Winter Hues...

How beautiful the places has turned into with the mid-set of the winter...

Travel: Monsoon Drive to Himachal

Monsoon no doubt is the best time to go deep into the hills. At least to me though it involves little risk because of the weather and land slides. I remember each of my monsoon ride bit by bit from the old biking days. With the changing priorities of life, biking has taken the back seat and so is the leisure travel to the hills. Either I will be travelling to the hills for work or just rushing somewhere near by just for the shake of the love of the Himalayas, that to caged. Being caged is not a complaint but comparison of the satisfaction level, particularly when you want to be wonder lust. Each of the earlier monsoon bike ride has given me the adventure of a life time to remember. And that crazy feeling pulls me always somewhere into the Himalays to feel the mist and to absorb my favorite shades of green and to get soaked in mother nature.

With the occasional rain here in the capital town, it reminded me of the nice drive to the North-West of Himachal, till Khajjiar. And to utter surprise, I did not even check the photographs since then which were lying somewhere deep inside a hard disc drive.

Khajjiar Panorama...

Happy Diwali 2014

Wish you all a very Happy Diwali...

Colors of Freedom

Wish you all a very happy Independence Day... Proud to be Indian :)

The evening was well spent walking around Raisina Hills and Rajpath. And looking at happy faces around. People getting Tiranga painted on their faces, Tricolor in the hand, flags mounted on cars and bikes and the India gate lit up with the colors of our nation. Peace, Happiness and Prosperity is all I am wishing for everyone. Jai Hind.

Monsoon in Himachal

A sneak-peak from the last week experience in Himachal...

For your Vegetable bag ;)

These are from the streets of Dehradun. I was there last week for some work and suddenly noticed this nicely decorated vegetable shop, and could not resist to get few quick snaps.

Sacred Bond of Love: Raksha Bandhan 2013

On World Photography Day...

Happy World Photography Day friends... Happy Clicking :)

Sunday went all good again and to utter surprise it was the 3rd consecutive one on which I was not at all working, though had a tiny business meeting in late evening. It was over coffee and in casuals, so no complaints. The 'World Photography Day' is today, i.e, Monday and few scheduled meetings... means no complete camera bag and less chance of shooting something interesting (but should carry the camera, may be few portraits of clients :D). But Sunday I had a good time with a dear friend Saurabh, seeing few parts of the city very casually and holding the beloved camera affectionately :)

Found these guys, 3 brothers, making the composition of some Arabic Rap on the ruins of 'Bada Gumbad Masjid' and were making my frame complete with an superb blend of Contemporary and  History. A humble sign-language request and I got this frame. Had few words with them later and so the earlier mentioned information. Thanks again guys...

And few more from the series...

Mumbai Graffiti: Why so Serious!

DREAMS

'You are never too old to set another Goal or to dream a new dream'.
-C.S. Lewis-

Another Evening...

Today, after long I was out, holding a camera in hand and without any clue what to click. By that time the sky was overcast after a sprinkle here in Delhi. I do miss the blue sky and the play of clouds often and probably just run to the hills when have little time, but today it was totally different and I was seated over a historic monument and wanted to say Goodbye to Sun and to surprise the sky showed this shade. An April sky here in Delhi could be no Better...

Travel: Kuldhara Ghost Village, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

An abandoned village and 100s of years since anyone lived... And there are many stories from words of mouth to describe it... All of them pretty interesting, without knowing the truth.

Kuldhara was a village of 'Paliwal Brahmans', who were very knowledgeable and rich. Some people say, the daughter of village chief was so beautiful that the king of Jaisalmer eyed on him and wanted to marry her forcefully. And being a Brahman, it was intolerable to them but had to say nothing infront of Power. And as a solution, all the villagers emptied the village overnight and traveled beyond the reach of the ruler.
People even say, as the Brahmans were really really rich, they have stored Gold underneath all the houses and there is a very old snake in the village protecting it.
According to an elderly guy I met there, the Brahmans emptied the village some 400 years ago because of the heavy tax impounded by the King of Jaisalmer.















This is the old Temple in the village... Unworshiped and Government is getting it restored for the tourism purpose.


Travel Information:
Distance: 800+ kms from Delhi
               20+ kms from Jaisalmer on the way to Sam Sand dunes (around 7-8 kms off the main road)
Road Condition: Excellent
Best time to Visit: Aug-Mar (and prefer the evening time)

Nirvana ;)

:)

The Conversation...

Somewhere in Thar, A camel owner is on discussion with his pet...

Kumbh Mela Ground

The 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela is spread over an area of about 2000 hectors at Sangam, Allahabad. And the whole mela area is divided in to 14 sectors. Few glimpses of mela ground from different points...










As seen from Naini Bridge...

Religion: Aarti of Ganga Jee at Sangam, Allahabad

(Devotional offering to Goddess Ganga(River Ganges) at Sangam, Allahabad)

River Ganges has a special importance in Hindu Religion and is considered as the most Holy river in India. Every evening, the Aarti or offering ritual is performed at holy places on the river bank. At Rishikesh, Haridwar, Allahabad and Varanasi, this spiritual ritual is very powerful.

For the first time, I witnessed this at Triveni Sangam, Allahabad.


Preparation...




The worship rituals...






The worship rituals at River bank...