1 August 2007

GIMMEE GIMMEE GIMMEE

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Well ! People seek something or the other from God, the Farmer prays for rain, and the Potter from my previous post prays for eternal sunshine. Gimmee money, gimmee a car, gimmee a better job, gimmee a visa to the US, gimmee a husband, tall dark, handsome, smart at office and dumb at home, gimmee a wife without mother-in-law. People get very specific. You may get what you want but with some unwanted side effects. Don't complain.


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Here people are seeking PRASAAD from the priests, vibudhi (ash) or kumkum (red powder). There is nothing wrong in seeking as long as you feel purified. Every one has desires, not all are fulfilled. i have desires too but i don't give any room for frustrations. i keep my level of expectations very low. Belief is fine, but it should not lead to frustration by seeking too much too often and too specific like a four wheel drive with independent suspension FWIS with 3000 watts MP4 Blaupunkt stereo


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The red powder is kumkum, kungumam in south, applied on the forehead. you get them in shops like these, very colourful, lot of jazz. This is my favourite shop in chennai, never bought anything here, but i have taken pictures many times. there is a row of such shops here.


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Took these picture in an annual temple festival in my city, Chennai. Finally posting something about Chennai. Takes place in the month of March, it is called ARVATTHIMOOVAR, Arvathimoon is number 63. Please don't ask me what it is, i don't know.


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Look at the crowd. Barring a few, none of my friends who live in Chennai have seen this chariot festival. It is not very popular. So many gathered here and it is not very polpular ? Yes.


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They are different gods

you can ask any of your Indian friends from Chennai

Have you seen AAVATEEMOOVAH ? No no You have to say ARRRRVVATHEEMOOVARRR

What is that ?

a festival in your city, Chennai

please come again

AVAATEEMOOVAH

What is that ?

A festival of a huge Chariot ??

what ?

One whacko has posted some pictures of that festival in his blog.

Sorree ! nev'herd o that.

You ask another friend, AVATEEMOOVAH Do you know AAVATEEMOOVAH ?

Saary Saar I don'tee know waaatee you arrrr taaaaking yabbout.

some have heard but not seen it.


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oh ! Not again, this huge chariot can only go straight. It has to make four sharp turns. No, it cannot turn.
Year after year it is an ordeal. This year a bulldozer was called to make the chariot turn. It took nearly an hour to make that turn and i ran out of patience. Tamil Nadu boasts about the best brains in engineering spread all over the world. This huge structure is pulled by people, mostly boys from nearby slums. they have fun doing it. People say they do it out of devotion. I really doubt that, there may be few in the crowd with devotion. i saw kids having lot of fun.


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People who know what is happening can't go anywhere near the chariot. Lot of confusion there, hardly any coordination. But this is India, things move somehow. People from rooftops throw buckets of water on people pulling the chariot to beat the summer heat. kids love it. It doesn't rain here much.


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Business oppertunities where people gather. We don't miss them. Nice to see people buying things for children.


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Ah i see a child's hand on the baloon. There are lot of cops around and as many numbers of pick pockets too. Terrific oppertunities for them, hey gypsy lady be careful, don't show your money. Gypsies are very smart anyway.


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Your faith is her survival. This sweet lady has invested a lot banking on your faith. Where do these coconuts go ? Here they are.


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a couple of smaller chariots are in the front as pilots.


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A devilish daughter in law has snatched away my innocent son from me, god please give my son back to me.


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Good to see people buying mud pots, the potters prayers have to be answered too. They have to survive.
PORTRAITS, PASSION GREEN, BLUNT KNIFE blogs are updated.
This is one Humongous post.

83 comments:

Ruth said...

We all have prayers, and we send them out to the cosmos in one form or another, either verbalized to God, or a wish in our heart. Sometimes a life is a prayer. I think that of you, rauf. You are a prayer embodied.

You have shown the commerce of religion very well. In the US, religion is booming. We have mega-churches with thousands of members. The pastors get rich and prosperous. There are some good things these churches do to help the poor and meet people's needs. My father was not a rich pastor. When he had money, he gave it away.

One thing I've always wondered is how God answers the prayers for people to change their religion. Christians want Muslims to become Christians, and Muslims want Christians to convert to Islam.

Prayer is attention. Attention is love. Putting love out into the world makes things happen.

katy said...

it is not very popular but so many people there.
the colours are so vivid.
it doesn't matter whatever religion you follow we all pray to the same God, but do we remember to pray for thanks as much as we pray for 'gimmie'

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photographs accompanied by interesting comments which enable us to discover this area of the world a little!

Vishesh said...

hi rauf ,long time no see :)

oh so is this the kabalishwer kovil i can see that :) aruvathimoovar is the number of nayanmars(shivite saints) so guess they named it like that :) i have never seen a theru except one or two minor ones thanks for posting:)

Sewmouse said...

So bright, so colorful, so crowded! I cannot manage well in crowds like that, even as silly as it sounds, I feel there is not enough air, that I will not be able to breathe.

The Sari's are so pretty. Are these the same kinds of ones you showed the picture of the weavers making?

isa said...

All I want from God is health...everything else I have to work for!

This festival (with the unpronouncable name ;-)) is a perfect representation of India - large, colorful, spirited and...populous ;-)

Did you enjoy yourself?

rauf said...

i think from ground level RUTH, i always wished things were a lot better than what they are in this world. i wish for people friends, my nephew niece, i know my wishing doesn't really help, but the words have effect on others and they feel good. This feeling good really helps. When i am sick, a 'get well card' does wonders. i get the feeling that you share my pain and it really helps. When i talk to my friends or chat with them on the net, the the kind words have effect on me.
So wishing well really works. The wishing routed through the channel of God is the same. You call it a prayer. When your words make me smile Ruth, they actually make me healthy. At time i have to speak my mind which hurts people, which is not good. But i do it as a duty.
The truth has to be told how ever unpleasant it is. Sometimes i make it humourous.

When you think from the ground level, you'd realise it doesn't really matter what we are wearing.
Religion is like clothes, we wear what suits us, some want to look good, some want comfort. For some adopting a philosophy is fashion and keep changing.

rauf said...

Yes HER INDOORS, its the same. but high expectations lead to frustrations. Things don't happen the way we expect them to.

rauf said...

Thank you PETIT LOUIS, the misery in this world is mostly our own making. i have seen people who are rich and have everything but still they are not satisfied. Satisfaction is a state of mind. When we hear of some celebrity committing suicide, we wonder why ? the clebrity had everything a man wished for.

rauf said...

Ah, Thats how the number 63 came, Thank you VISHESH, You have been living in Chennai but you have not seen. please see it next March, keep checking for dates. i don't promise any thing spectacular or great excitement.

rauf said...

Thank you SEWMOUSE i am very much comfortable with crowd.
But avoid eating near the places of pilgrimage where large crowds gather.

No, SEWMOUSE, none of them is wearing Pochampalli silk Sarees. Kancheepuram Silk is popular here.
which is about 90 Kilometers from Chennai. i'll have a post on it soon. There are thousands of varieties here. Punjabi Shalwaar Khamees has invaded South India. In these pictures women are mostly wearing Sarees. There are many different styles of wearing a saree. Working women prefer Shalwaar Khamees, which nearly all the girls schools have adopted as the uniform. Teenage girls used to wear a 'half saree' but it is fast disappearing.

rauf said...

Sweet IZZIDEE You bring so much joy to your readers. which really works like a prayer.
i wish you all the joy and health in the world Izzidee
and keep delighting us with your pictures thoughts and humour.

No i can't say i enjoyed it, but it is an even in my city which happens every year but seen it only 3 times. Believe me i wouldn't have gone this time, i just took pictures for my readers and friends who were complaining that i am not showing any thing about my city.

Ruth said...

rauf, your analogy of religion as clothes is perfect. How helpful to think of it that way.

I also think of religion as a window, a way of looking at the world.

Anonymous said...

Joli reportage, avec de belles images colorées, comme d'habitude. Cela me donne envie de voyager. (I'd like to visit your country, very nice pictures !)

rauf said...

RUTH, in a small village a man never went to the Church, one day while it was pouring cats and dogs the man took shelter in the church while the priest was delivering a sermon.
He said 'I have often seen religion being used as a cloak but never as an umbrella'

rauf said...

Thank you MARIE, i would be too glad to be your host in Chennai

zzz-writer said...

very nice pics rauf

rauf said...

Thanks ZZZ WRITER

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

:) and they tell me some of the best things in life are unanswered prayers!!! who are these "they", u may ask??? The people who have seen the world longer and better that i have. :)

Anonymous said...

Nehru trophy boat race at Alleppey on 9th and 11th Aug. Can you make it? Ashokan uncle is planning to, i think.
benoy

lorenzothellama said...

You are so wise in your writings Rauf. Your pictures speak volumes.

Love the red kumkum. An old man in Katmandu made a beeline for me once and blobbed a red mark on my forehead and then just walked away! I wore my red mark with such pride!

Foot seems to be getting worse. I just don't rest it enough. Today I went horseriding. Big mistake! The stirrups pressed on it painfully.
Lorenzo.

rauf said...

You are 'they' MOI and i am also 'they'

'Hamare' piyaar se' duniya jalti hai' the heroine sings, and i get very angry MOI, i feel that the heroine is refering to me. 'piyaar karo ya samandar mei doobo mujhe' kya ?

'Chod do mera haat, loge kya kahenge' ??
i am the loge, i am 'they' MOI, honestly i don't care if the heroine sits on hero's shoulders and plays tabla on his head. i'll play baansuri for them.

rauf said...

Hi BENOY, Tomorrow i am going to Coorg, back on 9th. on 14th i am going to Manthavaady with Nirmal and Sindu, back on 19th, Same day i am leaving for Pollachi- Vargaliyar forest and Tribal area
so i can't make it to Allepy this time. But i want to go for ONAM, you have to tell me the date. Met Asokan this morning, Shankar is leaving for US tomorrow, Asokan is thinking about it. Shall i get you a FZ50 ?, its lot cheaper here. i can bring it by ONAM, Last time i missed MOHINI ATTAM on the boat during Aaranmula. i can club it with ONAM this time. Then to Punalur and Sencottai back to Chennai.
please convey my regards to mom and Dad.
lots of love
rauf.

rauf said...

Hi LORENZO
the red mark on the forehead is called a TILAK, married ladies put it on the parting of the hair, it is called 'sindoor'

i think your toe should be kept dry and it should not come into contact with water. When ever i had a foot injury i used to cover my foot with a plastic bag while havng a bath, placing my foot on inverted bucket.

i am a bit afraid to suggest you to throw away the bandage and let the wound get some air. it would heal faster
i apply my saliva thats all, best antiseptic.
Hope it heals soon Lorenzo
lots of love
rauf

sheilabythebeach said...

Glad to have found your blog, there is so much here to absorb. The photos nearly bowl me over with their vibrant color and activity.

iamnasra said...

Each of one of us pray ....may differ the ways from religion to another ...we want our prayers to be heard and we want our orayers to be answered ...we want through rayers what ever hardship that we are ...a sort of mircale to come on our way

rauf said...

Thank you SHEILABYTHEBEACH,
Welcome to 'DAylight Again' India is a land of extremes. The language food and culture change every hundred miles. Colours everywhere, garbage too. Its the people who make the country. unfortunately very few areas of natural beauty is left. Recently, a few posts before i have written about the adjustments we Indians make in 'India Ocerload' Thanks for dropping by Sheila

rauf said...

Thank you NASRA, We all pray and there are expectations, which lead to frustration. We have a temple at THIRUPATI, in Andhra Pradesh, Its the most popular temple in India, the richest. One reason for popularity of any place of pilgrimage, is that people feel that their prayers are answered.
Sometimes people don't pray but they demand from god by paying money. People want to buy security health and happiness apart from 4 wheel drives. This Thirupati temple recodrs the highest collection of money and jewels in India. Why do people pay ?

Plus Ultra said...

Lovely pictures, beautiful colours, lovely stories

rauf said...

Hi KIANSENG, Thank you so much, some more coming, lots to be posted. Hope you are doing fine KIANSENG

rauf said...

Hi my dear friends
i'll be away for 4 days, traveling again, Coorg again with my friend Karthik, i'll be back on the 9th and reply to all your comments and mail
be good, eat well drink lots of water
my love to all of you
rauf

DJ Kirkby said...

Ah Rauf, some of your comments made me laugh! I love the picture of the water being thrown most of all but I loved all the pictures, your photography is just amazing.

FOUR DINNERS said...

spooky spooky spooky

2 of my favourite writers mention religion 2 days before I post mentioning religion.

Ole Phat Stu mentions the Dalai Lama, you mention Prasaad and I mention....er....well....um...shit actually.

Says it all really....

Great pics n all (as always)

Pauline said...

amazing photos! so many people, so much emotion......

lorenzothellama said...

Thanks for the tip but I don't have a bandage on my toe. It is broken, not grazed at all.
I have started taking some homeopathic medicine, called 'symphytum' which comes from the comfrey plant. I think it may be improving. There is nothing really to do but just rest the foot and wait until nature mends it, usually about five to six weeks. I am going to look up in my book of Ayurvedic medicine to see what they say!

soumya mukerji said...

Beautiful... though I stayed in Chennai (Avadi) for abt 2 years, never observed so much...!

kavita said...

i looove the bangles wala pic the most...i want some for myself...guess every one gets to pick their favorites??
ummm, what if she runs out of my favorite color!

Aarti said...

Hey Rauf

Whoa.. to think that something of this size happening in our own city and we dint even know of it till now...

Lovely pics.. esp the way u've captured the bucket of water from up above.. wonder why they were doing that.. is that pretend rain?...

aruvathimoonu in tamil is 63(aruvathu-60,moonu-3) , jus did some research on this and here is wat i came up with... Aruvathimoovar Thiruvizha celebrated at the Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore

there is more here -http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Kapaleeshwarar_temple_-_Therotsavam/id/5201533

have fun at coorg.. see ya wen ur back

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

ahhhhhhhhhh dearest Raufie

I finally managed to find my way to the oasis of your blog... (momentary escape!)
needed it like water.

You know my dear, you gift me with the opportunity of an unplanned, soothing, emotional journey...

Despite the burst of intense colour and life happening in each inch/corner of every frame, I find myself transported into a world of inner calmness - what a juxtaposition of reactions - when the intellectual aspect is completelly overriden by pure emotion.

Must come back as usual to savour in depth the images and words.

Noticed the new font in tittle...

Noticed the subtle layers too.

Loreal, Lancome... :)

Lots of love and biiiig hug

Raghu Ram Prasad said...

Dear Raufie...there is lot of Bakti(Prayer) is in our temples....well written...thanks for visiting

Sharon said...

I love the first paragraph very funny and true!

The colors of India are brilliant and you again managed to candidly capture the people. Were they boxes of colorful bracelets?

And that is one HUMONGOUS Chariot;)

rauf said...

My dear friends
sorry for the delay in responding to your comments, i was away, came home yesterday and slept, still sleepy
love you all
rauf

rauf said...

Hi DJ, We have no winter here and it doesn't rain much, gets pretty hot in the month of March. Buckets of water is thrown on the people who pull the chariot, to cool them off, they have fun, supposed to be devotion, but they are out there to have fun.
Actually throwing a bucket of water is a big sacrifice during water scarecity.
Hope you are doing fine DJ

rauf said...

hahaha FOUR DINNERS my next post is on religion too. Spooky yes
Next post is spookier than this.
Actually this is not much spooky.
i posted pictures of THEYYAM festival sometime in February this year. i have pictures of the god biting the neck of a live chicken.
blood all over his mouth.
i did not post the pictures as children read this blog.
please give my love to Caz and Jax

rauf said...

Thank you PAULINE, there is emotion and devotion too, though it is waning. Now its more like a some event happening, some crowd gathers to watch all the fun. It is not as popular like it was before. It comes and goes, and very few know about this.

rauf said...

Thank you SOUMYA, welcome to 'Daylight Again'. Avadi is very far from where i live (Royapettah)
A friend of mine took me to a beautiful temple near Avadi once.
little away from the road, quiet, and not many people. Beautiful atmosphere.

rauf said...

Hi LORENZO Hope the toe is getting better. i don't have much faith in Ayurveda, it takes time, and in time the body heals itself even without any treatment. i have written a post on bone setters titled RUN
Which you may find interesting.
http://whitesroad.blogspot.com/2007/02/run.html


Say Hi to Badger and Scaredy, give them an affectionate pat for me.

Hope you get well soon LORENZO
lots of love

rauf said...

Hyderabad is the place ZZZ WRITING You'll never run out of your favourite colours and designs.

rauf said...

Thanks for the link AAARTI, the site says April-May, but this was held in March this year Not many have seen it, believe me you haven't missed much. Many of my friends have not even heard of it. There are a lot of side activities which are intersting. i'll inform you in advance next year, there is no fixed date. You can perform Khushboo style rain dance, there are many heros out there. Your presence would attract more buckets of water or perhaps some real rain from the sky too. If you can't dance like Khushboo, you'll have empty buckets falling on you.

rauf said...

Dearest ANGEL, The change in font is my handwriting, wanted to add something personal to the template.
lots of love and a big hug from me too

rauf said...

Thank you mr. RAGHURAM PRASAD, yes lot of Bhakti here, and lot of fun too

rauf said...

Those are glass bangles SHARON, its a passion, rich and poor alike love glass bangles.
Very colourful. They make very pleasant tingling sound, makes you very feminine. Can't say the same with gold bangles. Glass bangles are special. i have posted pictures of women wearing them some months ago. So many varieties and designs are available.

lorenzothellama said...

Thank you so much deal Rauf for directing me to your RUN posting. It is amazing and makes me feel ashamed of even mentioning my silly toe!
I saw a television programme recently on the Indian railways. The ladies selling on trains seem to be persecuted by the railway police. It seemed such a shame, as they were making a small living and bringing so much delight to the passengers.

Love Lorenzo.

Ruth said...

Did I tell you, rauf, that one of our Indian friends gave me glass bracelets when I was young, maybe 13? I adored them, and as you say, they are very feminine. Unfortunately I wore them always, and one by one, they broke. I was a clumsy clout, and I felt so bad. I was silly and wore them to school. I was the only girl in my school with glass bracelets from India, you can be sure. But I was the stupidest girl to show them off that way. Should have saved them for special occasions.

Kathy Trejo said...

sending a big (((Hug))) your way Rauf!

Wishing you a wonderful day!

david mcmahon said...

G'day Rauf,

Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting. Some beautiful shots here on your site.

Because I grew up in India, I know Madras fairly well, but it's been a long time since I've visited the South of India.

Must plan a trip soon!

You have a great header and you're doing some wonderful work here.

Well done and do keep in touch. I would like to add you to my blogroll, but just let me know if that's okay.

Keep smiling

David

rauf said...

LORENZO, What ever the action the police takes, Indian trains are always full of hawkers.
They add to the colour and excitement of the journey. i buy things from them, i think in the same post 'RUN' i had written about buying some stone necklace for my niece in the train.
Please say hi to Badger and Scaredy
love
rauf

rauf said...

RUTH, glass bangles always break..you are not clumsy. the reason you broke yours is cultural.
Young girls in India are not even supposed to laugh louder. They are expected to be very gentle in their actions, no running, no playing. Its a bit hard on children. You were 13, and the youngest in the family. Naturally you were all over the place. Its hard to sit in one place, or help mother in cooking as the girls supposed to do in India, no education, just sit at home and help mother until you get married at the age of 14. This was cruel.
The idea of glass bangles is to make young girls very gentle.

I am glad that girls learn karate' today.

rauf said...

oh KATHY, Thank you so much
Hope Richard and Marcey are fine
Big hug from me too. Enjoy the weekend

rauf said...

Thank you DAVID, You'll be shocked to see the changes. The rural areas are pretty much the same, hardly any change. Chennai city continues to grow at slow pace, Bangalore has grown out of proportions without planning.
Please visit India when you find time.

Of course David, with pleasure, please add my link, i'll add yours here on my page.
thank you so much David

Anonymous said...

Thanks Rauf for your heartwarming comment on my mothers weblog (Edith' Section) - she is indeed still a guiding light to all of us. And I know that she very much valued the discussions you and she had about spiritual and cultural topics and she loved your beautifull photos. So, take care Rauf and light and peace from Edith's daughter Bodil

mystic rose said...

Ive hardly ever been to a temple, and the rare times that Ive been I didnt worship, not in the tradtional way. Nothing wrong ofcourse, its been proven that the sound waves of the ancient language the mantras are in have beneficial effects on the listeners. they are calming, and health inducive, etc..

I love glass bangles, unfortunately altho my hands are small, they are wide at the knuckles, still bangles do fit me. my youngest always has bangles on her hands..she just loves them so much! and the traditional Indian dresses. Somebody from Pune
gave her a little sari, its available only there it seems, its madeof pure silk and looks exactly liekthe traditonal ones but little girls can wear it.

And regarding some of the comments above, nowadays tho, it is a lot different for girls, atleast when I was growing up, you are expected to excel in studies, become a doctor, an engineer, lawyer or IAS offcier, but still no laughing in public. and Be Quiet.
so you see, we ARE improving. and when we are mothers, imagine how many more things we cna change. :)
I agree, tho, that the change is not the same across all sections of society.

Once, in school, I think I was in seventh, I laughed at a joke that the girl next to me made. It was a small laugh, no sound, but the male teacher called me out at the end of the class and told me that if i laugh it means i want men to chase me. you can imagine how terrible I felt then. I was quite sensitive.
And now that I think about it, he could have made a concession seeing I was brilliant in studies, but perhaps that was the reason he felt the need to pull me down.

Anonymous said...

dear rauf,
I like that scary picture, with the big teeth and crown and scary face.

rauf said...

dear BODIL, I was away and i completely missed Ashi's comment on my previous post. When i was writing to all my friends after coming back, i cheched if i had missed replying to any mail. Then i found Ashi's comment. I read it in total disbelief and regret.

I am not very fond of technology Bodi, but internet specially blogs brought people from different walks of lives, different countries cultures together.

It was like knowing mother personally. i treasure her comments and contribution very dearly. She was a guiding light and i was inspired by her imagination and thought.
Along with you and Ashi, her passing away is a loss to me my readers and to all those who were inspired by her thoughts.

Her link on my page would remain as long as i live.
Thank you so much Bodil
My regards to you and Ashi.

rauf said...

Mystic Rose, Why you did not learn Karate' ?
We like to give our children what we missed in our lives. So take children to Karate' classes. Please don't sit and watch, learn a thing or two yourself. I really like girls learning Karate' . My friend Sathya who is as thin as a leaf is a karate' expert. i don't know what colour belt or what level. Please don't associate Karate' with violence like you see in a the movies. Karate' is meditation and dicipline. i regret not learning it. i never had to defend myself or hit any one but today Karate is a must for girls.

i know you are brilliant. Your blog says so. Your writing is brilliant. All teachers are not great and lovable, some are absolute morons. i still curse my drawing teacher, idiot he was. But i was fortunate to have some very good teachers. i loved some of them very much.

Any rythmic sound waves are very relaxing, chanting of ancient mantras or the sound of the railway tracks on a speeding train. i love it. Its so relaxing.

oh yes i can see Shivani getting dressed up in a sari admiring herself infront of the mirror. Adorable thing she is. All girls love glass bangles. Our culture discourages girls becoming tomboys.
i need not tell you anything, you are a great mom. Girls are interested only in dolls. They dress up dolls and make them wear bangles and jewelry. i love the tingling sound of glass bangles.
so sad i can't wear them. Have you heard od Doll weddings ?

So your hands are broad. I'll keep that in mind and remain out of your striking reach. i don't want to lose any more teeth saying something silly to you.

Society has not changed but i am glad to see girls enjoying themselves with friends. But still things are the same in rural India.
Parents get them married at a very young age. By 18 they become a mother of three. It is a tragedy.

rauf said...

Hi POWER RANGER How are you.
Ah no, What you see in the picture is a demon. They don't exists. No dragons too. Yes we had Dinosaurs and T-REXES, but they are all dead and gone millions of years ago.
Stories of demons and dragons are all lies. You can read about them just for fun.
Thank you POWER RANGER You will save the world one day.

Anonymous said...

WoWWW...some Awesome majestic shots here. You have captured the true spirit of India...very very well done!

rauf said...

Thank you KALYAN, Welcome to Daylight Again

mystic rose said...

Ah yes, Shivani does look adorable. One day I got her dressed inthat sair she loves os much,w e were going somewhere, and she had bangles on her little hands, two braids, and a small dot of kumkum on her forehead - looking absolutely cute! ten minutes later I saw her and she had taken my lipstick and used it..only it was not just on her lips, but all around them too..and she was looking so happy with herself.. and my lipstick was all smashed up too..since she had rubbed it so hard, I had to throw it awa. But the only thing I could do was laugh and kiss her.

Girls are an absolute joy, boys too, ofcourse, but in a different way.

what an accusation to make..after all the things youve said to me, that I would hit you if you say anything silly. absolute poppycock!
this is like having your say and not saying you cannot. like having yor cake and eating it too. :))

sandy said...

India is SO colorful. I enjoyed the photos and i would not do well in India....crowds suffocate me.. I need to breathe. Love your commentary also.

sandy

sandy said...

well somehow one comment didn't post...so in a nutshell, the photos and commentary are wonderful. India is so colorful.

sandy

Mrs. SwedeHart said...

Your sense of humour makes me laugh out loud re: ARVATTHIMOOVAR- don't ask me what it is- it's not very popular!!!

I am intrigued by the coconut dish. I have been experiencing an urge to eat coconut. what are the herbs served with it? I'd like to make this dish. And also, what are these beautiful orange and yellow ornamental flowers called? They use them in Mexico to decorate graves on Dia de los Muertes. I'd love to use them in my yoga class to create a colorful atmosphere some time.

Sandrine said...

Such beautiful and colorful pictures! I read on an other blog (moi) somthing you said about taking people pictures and not being afraid... it inspired me! Your pictures speak for themselves. I guess I need to come to India to find gracious poeple that love their picture taken...
(had a bad experience in England this summer) I will try to be bolder...

Cindy said...

I don't know what amazes me more- all the color or all the people...

rauf said...

Oh How sweet MYSTIC ROSE Little girls playing grown ups is very pleasant to watch. The idea of trying to look good is natural.
What accusation ?? i said i have to be careful. you mean you should have done that before ???
EEEEEEEEEEEE

rauf said...

Oh yes SANDY colours, and more than one billion people and not enough land. there is damage there is chaos, but we adjust to everything, even the poorest try to make their life as happy as possible right in the midst of poverty and suffering, they make it colourful

rauf said...

oh RAW KEL i would love to be your host when you come to my city, though not very exciting and colourful like the North Indian cities, people are pretty sober.

I'll take you to Kerala, where almost every dish is made out of coconut. most of them used coconut oil. Only a few of them are very spicy.

Hope you are doing fine and enjoying life RAW KEL

rauf said...

Thank you SANDRINE, i apologise for my late response, i was away for a long time.

i love taking pictures of people, and i love taking portraits besides nature. There are people everywhere, infact it is difficult to keep people out of your picture, one or two heads pop in always. We love to be photographed.
No one has objected and i never had any bad experience. But i avoid elite places.
Ah Most welcome Sandrine. India is a land of extremes. you would love it or hate it. A walk on the streets is a great lesson on adjustments and compromises we make to stay alive.
Thanks for stopping by Sandrine

rauf said...

Colour and people both CINDY
My city of Chennai is less colourful than the cities of North India.

Anonymous said...

What beauty with colors, spirit, faces ,! It's for me a real plesure to travel by your pictures. For you, some french food, et thank you for the explications about your food traditions, So long Françoise

rauf said...

Thank you FRANCOISE, complaints from my readers that i don't post much about my City of Chennai made me go to this festival.
It takes place every year but seen only a couple of times. Tomorrow i am going to Cuddalore for my friend's wedding, on my way i'll stop at Pondicherry which was under French rule, and try to take some pictures. the only French food i had was in Pondicherry, Beef steak cooked in wine. There are many old French style buildings
and restaurants and Police uniform is still French.

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sundrop said...

i can't believe u r in india talking about making money off of acting like u r in a cult.
open up. put one of those "red dots" on ur head and meditate. then u will know where they were going and why they sing on their way.
seriously if ur in india obviously this is what the universe wants to do.
soak it up.