Sunday, March 2, 2014

ISFiT Diaries IX - The Silent Night


Recollections from the International Students’ Festival in Trondheim 2013


Trondheim's iconic Nidarosdomen.
With permission from Chathuraka Kaushalya 
Source: nidarosdomen.no‎

The Silent Night is soul-searching at Trondheim’s landmark Nidarosdomen. The Nidaros Cathedral, by the River Nidelva, is a majestic edifice, quiet, standing high with all its grandeur, having seen the ups and the downs and ins and the outs of Trondheim across a millennia and reminding passer bys of Trondheim’s Christian past. As I and Megha enter the cathedral, we enter a stratosphere of silence. Megha curiously scans the interior and is bubbling with questions. I walk to the altar and to the octagon, to the chapel. Candles are lit, knees strike the floor and eyes are closed.

Source: nidarosdomen.no

Nidaros’ statues reminisce medieval Christianity, however I could not derive meaning out of some structures and how their related to Christendom. Megha questions me on different Church artifacts, on Christianity. I figure out Megha’s current understanding of Christianity is based on hearsay. We come out Nidaros Cathedral, our spirits revitalized.      

Click by Danish Henry

In today’s fast paced world, a world that seeks material fulfillment and tramples inner peace, we seldom stop, and reflect and spend time with ourselves. While ISFiT was ‘relating to the world outside’, the silent night was ‘relating to the world inside’. Amidst all the hoopla, this night provided an opportunity to mediate, connect to our inner being, make peace with ourselves and seek solace for our souls in Nidaros’ serenity.


Click by Danish Henry

1 comment:

  1. i really wanna know how long it takes for you to be selected as an ISFiT participant after the dateline?

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