STOPOVER, a story of migration
VATIYAKA, VITI LEVU, FIJI, 2002
Sunday, 21 April 2002. Ram Naumi is a Hindu festival that runs for eight nights leading to midday on the day of Lord Rama's birth. This year, Dharmen Kumar, who on my first visit to Vatiyaka was sirdar of the cutting gang, and his wife Padma Wati, each evening hosted readings from the Ramayan and offered the prasad, the blessed food that is eaten after. This Sunday morning, the music began at 6.45, and others began to arrive an hour later to help prepare food for the gathering to come of the extended family. Nirupa Devi (19) washes dishes with a string of cousins and aunts in Padma's kitchen where the cooking has been done on an open fire and kerosene burner. Nirupa was married in 2005 and now lives in Australia. Her elder sister was married in September 2003 and now lives in California.

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