or earthen deeyas, and were festive times of reflection

and worship. Big projects entered critical phases, and each and every member of the

Ashram community contributed to their success. What a wonderful month!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s happening around Bal Ashram?

ABOVE:  The  stairs  leading  up  to  the  clinic  are  nearly  completed.    

 Progress   is   being   made   on   the  Vision   Varanasi   eye   clinic   and  hospital  at  a   startling   rate.  Hard  work   was   done   all   throughout  October,   and   internal   design  decisions   (everything   from  operating   table   placement   to  kitchen  design)  are  continuously  being  made.      

The  Ashram  and  Little  Stars  School  celebrate  Navratri  with  style  

 

Navratri   is   a   nine-­‐day   long  festival   which   is   focused   on  worship  of  the  goddess  Durga  and   her   feminine   power,   or  Shakti.  This  year,  Navratri  was  celebrated  from  October  16th-­‐24th,   and   the   Ashram   held  pooja,   along   with   a   large,  festive   lunch   of   poori,   subji,  salad,  chutney,  and  kheer.  The  hostel   girls,   along   with   other  students,   from   Little   Stars  School   in   Nagwa,   Varanasi  joined   in   the  meal,   as  well   as  respected   elderly   women,  some   foreign   volunteers,   and  the   entire   Ashram   commun-­‐ity.   Thank   you   to   everyone  who  helped  with  the  meal!  

ABOVE:  Costumed  Indra  contemplates  his  Navratri  gift  after  enjoying  some  poori-­‐subji  for  lunch.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Bal Ashram news, Continued Ashram  boys  or  cricket  and  football  heroes?  Balls  and  bats  abound  

ABOVE:  After  school  hours,  the  Anjali  School  grounds  double  as  both  a  cricket  field  and  a  badminton  court.      Around   here,   every   fairly-­‐large,  open   field   or   courtyard   has   the  potential   to   become   a   pristinely  drawn   badminton   court,   where  birdies   go   shooting   through   the  air   beneath   bright   lights.   If   you  listen   carefully,   you   can   hear  roaring  fans  cheering  the  boys  on    

as   they  dart   left  and   right  with  rackets  in  hand.  Sports  are  a  big  part   of   the   boys’   routines,   and  everyone   gets   involved   in  either   volleyball,   cricket,   bad-­‐minton,   or   football.   “After   uni-­‐versity,   I   want   to   be   an   engi-­‐neer,  or  a  badminton  player,  

so   I   study   in   the  morning,   and  play   badminton   in   the   after-­‐  noon,”   says   Sumit   of   class   8.  Sports   are   a   great  way   for   the  boys   to  have   fun,  get  exercise,  and   learn   valuable   team-­‐work  and   goal-­‐setting   skills.   So   let  the  games  begin!  

The greywater filter project—October progress

 

Two  years  ago,  Princeton  University  student   Josh   Ellis   built   a   small,  model   grey-­‐water   filter   that   uses  sand   to   purify   water.   Last   year,  fellow   Princeton   student   Maxson  Jarecki   continued   to   research   the  technology   and   perform   tests.   The  small   filter   was   recently   given   a  facelift   by   Global   College   volunteer  Magnolia   Morris.   In   October,   she  painted   the   filter,   and   replaced   the  sand   inside.  She,  along  with  current  Princeton   volunteer  Mira,   ran   flow-­‐rate   and   water   quality   tests   on   the  filter  throughout  the  month.  In  a    

preliminary   test,   the   filter   reduced  faecal  coliform  (a  type  of  bacteria)  in  a  sample   of   Ganga-­‐ji   water   from   8,000  p/100mL   to   1,000   p/100mL.   Their  work   is   part   of   a   larger   project   to  design   a   full-­‐scale   greywater   filtration  system   for   the   Ashram,   which   is  situated   just  on  the  banks  of  Ganga-­‐ji.  The   project   was   started   in   2011   by  Josh  Ellis   and  Magnolia,   and  has   since  been  a   joint   effort   between   the   three  generations   of   Princeton-­‐Ashram  volunteers   (Josh,   Maxson,   Mira)   and  Magnolia.    

ABOVE:  Indra  displaying  his  football  skills.  

 

 

November comes to a close, and greywater flows clear Magnolia   Morris   (lovingly  referred   to   as   Maggi   Didi),  may   look   like   your   average  purple-­‐haired,   chai-­‐loving  college   student   from   Ame-­‐rica…   but   when   Baba-­‐ji   ask-­‐ed   her   and   Josh   Ellis   to  design  a  grey-­‐water  filtration  system   for   the   Ashram   two  years   ago,   they   set   out   to  complete   the   task   with  gumption,   creativity,   and  dedication   like  you  wouldn’t  believe.   In   the   two   days  before   Maggi   departed  Varanasi   after   spending   two  months   here   this   fall,   the  massive   Biosand   filter   was  deemed   complete.   Grey-­‐water   is   wastewater   that  comes   from   activities   such  as   bathing,   dish-­‐washing,  laundry,   or   cooking.   In   the  past,   greywater   at   the  Ashram   (like   grey-­‐water   in  most   of   Varanasi)   has  drained   untreated   into  Ganga-­‐ji.   The   new   filter   is   a  large   (7.5x5x8   ft.)   tank  underground   in   the   main  courtyard   of   the   Ashram.  Inside   of   the   tank   (See   next  page   for   pictures)   is   a   layer  of   large   gravel,   a   layer   of  pebbles,  and  a  layer  of  sand.  The  top  layer  of  sand,  known  as   the   “biolayer”,   becomes  home  to  a  variety  of  bacteria  which   prey   on   potentially  harmful  pathogens  as  the    

greywater   passes   through   the  filter.   As   the   water   travels  through  sand  and  gravel,  other  pathogens   and   suspended  solids   become   trapped   in   the  sand   and   eventually   die   off.  When  the  water  exits   the   filter  it   is  much  more   suitable   to   be  drained   into   Ganga-­‐ji,   and   can  be  re-­‐collected  for  bathing,  the  watering   of   plants,   and   with  sufficient  monitoring  of  quality,  even   drinking!   Maggi,   and  everyone   at   the   Ashram,  worked   long   and   hard   on   the  design   and   construction   of   the  filter.  We’ll   all  miss  Maggi,   but  we  wish  her  the  best  of  luck  as  she   takes   on   NYC   next   semes-­‐ter   and   completes   her   degree!              A   detailed   report   on   the   filter’s  design   and   function   will   be   sent  separately  in  the  coming  weeks.  

 

 

ABOVE:  Maggi  Didi  pretends  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  her  labor  on  her  last  day.  

ABOVE:  Maggi  and  Girish  ji  before  Maggi’s  departure.    BELOW:  Water  after  and  before  treatment.  Guess  which  is  which.    

‘  

 

   

The   filter   tank   can   be   seen   on   the   left.  All   of   the   sinks   and   showers   in   the  Ashram   flow   through   this   tank   before  flowing   into   Ganga-­‐ji.   Truckloads   of  sand   and   gravel   had   to   be   sifted   and  washed   before   they   could   be   layered  into   8-­‐feet   deep   filter   body.   Everyone  took   turns   using   large   sieves   to   obtain  sand   grains   of   the   correct   diameter,  while   some   folks   worked   to   clean   out  the   bottom   of   the   tank,   and   others  worked   on   constructing   the   internal  plumbing  which  directs   the  clean  water  from  the  bottom  of  the  filter  back  up  to  the  main  line.    

RIGHT:  Peter-­‐ji  works  with  the  boys  to  load  sand  into  the  tank  after  it’s  been  washed  four  times  to  ensure  that  sand  is  clean  and  of  the  correct  size.  After  all  the  sand  is  put  in,  it  will  take  two  weeks  before  a  healthy  biolayer  grows  in  the  top  5-­‐10  cm  of  sand.  This  biolayer  is  critical  to  the  removal  of  pathogens  from  the  greywater.      BOTTOM:  The  boys  really  enjoyed  using  the  sieves  and  were  more  than  happy  to  help.  For  a  couple  days  there,  the  Ashram  was  like  one  giant  sandbox!    When  Maggi’s  parents  visited  the  Ashram  from  their  home  in  San  Jose,  California,  they  were  so  proud  to  see  their  daughter  in  action,  and  even  got  their  hands  dirty  themselves.    

 

   If you were awed by the progress of the greywater filter in November, then you’d be floored by that of the Vision Varanasi clinic. Day by day, the hospital gets visibly closer

to opening its doors to patients from far and wide—just another one of the exciting

developments at the Ashram.

 

 

   

Around the Anjali School!

Anjali  School  students  laugh  and  play  on  the  

jungle-­‐gym.    

No  matter  their  class  or  age,  Anjali  School  students  are  always  willing  to  give  each  other  a  hug  or  helping  hand.    

 

Gagan   celebrated  his   birthday   on   the  4th  of  October.    

 

Darshan,  Ravi,  Santosh,  and  Deepak  all  celebrated  their  birthdays  in  November.  Happy  birthday  wishes  to  all!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Spotlight on Seva Whether at the Ashram or the Eco-park, there is always a cow to be milked, a field to be tilled, a wall to be painted, or a big pot of nourishing dal to be made. It certainly takes a lot to keep everything running, but there is so much beauty and fulfillment to be found in selflessly serving one’s community. Seva is a part each and every day at the Ashram, but this is just a shout out to all the people who keep things running smoothly!

RIGHT: Chotu-ji and Julia-ji are a dynamic duo in the kitchen—making tasty and nutritious food each day!

ABOVE: Raju-ji rakes the upper terrace. BELOW: Sunil-ji paints the office building.

   

Amrit Sagar Eco-Park

 

 

 

Over at the Eco-Park, all the crops and the cows are doing just fine. However, the planting isn’t just for that side of the river! During October, hours were spent preparing the Ashram’s newly revealed terraces for the planting of radishes, spinach, eggplant, and other delicious organic vegetables. Also, the honey bees were prepared to be returned back to the eco-park after a stay at the Ashram.

 

   Nov. at the Eco-Park: P3 Biosand Bag Filter Last   fall,   a   student   named   Forest   Emerson   Kerr   came   to  Varanasi  with   a   gap   year  program  called  Where  There  Be  Dragons.   Forest’s   father   Donald   Kerr   is   the   founder   and  CEO   of   the   P3   Biosand   Bag   Filter,   which   uses   sand   in   a  large,   patented   designed   bag   to   provide   safe,   potable  water  in  a  cost-­‐efficient  and  accessible  manner.  Forest  was  so  inspired  by  the  activities  of  the  Aghor  Foundation  during  his  first  trip  to  Varanasi  that  he  and  his  mother  returned  in  November  to  donate  and  install  a  P3  Biosand  Bag  Filter  at  the  Eco-­‐Park.  Six  students  from  the  current  “Dragons”  gap  year,  along  with  Mira,  Maggie,  Girish  ji,  Peter  ji,  Loknath  ji,  and  the  entire  Eco-­‐park  crew,  all  got  together  for  a  day  of  Seva   to   complete   the   filter’s   installation.   The   students  worked   to   saw   bamboo,   construct   the   filter’s   frame,  unload   sandbags,   and   connect   the   plumbing   to   the   Eco-­‐park’s   tap.  After  only  a   few  hours,   they   installed  the   filter  that  will   provide   pure   bathing   and   drinking  water   for   the  Eco-­‐parks  employees  and  visitors.  The  P3  Biosand  Bag  Filter  technology   is   similar   to   that   of   the   filter   that’s   been  installed  at  the  Ashram,  and  will  serve  as  a  great  model  to  others   on   the   importance,   and   relative   ease,   of   providing  safe  drinking  water  to  a  community.  The  Aghor  Foundation  sends  its  most  sincere  gratitude  to  the  Emerson-­‐Kerr  family  for   their   donation   of   time   and   materials,   and   to   all   the  “Dragons”  students  for  their  help  in  the  installation.    

1st  from  top:  Where  There  Be  Dragons  Semester  Students  pose  with  the  new  filter  after  construction.    2nd  from  top:  Hundreds  and  hundreds  of  kilograms  of  sand  had  to  be  relocated  and  placed  in  the  filter  bag.      3rd  from  top:  Everyone  put  in  some  elbow  grease  and  deep  concentration  to  complete  the  task  at  hand.    

Left:  Even  Peter-­‐Ji,  who  might  actually  be  Superman  when  it  comes  to  hauling  sand,  tying  knots,  inspiring  others  to  do  what  they  thought  was  impossible,  and  so  much  more,  knows  when  to  break  for  a  cup  of  afternoon  chai.  Thanks  for  all  your  hard  work,  Peter  ji!  

 

 

That’s all for now!

We sincerely thank you for your continued support and interest.

-From the Aghor Foundation Varanasi

There’s no better place to pass a calm, Benaras afternoon than

on the lawn of the Ashram.