As
for what I did for Rama's birthday . . . I went to Red Rock Canyon,
which is just nearby here in Vegas. It was at night, as I didn't get
the day off. But it was a beautiful starry night. I went to this lookout
point, where you can see all the mighty mountains in the near distance.
They look so powerful and peaceful against the dark night sky. Anyway,
I do this "ritual" every year since Rama passed on. My sister, who
was a Lakshmi student, wrote a letter thanking Rama and I attached
them to 2 balloons. I let them fly up towards the night sky and I
visualized Rama somehow reading them as they reach upwards. Its just
a thing I do every year. I guess some religions do the burning thing
because the smoke goes upward also, but to me it was more childlike
and fun to have balloons take our prayers upward towards Rama.
c 2000