At right...
The new building at Kaliyampoondi with beautiful roof thatched according to local custom.

Below...
Gathering for the ceremony. It is a lot bigger inside than it looks from the outside.

Very soon after this ceremony, there was a fire at another village in Tamil Nadu, killing many children. The thatched roof burned quickly, trapping children on the third floor. State officials came to us a few days afterwards and told us we had to dismantle our beautiful thatched roof. We were able to sell some of it at a loss to villagers. One alternative roof was suggested that contained asbestos, which apparently is still legal in India. But we are going with a non-asbestos sheeting that will cost a little more. Total cost for roof replacement will be about $8000 Cdn.

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