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2023 - The Year That Was

Places impact you for a variety of reasons. And the same place impacts different people in different ways. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual experiences, where every single person’s experience is unique. And personally, every spiritual experience is unique, the same person can have different deeply spiritual experiences at different places, at different times. This thought has emerged because of my own experiences over the years, but especially so this year, with different and unique experiences at various places I have visited recently. I began this year with a visit to Baroda (Vadodara) with friends. It was meant to be a relaxed trip, a touristy trip, with our sons. We enjoyed ourselves to the hilt, but the highlight of that trip was a visit to the Lakulisha temple at Pavagadh. It was the iconography of the temple that I connected with, and I spent a few hours simply lost in the details of the figures carved around the temple. There was an indefinable connect with

Sandcastle for a cause - Last two days!


Hello everybody, I am back at last! We had a wonderful time at Sringeri and Samhith’s thread ceremony went off very well. However, its been even more hectic since I got back, so I haven’t been able to write at all L This post is almost a week overdue, but as they say, better late than never! I hope with this post, I will be able to shake off the jinx and begin writing regularly once more!



Mumbai might be an island, with its share of beaches, but its not often that you get to see sandcastles . in fact, samhith has yet to go to the beach here and make them! Hence, when I heard about the huge sandcastle being made at Phoenix mills as part of World Cancer day, I jumped at the chance and rushed to take a look. We had just returned from Sringeri and with guests at home, it wasn’t easy to plan the trip, but thanks to an enthusiastic friend who agreed to bring her kids, it finally materialised and we headed out to High Street Phoenix for an evening full of fun, kids in tow!



The 10X10 ft sandcastle is the work of UK based Sand Wizard – Simon Smith. The World Masters People’s champion completed this incredible sand sculpture in less than 10 days. The castle was completed on Feb 4th, to coincide with World Cancer Day. Mr. Smith is himself a cancer survivor, and he has taken this initiative in association with Sand Cult – Sand Sculpting company and Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) to show the importance of this crucial cause.



Here are some more shots, to show you the intricate details of his work....






See the partly open doors?





And the chains?



The detail is amazing!!







Can you see the wealth of detail - in the cracks as well as the patches where the plaster seems to have fallen off? 




A side view


And a top view from the Hamleys store...


Finally, last but not the least, the artist's signature!



Samhith and his friends were impressed, and he rushed to take Mr. Smith’s autograph! And they were so thrilled to be able to pose with him, right next to the castle! While we adults were worried about letting the kids so near, Mr. Smith himself was cool, and allowed the kids to come inside the cordon slowly, saying he knew kids liked to get near, and that they would be careful! 



He spoke to the children for quite a while, patiently answering their many queries, explaining how he started the sculpture with a huge mound of sand, starting from the top. I wish we had been there to see him make it. If we get another chance, we will surely love to go and see him make such a masterpiece!


The sandcastle will be open for viewing for a couple more days – till Feb 12th, so those of you who haven’t seen it yet, please do go and see it. Your kids, as well as the kid in you, will love it!!



Comments

  1. Awesome pics of the castle. Such intricate detailing - Simon is such a creative genius.
     For a moment I thought the display was in Phoenix, Arizona but I had my doubts when I saw Simon with a bunch of Indian kids. When I checked the website I realized the High Street Phoenix is a Mall in Mumbai :))

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  2. I sheepishly admit, this is extraordinary. I have been a witness to such sand arts at the Puri beach and was quite impressed by the manner in which Mr. Patnaik handles sand but I find Mr. Simon equally talented. Thanks.

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  3. Hey! I forgot to compliment you for bringing the art for our  viewing pleasure with such great details. I envy  you and your Camera.

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  4. Trust you to find the most amazing events and sights to see and share! how does the castle retain its shape? does he use something to keep it place? I have seen sand art, but not sculpture like this. 

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  5. This is quite incredible! It was good to get to see the details in your close-up pictures...

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  6. Welcome back Anu and the pics are so beautiful.

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  7. The sandcastle looks fantastic. Noble cause too.

    Congrats on Samhith's Punal!

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  8. Thanks a lot! and well, i guess I should have clarified... i simply took it for granted, since i write only about mumbai events as of now!

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  9. you are indeed lucky to see the sand art at Puri... i have yet to go there !!

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  10. Thanks Zephyr!!! they just wet the sand a little... and once it dries it stays the same way it seems!

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  11. beautiful gesture and work of art...

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  12. great art work .. i like it ..thanks

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  13. You have a great sense of writing I must say. Your post has those facts which are not accessible from anywhere else. I request you humbly please keep writing such remarkable articles

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  14. height of creativity......awesome...
    mumbaiflowerplaza.com

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  15. Wonderful Anu, You have captured it very well. What amazing sand art!!

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  16. What a wonderful sand art!! Nice capture, Anu.

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