Certainly one of the defining gifts of Asha Niketan is that of prayer. Like many communities in the developing world, they are extremely faithful to their prayer routine. But in India, there was the added challenge of learning to prayer together with people from many different faiths. At Asha Niketan, Christians, Muslims and Hindus share life together. In a country with as much spiritual depth as India, that certainly means sharing prayer life as well.

Richard, from the Lambeth community in England, tells us a little about his community and his experience of this trip.

TJ Berkling, a delegate from Iowa, reflects on what he has lived and seen since his arrival in Kolkata.

Silas interviews Sister Lucia who tells us about her L'Arche community in Ukraine.

Anne Todd from Daybreak tells us a little about her experience of the IGA meetings and on L'Arche in Latin America.

Here is a short videoclip of the regular daily prayer in one of the houses of Asha Niketan.

Silas interviews Santhosh from Asha Niketan Kerala.

I have been in Kolkata for a week now, but it seems like a month. I have spent a lot of time walking the streets of the city and have gathered a lot of information in that very short time. And when I use the word “information,” I am talking about everything my senses are taking in —sights, smells, things I can touch—not to mention the emotion associated with all of it.

Landys Klyne of L'Arche Vancouver gives her fist impressions of the Federation and speak on the work of the small groups.

Hollee gives her impression on the opening ceremonies that was held on October 5th.

All of those who have had the chance to go the our community in Kolkata have met the very sympathetic Shankar Paul. Listen to the interview.

Here in Kolkata, it is 9:40pm...HOT and HUMID. A group of ten or so of us have just returned from an unguided walking tour of the Pandals in the neighborhood where we are staying.