Category: India travels

CMMC: Photos with a P

Hello everyone! After a hectic and enjoyable Durga Puja I am excited to participate in Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge (CMMC), the topic is October Alphabet with “P” anywhere in the word.

Let me see what I can find 🙂

Hibiscus in a flower Pot. Isn’t she gorgeous? The festival honoring and celebrating Goddess Durga known as Durga Puja just got over on Tuesday and of course that is the theme for my post this week but I couldnt resist sharing this beauty which a favorite of Goddess Kali (another form of Goddess Durga) as well. I have discussed about Durga Puja in a couple of my earlier posts but in case you missed it and want to know more, click here

This is the making of the Puja Pandal (a temporary home for Goddess Durga and her children). It is fascinating to see how an empty field is turned into a re-creation of a famous temple (in this case) using nothing but piles of poles, canvas and glue. And all this for just 5 days after which it is dismantaled and put away for until the next occasion with a fresh design. One of the workers was going about with the ‘hyphen’ of the “co-operative”. Possibly there was divided opinion about its inclusion! Incidentally, this is the same pandal that the US ambassador Eric Garcetti visited. You can see the video here. Just a heads up, that though the video is about 3 minutes long, you can get away with watching about half of it as it is repetitive.

This is another Puja Pandal complete with the Goddess Durga’s idol installed and is another piece of art that will be immersed in water after 5 days of worship. We were lucky to be able to get a glimpse before the madness began.

Just a glimpse of the crowd at the Puja Pandal before the festival had begun!

While most Durga Puja are a community event, She is also worshipped individually by people at their home. This year, I was lucky enough to be able to visit one such Puja. I am sharing a small translation of the Sanskrit mantra which I hope and pray Mother Goddess is kind enough to bless us all with. If you are interested, you can read about the full chant here.

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shaanti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||

To that Goddess Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Peace,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

Thanks for visiting. Have a super day.

TankaTuesday #3

Hello! Here’s another tanka for Colleen’s #TankaTuesday challenge where the rules are to to write in any of the 24 syllabic forms of Japanese poetry using a kigo or season word as an inspiration. While there are 24 seasons in Japan, we are allowed to use season words as per our region.

First the tanka and then the explanatory note. Perhaps, some of you may not need the note 🙂

freshly showered

leaves wave to the blue skies

-Durga Puja celebrations

jeans don’t button up

even upon lying down

I have used Durga Puja as the kigo word. Like I mentioned in my earlier post, Navratri (or nine nights) festival in honor of Goddess Durga is being celebrated this year from 15th to 24 October. During this period, Hindu devotees worship Goddess Durga but the manner of celebration is diverse and unique in different parts of the country. This includes, but is not restricted, to dandiya, kanyapujan (little girls are worshipped as the Goddess) and Durga Puja. Durga Puja is a socio-religious celebrations that is mostly undertaken as a community but may also be done individually. It is associated with not only religious activities but also a platform for showcasing art, culture, and new clothes, cars, TVs and what have you while gorging on a variety of mouth-watering delicacies, including those served free. You may read more about Durga Puja here.

Perhaps, even ‘freshly showered’ could be considered the kigo word. Unlike the West, here in India, this is not the fall season. In fact, this is a time that is right after the monsoons which is a boon to the trees wilting in the scorching summer heat. They are now at their cleanest, greenest and happiest. With the monsoons withdrawing, the skies are blue (for once – Touch wood!!!) the breeze cool, and a palpable sense of excitement in the air. Even Mother Nature is celebrating the imminent arrival of the Mother Goddess (Durga Puja) in her inimitable way.

Did this work? Did you need the explanatory note? Looking forward to reading your reactions. Have a super day.

FOL: A Leafy Collection

Hello and welcome to Dawn’s Festival of Leaves challenge. Anything to do with trees, as you perhaps may know by now, I simply cannot resist 🙂

Let’s see what I can find, this week:

This was in the cacti section. I had never seen leaves of this color before. Have you?

“They tell you to turn into a new leaf and then complain about your faded colour.” – Nitya Prakash

I would have never thought a combination of pink and green would look good but they gel well don’t they?

“Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf.” – Rabindranath Tagore

There are even brown leaves – who would have thought!

“Art is the flower. Life the green leaf.”- Charles Rennie MacKintosh

with red stems! These are really eye-catching aren’t they. Not quite sure what they are called. Do you know?

“Open the bloom of your heart and become a gift of beauty to the world.”– Bryant McGill

Monstrous leaves, aren’t they? Dont miss the bright yellow stems, almost as if they are mocking the traditional plants 😀

“Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” – Luther Burbank

Don’t they look like flowers? The purple leaves were actually bluish in color, when seen with the naked eye. Their shape is also so unique.

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”– Frances Hodgson Burnett

Brown pink and green! I can’t help but wonder how they manage photosynthesis and why the need for such colorful leaves. I did a little bit of research, and as I remembered (ahem) only the green part can do photosynthesis. The tiny green porton is enough for its sustenance. But what about the other leaves and the bare trees? Apparently sunlight penetrates the thin outer bark it can be enough for photosynthesis. You can read more here. I am not very convinced, but perhaps you can tell me more 🙂

“Life is a party; dress like it, dance like it, and make every moment count.” Audrey Hepburn

I found these leaves to be very interesting. It wasnt very clear if it was a creeper or part of the tree

“Why not show off if you’ve got something to show?” J Jones

Well, what do you think? Can you make out?

“It is better to aim high and miss than to aim low and hit.” Les Brown

And this is the showstopper. I couldn’t take a pic initially, then I waited to click it on the return journey. Isn’t it precious? Just like life.

“It ain’t over till it’s over” Yogi Berra

Have a super day. Cheers

PSPC: Please Have a Seat

Hello, here’s my attempt at XingfuMama’s Pull Up a Seat Photo Challenge. This challenge is about a seat, a place to perch. This might be a chair, a bench, a wall, a pew…maybe even a log or a rock. These spots can be artfully designed, quirky or very plain, sometimes they have a view, sometimes you meet someone else who needs a rest.

So, without any further ado, if you are comfortably seated, off we go:

The chairs, I presume were once upon a time a bright orange to match the flowers but under the scorching sun faded to a pale pink. Or perhaps, they turned pale with envy…

The envious man grows lean at the success of his neighbor. Horace

Recently I had the opportunity to watch a live Kathakali performance. This is a traditional dance form originating probably in Kerala in Southern India. It is a “story game” genre of art, usually drawn from folk stories, religious texts and Hindu epics. It is characterised by the elaborately colourful make-up and costumes and performed traditionally only by males. You can read more about it here.

I was seated in the front row and the ‘lady’ on the left performed a sequence (while seated on the stool) wherein ‘she’ put a baby to sleep. Once, the imaginary baby was asleep, ‘she’ tiptoed away only to stop and request me, with only ‘her’ eyes expressions, and gestures to keep an eye on the baby. I played along and raised a hand to ‘assure’ her but ‘she’ instantly stopped and ‘asked’ 4 kids! I shook my head, and raised one finger. She then proceed to ask if they were married, or studying or working. It was amazing!

At the Kochi harbor, while on a morning walk, we spotted these birds, perched at a vantage point waiting for breakfast to be delivered.

This one is in a hurry, probably late for work 😀 This was taken while on a boat ride on the river Periyaar.

This picture was taken by the kind boatman as we weren’t allowed to move about on the boat. They don’t seem to be in any hurry. In fact, they seem ready for bed after a satisfying meal 😀

We were waiting for the boat, I wonder what they were waiting for – breakfast in someone’s pocket perhaps?

That’s it from me. I hope I didnt break any rules. Which one did you like the best?

Thanks for visiting. Have a great day.

One-to-Three PPC Challenge #2

Hello to you 🙂 Venturing into the domain of photography I am participating in XingfuMama’s photo challenge. The challenge is simple: take one photo and get creative with it by processing it three different ways.

Here goes:

This is the original. This was taken last month at Kochi harbor in Kerala, India. It was a cloudy cool morning and it was such a treat to watch her grow bigger and bigger as she floated back home. I took it on my Samsung Z fold 2 phone camera. No particular setting.

Err, I can’t help but also post a haiku, or attempt at one, inspired by this image. Haiku, as you may know, captures one or two moments  by using clear and vivid images. A haiku, consisting of a phrase and a fragment, is an unfinished poem – the readers interpret what it means by putting the images together. Do share your thoughts and interpretations 🙂

she returns

after a long journey

sigh

This is the Pen and Wash style availabe in the phone itself.

This is the Watercolor style. Earlier we used to attempt watercolors (not that I ever could!) based on photos and now its the reverse. Fascinating stuff.

For this one, instead of the Styles function, I tried to play around with contrast, exposure, shadow, sharpness etc.

On second thoughts, the version one and two look quite similar, don’t they?

So, what’s the verdict? Suggestions? Tips?

Thanks for visiting. Have a super day.

SSC#1: Number of Fences

This my submission to Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge on fences of any kind. Initially I thought I wouldn’t be able to participate but now I think I have too many.

Entry for humans beyond the fence is offensive to the law of the land and jungle 😀

“There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.” Will Rogers

You can of course see the fence but it is the gnarly tree that captures one’s attention, isn’t it? Doesn’t she look as if she is involved in some long standing feud with her own self?

“I am a woman in process. I’m just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it. Life is never dull.” Oprah Winfrey

This is another shot another side from the same spot. No sign of conflict here, just peaceful coexistence.

“Coexistence reminds us that together we are stronger.” From the internet

A makeshift fence to demarcate private land cultivating precious spices. Can you guess what the long leafed shrub provides?

“A green pearl on the banks of the river Periyar in the South-west mountains”. Chanakya wrote in his ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, political science, economic policy and military strategy, Arthashashtra. It was written in Sanskrit in the 1st millennium BCE.

The photo is also taken around the same place as mentioned by Chanakya and is considered the Queen of Spices. I presume you must have guessed it by now – yes, it’s the green cardamom.

Here the audience is fenced out as experts demonstrate the ancient martial art, Kalaripayattu. Originating in Kerala, India, it is one of the oldest surviving martial arts in world. Kalaripayattu differs from many other martial arts systems in the world in that weapon based techniques are taught first, and barehanded techniques are taught last. Elements from the yoga tradition as well as finger movements in the nata dances, were incorporated into Kalaripayattu.

It was truly a treat to watch the masters fight with swords with sparks flying. They were so swift in their actions, from the shot it appears as if they are bare-handed when actually they are using swords.

I hope it was worth your time to visit. Do let me know your favorite photo – if any. Bye.

WLC#39: The Viewpoint

Hello, hope you are having a grand day. Today I am attempting to participate in a new challenge hosted by XingfuMama which is about Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge – It could be anything: a picture or you can go into detail and tell it as a reflection, story or poem.

I would like to present a true story. It happened on my recent travels to Gavi near Thekkady, Kerala, India, where I found myself guilty of being biased and judgemental.

Here we were at a viewpoint deep in the midst of the rolling gorgeous greenery of the Gavi inside the Ranni reserve forest. The sky was overcast and breeze was cool and I was in seventh heaven of delight. I gobbled up the sights – the short tree, the light green, the stocky one, the balding one, while the driver-cum-guide attempted to spot wildlife for our perusal.

To be honest, there were none. Just a couple of dogs, mom and child, gambolling about. What do they eat in this wilderness I wondered. I was distracted by another jeep load of chattering tourists that drove up to ‘our’ point and disembarked. There goes our peace and silence.

One of the tourists went straight to the parked truck. Can you imagine? At this scenic sight, all he could think of was food? Or perhaps a try at the balloons? Sheesh. I rolled my eyes.

I flushed and cringed at my petty thinking. He had rushed to buy biscuits for the dogs. Hats off to the kind gentleman with his heart in the right place.

“Individuality should be celebrated, not judged.” From the internet

Thanks for visiting. Have a super day.

CWWC: Bridges and Travel Trails

Hello! Hope you are having a super day. I am attempted to participate in Cee’s challenge of Any type of Bridge, where all you need have is a bridge or part of bridge in view. Cee’s photos are super cool (do visit the above link) and I was afraid I wouldnt have any photos to fit the bill. But guess what – I found quite a few and had loads of fun.

Hope you like 🙂

View from the bridge over the mighty and holy Ganga at Haridwar, northern India, with a sculpture of Mahadev in the distance.

From the north we go straight down south of India, Munnar, Kerala. Can you spot the bridge in the distance? That is if you can take your eyes off from the breathtaking greenery? 😀

Stopped the car on the way to Thekkady, Kerala, also in southern India and walked back half a mile to capture this scenic view from a bridge of another bridge and a quintessential village 🙂

This is another view of a bridge from a bridge but taken this time from the car. This is the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh, central India. Isn’t she a gorgeous color?

Next we go to western India. This is the Doodhsagar falls near Goa. We were lucky to catch a goods train on the bridge.

This is on the way to see the above waterfall. And that’s a natural bridge. Perhaps for the monkeys 😀

This is an edited photo of the beach at Goa taken from a bridge. I had fun playing around with this one 🙂

This is the orginal photo, just in case you were wondering.

And the final photo is from the Andaman Islands in eastern India to complete the circle with a proper photo of a bridge 😀

What do you think? Which one is your favorite? Have you visited any of these places? Any place that is on your bucket list? Do let me know if you could spare the time.

Thanks for dropping by – have a super day 🙂

Blooming Amaltas

The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge this week is about our place in the world. I decided to interpret it rather literally mostly because this is the right time (although not the right weather) to showcase my world. Temperatures are soaring and yesterday it was a sizzling 43o Celsius (109 o F) and like every summer my campus is on fire. Take a look.

20180512_103046Miles to ogle before I walk 😉

20180512_103121“It is with the intention of losing my way that I have descended on this path” Rabindranath Tagore

20180512_103215A dazzling and enchanting sight one that is quite difficult to tear ones eyes away from despite the blazing Sun.

20180512_102916I could look at this for hours and hours – from an air conditioned room of course 😉

Bane1The amaltas are perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea. This man wages a losing battle against the raining petals.

Bane2Show off 😉

20180509_174225While in school I used to draw the Sun rising from between the mountain peaks – this reminds me of that 😀

By the way, this is the view from my porch – now I’m showing off 😉 Just a couple of years more before we shift so may as well make the most of it!

Also linking to Becca’s Sunday Trees

Hope you enjoyed your stroll through my world – have a wonderful week 🙂

As You Like It

For this week’s Sunday Trees I have a really bindaas one 😀

20180127_145913

Covered

from top to toe

They cry foul

As they do

when uncovered

turn

a deaf ear to

the unpleasable world

take a leaf

from me

dance

to your song

as you like

however

you like