The absence of ancient Hindu structures in Kashi is something I have always lamented about. The shrines are certainly ancient, and that is something that has always attracted me to the city. However, I miss the beauty of the ancient structures that we see at other sites. This feeling is intensified when I see marble and concrete and tiles in temples that once would have been beautifully adorned with evocative sculptures, and worn by the passage of time, touched by the hands of seekers who came before. This time , this desire to see some remnants of an ancient Hindu structure in Kashi came true when I managed to visit the Kardameshwar Temple. The Kardameshwar temple is not one of the main temples in the city. It is part of the temples on the Pancha Kroshi yatra, a pilgrimage which takes one on a circumambulatory tour of the whole city. The temple is located on the outskirts of the city, on the western bank of a tank called the Kardama Kund. The Kardameshwar temple is one of the...
Before I get ready to bid goodbye to the lord who has kept us occupied for the last 10 days, here are a couple of Ganeshas I saw yesterday – a bonus, so to speak…. These are actually the first I should have seen, but as it turned out, they were the last I managed to photograph….
The first one is the Ganesha right next to Samhith’s school in Garodia Nagar.
Can you guess what the Ganesha is decorated with? Shells!!! Samhith was delighted! He now has grand ideas about what to do with all the shells we have collected!
Last but not the least, this one is our colony Ganesha – this is the Ganesha we all make our contributions for, every year, and religiously visit as often as possible. To give them credit, they try and make something interesting every year, mainly for the kids who run off there every time we pass by the mandal, which is several times a day!
This year, the theme was a railway line, all for Chedda Nagar, and this has gone a long way in making Samhith decide that our theme for the Navaratri has to be his railway line too…… and of course, he wants all the other things there too – mountains, rivers, lakes, temples…. The whole set, in fact! Wonder what I am going to do!
Meanwhile, the roads are all lit up and bright, adding to the festive atmosphere…..Thank God, we don’t have those loudspeakers!!
Well, that seems to be all for now, unless I manage to see some interesting idols on their way to immersion. Doesn’t look likely, but then, you never know……
The first one is the Ganesha right next to Samhith’s school in Garodia Nagar.
Can you guess what the Ganesha is decorated with? Shells!!! Samhith was delighted! He now has grand ideas about what to do with all the shells we have collected!
Last but not the least, this one is our colony Ganesha – this is the Ganesha we all make our contributions for, every year, and religiously visit as often as possible. To give them credit, they try and make something interesting every year, mainly for the kids who run off there every time we pass by the mandal, which is several times a day!
This year, the theme was a railway line, all for Chedda Nagar, and this has gone a long way in making Samhith decide that our theme for the Navaratri has to be his railway line too…… and of course, he wants all the other things there too – mountains, rivers, lakes, temples…. The whole set, in fact! Wonder what I am going to do!
Meanwhile, the roads are all lit up and bright, adding to the festive atmosphere…..Thank God, we don’t have those loudspeakers!!
Well, that seems to be all for now, unless I manage to see some interesting idols on their way to immersion. Doesn’t look likely, but then, you never know……
Your posts are treat to eyes!
ReplyDeleteI am gonna call them eye candy :)
hehe
Samhith inspires me very much, I was like him during my days and its great to see his imagination unfolding in a unique way , waiting for your navratri specials :) all ready ?
I put the shells I collect in the flower pots! The shell Ganesha is spectacular!
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